The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has expressed concern about the implications for small British businesses of new customs checks and charges that came into force on 30 April. The second phase of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model introduced charges of up to £145 for imports of plant and animal products, marking the first time in decades that firms will have to pay such fees for EU imports of goods. Although only higher-risk goods will be subject to checks initially, the BCC cautions that there is no definitive list confirming which ones, nor any timetable for when other goods will be added. Government figures show that the UK imports just under 30% of all the food it consumes from the EU. To read BCC’s news release, go to https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2024/04/concerns-mount-over-customs-costs-and-clarity/.