Brexit import checks kick in tomorrow in a move business chiefs fear could swamp small firms with red tape - and leave food rotting at ports.
Full customs controls were delayed three times, but are finally being slapped on imports from the EU to Great Britain on New Year’s Day.
The change means firms on both sides of the Channel must fill out more complex paperwork to bring goods from the Continent to Britain.
British firms previously had up to 175 days to complete customs declarations, but must now do so “at the point of import”.
British firms must also obtain “rules of origin” declarations that show if the goods they are importing were made inside the EU.
And any EU firm sending animal or food products to Britain - from steaks to cake mix with an egg - must “pre-notify” the British authorities with 24 hours’ notice.
The customs controls will not apply to goods entering Great Britain from the island of Ireland after a government climbdown.
But trucks arriving in Britain from the EU could be diverted to a vast lorry park (‘inland border facility’) to conduct physical checks.
It comes a year after the transition period ended, and two years after Boris Johnson won an election on the promise to “get Brexit done”.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warned smaller firms are less ready for the changes than large ones.
BCC Head of Trade Policy William Bain told the Mirror if firms fail to “pre-notify” food exports to Britain, “we may see some consignments stuck at ports in the EU, and not coming over to stores and distribution centres in Great Britain.”
He stressed there is “no evidence there’s going to be any shortages”.
But asked if goods that get stuck could include food that would spoil, he replied: “Yes - fish, milk, these perishable products are most at risk if there’s a lack of preparedness.
“Despite the fact the messages have been out there for quite some time, and the biggest companies certainly seem to be well-prepared, it’s the smaller suppliers we see problems with - lack of knowledge, lack of capacity or lack of resources to be able to comply.
“That’s where we may see some problems, perhaps not on Saturday but perhaps early next week.”
Both business groups urged the UK government to be prioritise getting goods through the system, instead of rigidly sticking to the rules.
A CBI spokesperson told the Mirror: “The main concern will be around impacts on food supply chains which remain around paperwork, high costs, food perishing, and vet availability.”
Mr Bain added: “Clearly it will not be as smooth as it is today but if the right discussions at the right levels of preparedness are there, queues at the ports inbound can certainly be avoided.”
Mr Bain warned some firms may end up giving up on UK trade due to the red tape.
He told the Mirror: “The other concern is that some small suppliers will simply think ‘all of this is far too complex, I’m not going to bother sending anything over any more’.
“We have seen quite a fall in imports from the EU into the UK as a whole this year.
“So if the process seems too complex for [small and medium enterprises] in the EU, the question is, is there going to be another effect on those and in what volumes? Or has it already happened?
“There has been a big hit to imports this year and the great unanswered question is whether that’s going to be increased in 2022.”
Other Brexit checks have been delayed further over fears for businesses.
EU food imports to the UK will not need to have export health certificates until July 1, 2022, after the last date of October 1 was pushed back.
Physical 'SPS checks’ on animal products at border control posts, along with safety and security declarations on imports, were delayed from January 1 to July 1.
Meanwhile changes are coming for British holidaymakers visiting the EU in 2022.
Brexit allowed firms to bring back roaming charges for Brits abroad, so Vodafone will do so on January 6 - followed by EE on March 3 and Three from May 23.
And a change in EU rules is set to slap a €7 (£6) visa waiver fee on UK holidaymakers by the end of 2022.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to become operational for those visiting Schengen countries by the end of the year.
It could then be another six months before it becomes mandatory, meaning Brits may be forced to pay from mid-2023.
Those under 18 or over 70 will not have to pay the €7 fee. ETIAS authorisation will be valid for three years or the expiry date on the applicant’s passport, whichever is sooner.
EU documents say most approvals will be issued “within minutes” but some could take up to 30 days to “identify security, irregular migration or high epidemic risks”.
