London CNN —New border controls on some of Britain’s food imports from the European Union came into force Wednesday for the first time since Brexit, increasing red tape for businesses and threatening to drive up prices for consumers.
Industry groups have warned, however, that the new measures could ultimately hike prices of some staples and disrupt supplies when physical border checks are introduced at the end of April.
Rising food prices have been a key driver of the nation’s cost-of-living crisis, and adding cost and friction to supply chains won’t help matters.
A group of 30 trade organizations representing the UK food supply chain said last week that the new border measures would “impact the flow of critical food ingredients” from the EU to the UK.
Europe is the UK’s leading foreign supplier of food, accounting for more than a quarter of food consumed in Britain by value.
Persons:
Steve Barclay
Organizations:
London CNN, European Union, Industry, Meat Processors Association, EU
Locations:
United Kingdom, Britain, British, Europe