Michael Gove warns of 'significant additional disruption' at border due to Brexit

8 January 2021, 20:05 | Updated: 8 January 2021, 20:13

"Significant additional disruption" can be expected at the UK border in the coming weeks as a result of Brexit customs changes, Michael Gove has warned businesses.

Hauliers now require the correct paperwork, including export declarations and the extra certificates needed for products such as plant and animal products, as well as a negative Covid-19 test and a Kent Access Permit before crossing to Europe.

Meanwhile cargo traffic at Dover, which is drastically reduced at present, is expected to reach pre-Christmas levels again next week.

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Mr Gove told broadcasters on Friday: "So far disruption at the border hasn't been too profound but it is the case that in the weeks ahead we expect that there will be significant additional disruption, particularly on the Dover-Calais route.

"It is our responsibility in Government to make sure that business is as ready as possible, and hauliers and traders have already done a lot but we have to redouble our efforts to communicate the precise paperwork that is required in order to make sure that trade can flow freely.

"So over the course of the next few days, Government will be stepping up that communications effort to make sure that business knows what is required."

Over the past week, there has been an average of 1,584 lorries per day attempting border crossings, which is only around 40 per cent of normal, according to the Cabinet Office.

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Around 700 lorries have been turned away from the border since new rules came into force at the end of the transition period with the European Union on January 1, the latest Government figures show, with about 150 fines handed out for non-compliance with new rules designed to reduce truck queues in Kent.

It comes as a host of businesses complained about the added complexity that they were having to wade through to trade with Europe.

Major parcel courier DPD has already paused some delivery services into Europe - including Ireland - because of pressure caused by new post-Brexit red tape.

DPD said that up to 20 per cent of parcels had incorrect or incomplete data, meaning they had to be returned to customers, and announced a pause to its road service into Europe and Ireland until Wednesday.

Marks & Spencer also revealed that its popular Percy Pigs sweets were struggling to find their way across the Irish Sea to supermarket shelves in Ireland.

The retailer said the new rules and regulations are set to "significantly impact" its overseas ventures in Ireland, the Czech Republic and France.

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Seafood exporters said they have been hit by a "perfect storm" of bureaucracy, IT problems and confusion following Brexit.

Tesco said there had been a "short delay on certain products" entering Northern Ireland.

And hauliers described being "overwhelmed" by red tape due to new checks on deliveries to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

Haulier industry body Logistics UK said deliveries were being delayed as lorries arrived in Belfast with incomplete paperwork.

In order to avoid a hard border with the Republic, Boris Johnson agreed Northern Ireland would remain in the EU single market - but that has meant checks on goods arriving from Great Britain.

Irish customs authorities said they would temporarily relax regulations around goods moving from Great Britain.

Labour accused the Government of failing to properly prepare for the end of the transition period.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon called on ministers to "get a grip" on the situation in order to avoid the lorry queues witnessed before Christmas after France shut its border to UK entrants following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.

A Government spokesman said: "Although many businesses have moved goods successfully since January 1, we are aware of some issues, and are providing guidance and support.

"Hauliers can use our 'Check a HGV is ready' service to make sure they have correct paperwork, and must obtain a Kent Access Permit if they plan to travel via Dover or Eurotunnel."