EU's nightmare before Christmas for the UK as major change to cripple borders
New rules coming into effect from next month could cause carnage on the UK's roads - and restrict movement of food across the borders.
Lorry drivers have warned that Britain’s food supply chain is under threat from new rules this Christmas. Non-EU travellers at Dover will have to complete fingerprint and facial recognition checks before boarding cross-Channel ferries.
According to Logistics UK, this could delay both holidaymakers and the flow of goods across the border by creating long queues. This will exacerbate already increased traffic to the port town ahead of the festive period.
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into place on November 10 and could disrupt trade at a time when the UK is reliant on imported goods.
Nichola Mallon, head of trade at Logistics UK, told The Telegraph: “If the EES is implemented as planned, I'm afraid we're facing huge upheaval in the supply chain.
“The Government needs to take the lead now on raising awareness among the public, managing their expectations and signposting where they can go for advice.”
It has been suggested that the EES could increase waiting times for a single car of four at the border from less than 60 seconds to a minute.
Research from Imperial College London says that every extra minute in processing will add ten miles to the queues.
Dover and the Eurotunnel handled 54 percent of all UK trade with continental Europe last year. Logistics UK estimates the cost of border delays will be £1.30 a minute with a 14-hour hold-up costing £1,100 in additional expense per truck.
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The group also warns an average 90-minute extension to journeys would cost the economy £400million a year and any extra cost will be passed onto consumers.
UK ports are being handed a £10.5million boost from the government to help them prepare for the enhanced EU border checks.
Chief operations officer at the Port of Dover, Emma Ward said: “We are doing all that we can to be ready with the facilities that will be used by French border officials operating the new system.”
