The UK government has dropped plans to impose further checks on goods entering the UK from the European Union.
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Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said it would be “wrong to impose new administrative burdens and risk disruption at ports” and added that no further import controls would be imposed on EU goods this year.
The change means restrictions on the imports of chilled meats from the EU and border checks on plant and animal products will not be introduced in July.
Port operators expressed frustration that time and money spent preparing for the new checks have been “wasted".
Rees-Mogg said a “new regime of border import controls” will be established by the end of 2023.
Goods moving from the UK will continue to be subject to checks in the EU despite the government deciding not to introduce the controls in Britain.
Controls which have already been introduced in the UK will remain in place.
“When the UK left the European Union, we regained the right to manage our own borders in a way that works for Britain,” said Mr Rees-Mogg in a statement to Parliament.
“This includes how we manage imports into our country from overseas.
“British businesses and people going about their daily lives are being hit by rising costs caused by Russia's war in Ukraine and in energy prices.
“It would therefore be wrong to impose new administrative burdens and risk disruption at ports and to supply chains at this point. The remaining import controls on EU goods will no longer be introduced this year — saving British businesses up to £1 billion in annual costs.”
The new border regime will apply equally to goods from the EU and the rest of the world. ■
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