Technical glitches in the government’s IT system threaten food imports as new post-Brexit rules come into effect

Food importers in the UK are facing fresh challenges from January 1 due to persistent issues with the government’s IT system, which is responsible for processing additional paperwork required post-Brexit.

The system, known as IPAFFS, has been plagued with technical glitches, preventing the submission of essential information for importing fruit, vegetables, and animal products. This comes at a critical time when the UK is heavily reliant on EU imports during the winter months, with around 90% of lettuces and 85% of tomatoes coming from the EU.

Traders have reported receiving error messages from the system, requesting food safety certificates and details of border control posts that are not yet required or even built. While the government has acknowledged the issue, they have not yet provided a clear solution, leaving importers uncertain about whether they can submit the required documents.

“We’ve effectively gone back to medieval times, where everything is being done manually,” said Michael Szydlo, a customs expert. He emphasised that small businesses, which lack the resources to deal with increased bureaucracy, will be the hardest hit.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) revealed that only one in four small and medium-sized businesses is ready for the changes set to take effect. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has also predicted a sharp decline in imports throughout January as businesses assess the situation.

The delays, compounded by global supply chain issues, could lead to fewer options for UK consumers and higher prices, worsening the cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s absolutely crucial that all government systems, including IPAFFS, are fully operational to avoid supply chain disruption,” said James Sibley, head of international affairs at the FSB. He added that the new requirements, such as manually entering product details like weight and origin, will further burden businesses as the automatic upload feature has been delayed.

With risks of significant trade disruptions and impacts on domestic production, the government faces mounting pressure to resolve the issues and minimise the effects on the food sector and consumers.