Britain left the European Union's single market in January 2021 but it has repeatedly delayed imposing checks on EU imports.

By contrast, the EU immediately enforced its rules, leading to port delays in 2021 and prompting some British exporters - such as cheese-makers and high-end beef farmers - to give up on selling to the bloc, at least initially.

Make UK, representing manufacturers, said in December that 90% of firms it surveyed still faced problems doing business with the EU with customs and clearance the biggest barrier.

Marco Forgione, Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade, representing UK importers, said large EU firms would probably cope with Britain's new rules but smaller ones - such as specialist food exporters - might struggle.

Some of them might decide it has become too complicated to trade with the UK and stop exporting, Forgione said.

"That then leads to price pressure and the possibility of scarcity," he said.

Britain has postponed full implementation of its post-Brexit border controls on food and fresh products five times due to worries about port disruption and the cost-of-living crisis.

But its new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) comes into force on Jan. 31 and will be introduced in three phases....

 more at Reuters