The decision to continue to implement the full range of post-Brexit import controls could mean that Christmas 2023 be more costly than Christmas 2022, say leading tax and advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg.
Simon Sutcliffe a partner at the firm said:” With avian flu and the cull of free-range poultry endangering small independent suppliers and seemingly becoming an annual threat at Christmas time, the UK may have to rely more and more on imported geese and turkeys with consumers finding that their ducks, geese and turkeys being imported from France, Poland and Hungary. The value of imports of this type of poultry from France alone amounted to approximately $3.0 million in 2021.”
He added: “However, with the impending end in 2023/4 of the UK’s ‘grace period’ for the full implementation of post-Brexit import controls on animals and animal products – which was originally set to end in July 2022, the administrative and cost of importing geese and turkeys for next Christmas to fill the gap in the domestically produced seasonal market may result in even higher prices for the consumer.
“Since the end of the Brexit transition period the UK suspended its full implementation of the requirements for importing goods from the EU that would be subject to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks and health certification. Once the full range of checks are in place on goods arriving from the EU, the costs and administrative burden to importers will increase. Unfortunately, that usually means rising costs being passed onto the consumer.”
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