The United Kingdom will postpone the full entry into force of controls on imports of goods from the European Union induced by Brexit until January 2022, the British government announced on Thursday.
Justifying this measure by its desire to allow companies to focus on post-pandemic recovery, Boris Johnson's government is thus pushing back the deadline by six months compared to the initially planned schedule.
In order to allow companies to be able to adapt to the constraints resulting from the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, the government had opted for a gradual implementation of controls.
According to this new schedule, controls on live animals, plants with a low health risk and plant products will not even come into force until March 1, 2022.
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This new schedule will "
allow businesses to benefit from more time to prepare for changes at the border,
" the government said in a press release.
It will also reduce "
disruption as the economy gradually reopens and the government recognizes the extent and importance of the challenges businesses have encountered in adapting to new requirements, while addressing the impact of Covid-19.
".
Falling since the United Kingdom's exit from the single European market and the customs union, freight volumes between the country and the European Union have returned to "
normal
" levels in early February, according to the text.
Unlike controls on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain, which London has unilaterally decided to reject, causing great discontent on the European side and the preparation of a judicial response, import controls on British soil are under British jurisdiction alone.