The time is not right to burden food importers with more post-Brexit red tape and fees.

The imposition of post-Brexit checks and charges on food imported from the EU was delayed this week by ministers.

The delay comes amid concerns about food price inflation, and is the fifth delay of planned changes to the import arrangements for farm and food imports.

Despite a modest 0.2% increase in inflation, the government acknowledged for the first time that increased red tape and charges would add to overall inflation.

In April 2024, the checks are now scheduled to be implemented.

Even though Treasury was concerned about the impact on food prices, the changes will still have an impact when they are implemented next year.

In the giant new facility in Sevington, Kent, food imports are checked in as they enter through Dover or the Eurotunnel, and a “common user charge” is applied to each consignment.

Some smaller importers of European food may find the charge prohibitive. It could reach £43 – manageable for larger importers, but prohibitive for smaller ones.

Aside from this, consignments must be signed off by accredited vets at an additional cost.

Due to the shape of the 2020 Brexit agreement with the EU, such additional checks and charges are inevitable – a move away from years of frictionless free flow of trade.

Farming groups are concerned that EU exports to the UK are waived through while British exports are subject to the full range of EU controls. A level playing field does not exist.

As a result of the lack of checks, there are also concerns about biosecurity.

More broadly, the food industry welcomed the move, which shifts the main change to the spring when the UK is less reliant on EU food imports. It has already been called a “food import tax” because of the extra charges and red tape.

Given the likelihood of next year’s general election, some questioned whether the changes would take place at all.

In an effort to minimise the amount of red tape, ministers insist that the initiative will move forward.

A new model for the UK trade border justifies the changes, citing that “the consequences of a major outbreak of plant or animal disease could be far greater” than the 0.2% inflation increase.