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A warning of “significant disruptions” to food supplies in the run-up to and during Christmas caused by post-Brexit customs changes has been issued.

The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) has warned that UK food retailers, hospitality businesses and consumers should expect “significant disruption” in the Christmas trading window because food producing businesses in Europe which supply into the UK are unprepared for post-Brexit customs changes coming into force on 31 October 2023.

The changes mean that export health certificates signed by a qualified certifying officer will become mandatory for every consignment of ‘medium risk’ meat, dairy and fish products exported from the EU to the UK, from 31 October.

However, a survey carried out by the CCF found that 39% of the food producing businesses in Europe that currently supply goods to the UK surveyed are not even aware of the new rules and timeframes announced by UK Government, while 41% of survey respondents said they do not have plans in place to ensure compliance with this crucial requirement.

CCF chief executive Shane Brennan warned that “it was deeply worrying that well over a third of these food producing businesses supplying into the UK are not aware that these significant changes are looming”.

He criticised the UK Government for not making the new rules clear enough and urged for a delay to their implementation. “Communications from UK Government to these businesses has not been good enough and it is the food retailers, hospitality businesses and consumers here in the UK who will pay the price with disruption, delays, and losses.

“We have written to Ministers setting out our survey findings and asking for the 31 October implementation of the export health certificates to be moved back to 31 January 2024. Government must use the extra time to deliver a much wider and better resourced communications campaign, starting now, to increase awareness among EU businesses in enough time for a full implementation on 31 January next year. By then the UK should also have a fully staffed border inspection team, enforcing the new rules but also providing support and advice for these EU importers. With so much stress, cost inflation and other pressures in the food supply chain this year, this marginal change in the implementation plans could make a big difference.”

As well as the lack of awareness, the survey also showed that 78% of the businesses surveyed believe costs will increase to their UK customers as a result of the new rules.

Brennan added: “Meeting the new export health certificate requirement will increase costs for the EU food producers supplying into the UK, even more so for businesses scrambling at the last minute. These costs will be passed onto UK retailers, ultimately leading to higher prices for UK consumers and pushing food inflation even higher.”

The customs changes may also lead to a reduced frequency of supply to UK businesses. When asked about their intentions regarding the sale of their products to UK customers after 31 October 2023, only 60% of respondents said they plan to seek to continue their service to the same customers at the same frequency while 10% plan to reduce the frequency and range of UK based customers they serve. 7% of respondents plan to stop altogether and 22% said they don’t know at this stage.