Shoppers face a "decline in choice" in supermarkets because of new Brexit checks on goods coming into Britain from the EU, it has been reported. There are fears a new system will lead to more shortages in supermarkets - similar to the lack of fruit and vegetables that hit UK stores and led to rationing earlier this year.
The Government plans to phase in checks under its Border Target Operating Model from October. This is when health certification on imports of some animal, plant and food products is set to begin, with more checks then being introduced in January and October 2024.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association, told The Independent that some products would "fall by the wayside" as firms grapple with the new requirements. "What we’ll see is a decline in choice, because some of the smaller firms importing specialist products – bacon, ham, cheeses – that part of the business will fall by the wayside. Some will have to change their business model to survive," he said.
