A team in charge of checking shipments at the Port of Liverpool is already "under immense strain" and will need to at least double its staff to cope with an increased workload next year, a new report has warned.
The Port Health Service, which is responsible for carrying out sanitary checks on food and other products coming in through the port, is set to see a large increase in the number of shipments they need to check when new rules come into force next year.
While the Brexit transition period finishes at the end of this year, the report says the introduction of the new checks is due to happen in phases throughout 2021.
New rules for products of animal origin imported into the UK from the EU will come into force partially in April, with more following in July.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) predicts 23,000 checks per year will be required on shipments coming into Liverpool from the EU under the new regime.
A report submitted to Liverpool Council's cabinet said the Port Health Service was already dealing with increased workload from the pandemic and that would only increase in 2021.
The report said: "The Port Health Service current staffing structure is already under immense strain due to current workload associated with delivering numerous statutory functions during a pandemic outbreak.
"The predicted increase will require a significant increase in staffing resources, office space, physical assets and ICT. Based on the DEFRA minimum scenario, the Port Health service will require a team more than double its current size, increasing the total staffing resources within the Port Health staffing structure from 15 to 34."
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The report said negotiations on the UK's future trading relationship with the EU, which have not yet resulted in a deal, will have an effect on the exact changes to the staffing structure but said recruitment needed to begin now.
The service's current budget, funded by Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral councils, has no capacity for hiring new staff. The council is therefore set to receive grant funding of £472,000 from DEFRA to ensure staff can be hired and trained before the new regime begins.
Liverpool Council's cabinet will meet to approve the grant at its meeting next Friday.
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