The UK government has warned that UK exporters to the European Union (EU) could face 7,000-truck-long queues in Kent and two-day delays to trade after the Brexit transition period ends at the end of 2020.
Imports will also be disrupted in January, according to a letter from cabinet minister Michael Gove to the freight industry that was leaked to the BBC ahead of the publication embargo.
The UK logistics industry was quick to respond to the letter with detailed suggestions on how to mitigate any potential border delays.
Elizabeth de Jong, policy director, Logistics UK, said: “Logistics UK has long warned government of the potential for border delays after the UK leaves the EU, and while there is still time to put mitigations in place to avoid them, it will be a huge challenge for government and industry to achieve.
“The ability of traders to complete and provide the correct paperwork will be key to ensuring the continued smooth passage of goods through the UK’s supply chain, and we are urging businesses exporting to the EU to install and understand the systems they will need to use in time for the 1 January 2021 deadline.
Commenting on the Gove letter sent to trade bodies, the British Ports Association Chief Executive Richard Ballantyne said: “The government’s worst-case scenarios are a stark reminder about the major changes that much of the UK’s freight industry will have to embrace following the end of the transition period.
“Whilst highlighting particular issues in Kent the analysis also underlines that this will be a national issue for traders and hauliers moving goods through a wider number of gateways facing the same issues.”
Added Ballantyne: “Put simply, if the traders have not completed the correct customs requirements, they will be unable to transport their goods through any port.
“In recent months there has been a flurry of government activity. Ports are working to ensure infrastructure is ready but is still a lot to do. In particular decisions policy makers need to agree in respect of specifications for infrastructure.
“However, in terms of the wider freight operations there is perhaps even more to do. We will now be looking at ways to support the government’s drive to communicate the new requirements to the wider freight and logistics industry to avoid many of the scenarios given in the analysis from arising.”
British International Freight Association, Director General, Robert Keen said: “The government has received repeated warnings from all sides of the supply chain that neither businesses involved in trade between the EU and the UK, nor the freight and logistics sector that physically handles and manages that trade, is ready for the new procedures that will be in place from January 1st 2021.
“With just over 14 weeks to go before the end of the Brexit Transition Period, traders and logistics providers are still waiting for so much information and clarity from the government and are shocked by the lack of consistency in Government policy, systems planning and procedures.
Logistics UK’s de Jong added that it is also incumbent on UK government to ensure logistics businesses have details of and access to the UK’s own logistics systems, including Smart Freight and GVMS, in good time so that adequate training and testing can be carried out.
She said: “Full working guidance on the port systems to be used in Europe, particularly in France and Ireland, must also be provided by our EU partners to minimise delays and the potential for disruption to the supply chain at a time of year when the UK depends on imported goods across a number of sectors. With so much still to do, it is vital that all parties work together to keep the flow of trade moving smoothly between the UK and EU.”
