Brexit: Fears of food shortages grow as EU truckers avoid UK ports in record numbers

by danielbarker on 18 January, 2021

David Parsley at MSN

Fears over food shortages on supermarket shelves are growing as figures show French and German delivery companies are avoiding post-Brexit red tape at UK ports in record numbers.graphical user interface, website: Empty food shelves in Sainsbury's store in Northern Ireland (Photo: Michael McHugh/PA Wire) © Provided by The i Empty food shelves in Sainsbury’s store in Northern Ireland (Photo: Michael McHugh/PA Wire)

Data from logistics software company Transporean show the number of haulage companies from Germany that are rejecting delivery contracts to the UK have more than doubled since the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December. French trucking firms are rejecting three times as many UK deliveries. https://www.dianomi.com/smartads.epl?id=3533

This has led to around half the usual deliveries coming into the UK since the turn of the year, and is increasing fears of food and other product shortages in the coming weeks.

Fresh food going to waste

Digital modelling firm Simul8, which has been evaluating additional burden Brexit red-tape will bring at UK ports, said fresh food was already going to waste as a result of delays.

Frances Sneddon, chief technical officer at Simul8, said: “Unfortunately, we’re already beginning to see the cost of perishable items being left to waste due to the disruptions at ports and extended queue times for freight vehicles. Fruit, vegetables, seafood and meat are affected in the food industry, while the shelf life of medical supplies won’t allow for the extended waiting times that our model has predicted either.”

Ms Sneddon also pointed to issues being faced by manufacturers, which could also suffer supply shortages due to a lack of deliveries from the European Union into the UK.

She said: “Manufacturers that operate with just-in-time models could feel the fallout and need to adapt their operations to account for new contingencies and delays.”

Call for more guidance to haulage firms

Alex Altmann, a partner at accountancy firm Blick Rothenberg, said that while the reluctance of European freight forwarders to deliver to the UK is concerning, it is also understandable “due to a lack of guidance”.a display in a building: Earlier this week, Brexit red-tape was already resulting in empty supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA) © Provided by The i Earlier this week, Brexit red-tape was already resulting in empty supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA)

Altmann, who is also chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany, said: “The numbers of freight forwarders who currently decline routes to the UK are dramatic and will have an impact on our supply chain situation in the weeks ahead. Cargo from Germany and France to Britain is still down over 50 per cent and someone needs to step up now and explain how this is going to continue. 

“The new UK customs code provides that EU companies cannot file import declarations and require an agent to do this. With a lack of at least 20,000 customs agents in the UK this is not particularly assuring for freight carriers that the new customs border will run frictionless once capacity increases. We need updated guidance from HM Revenue & Customs how particular issue will be handled.”

Northern Ireland already facing empty shelves

Earlier this week, Brexit red-tape was already resulting in empty supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.

Andrew Opie, director of the British Retail Consortium said the Government’s last-minute delivery of the Brexit deal had resulted in shortages on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland is a particular problem, there’s no doubt about that, and a particular problem for UK supermarkets,” Mr Opie told House of Commons Brexit committee. 

“We did not get the final confirmation for how product could move until 31 December for a 1 January start.

“The inevitable consequence of that was that both retailers and suppliers who supply directly to Northern Ireland took a relatively cautious approach to the borders and therefore some products had more of a problem, were held back… until retailers and some manufacturers got to grips with the 

The Road Haulage Association warned that the supply chain is “within days of falling apart” because of new Brexit paperwork making it much more complicated and expensive to transport goods from the British mainland to Northern Ireland.

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