In early February, a seafood truck from Scotland arrived in Calais. The transporter thought he had the correct papers: export declaration, health certificate… No luck: a box had not been checked. It was not clear whether it was a shipment of refrigerated, frozen or transported at room temperature.
” We do not pass “, announced the customs officer. The truck driver did suggest that he tick the box himself, the goods being clearly refrigerated. But it was out of the question. “A new form had to be sent from Scotland, which took eighteen extra hours”, explains Jimmy Buchan of the Seafood Association of Scotland.
Six weeks after post-Brexit trade rules came into effect, UK businesses are faced with the reality of returning customs. The UK is no longer in the single European market. Each export to the European Union (EU) therefore requires heavy declarations, particularly for the food industry (conversely, the British government has granted six months exemption for imports).
Six weeks after post-Brexit trade rules take effect, UK businesses face the reality of returning customs
However, customs incidents are starting to become rare. “It’s going much better than in the first days, emphasizes Mr. Buchan. Companies are gradually mastering the administrative procedures to be carried out. “ After losing many cargoes in the first few weeks, expired by dint of waiting, seafood producers are mostly successful in getting their goods through.
At the port of Calais, the same progress has been observed. During the first weeks, a quarter of the trucks arriving from Dover were sent to the “orange light” line, requiring additional administrative procedures; today it’s half as much. “And only 2% to 3% require sanitary or phytosanitary checks”, welcomes Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the port of Calais-Boulogne.
Heavy drop in truck traffic
But if the dreaded traffic jams at the border have not materialized, it is largely because the flow of vehicles is in sharp decline. In Calais, truck traffic fell by 27% in January compared to the same period in 2020.
“We are facing a perfect storm, with the Covid and the Brexit at the same time”, notes Chris Black. At his factory in Yorkshire, in the north of England, the boss of Sound Leisure, a company that makes jukeboxes, has no administrative problems. But he finds that carriers are overwhelmed. “We had to export several machines to Spain, but we had to wait three weeks to find a niche. “
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