Recommendation 18

Concerns over readiness have led to the government delaying the implementation of import controls three times and departments’ focus is now on improving UK and EU readiness for the implementation of UK import controls.56 Logistics UK told us that improving readiness across 27 member states is significantly more challenging than just one, and told us that it was particularly nervous about the lack of information and metrics on EU readiness.57 Dr Jerzewska told us that there is a limit to what government can do to encourage traders in EU countries to prepare and that it was likely that the experience at the border in January 2022 would be the same as in January 2021, where a small number of issues arose that caused friction at the border and the authorities had to work together to solve them.58 HMRC agreed that the experience of January 2021 showed that it was inevitable some traders and hauliers would show up at the border not ready, but these will soon learn what they need to do to avoid future disruption.59