Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what contingency planning they have undertaken to manage any disruption to imports to the UK resulting from any potential problems with the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.

Government departments are engaging with stakeholders across all affected sectors in all parts of the United Kingdom and the EU to ensure that they understand the coming changes outlined in the Border Target Operating Model and are ready to continue to move goods across the border. We have not identified any specific risk of disruption to imports to the UK as a consequence of the BTOM at this stage and will continue to engage with all parts of the supply chain ahead of each implementation stage.

In implementing this new control regime for the first time on EU imports we are carefully monitoring the range of potential risks, including those that may impact food supply-chains.

We are working with importers to try to manage those risks in a structured way, considering whether there are appropriate contingencies which we or they can deploy if and when required.

In accordance with usual practice, we will undertake a programme of operational testing with users of the border prior to the changes being implemented to ensure that any potential issues are identified and resolved. We recognise this new model for importing Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods will require some businesses and their supply-chains to adapt their business models.

Information is being shared through a series of live and virtual engagement events and communications outlining actions required as a result of the new changes. Guidance is available on GOV.UK.