An endless sight of empty shelves to be stark reality for UK consumers

Brexit, COVID-19 and labour shortfall are among many factors contributing to food shortages across the European nation.

Food and drink shortages in the United Kingdom (UK) caused by Brexit and the pandemic could become permanent as the British government moves to further delay the introduction of import checks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was planning to introduce checks on European imports following the conclusion of the Brexit transition.

But Brexit Minister David Frost says checks on imported consumable products will be halted by another six months, and will now commence in July 2022.

There was also a requirement to notify border officials of any incoming food products arriving in the UK from Europe, which will also be delayed until January.

The new measures were initially postponed last year as the Covid pandemic took hold of the world, in a bid to avoid British citizens from going without food and other vital supplies.

A bid to fill empty shelves

This latest delay comes as shelves throughout the UK remain empty with supermarkets struggling to keep their shelves fully stocked.

A lack in delivery drivers is also a key contributor, with demand for products outweighing the number of lorry drivers available.

Henry Bloxham of Moors Covert Farm told the BBC that he was asked to dump his milk as it couldn’t be collected due to a shortage of drivers.

“Our costs are rising all the time and I’m just envisioning this winter is going to be very expensive,” Bloxham says.

“Unless we get more price increases going forward into the winter, there will not be milk on the shelves.”

The UK needs an extra 100,000 truck drivers to accomodate for the shortage of food transportation, according to the Road Haulage Association.

In addition, the industry is calling for the government to respond to labour shortages in order to boost their recovery.

“Labour shortages are biting right across the economy,” said CIB director-general Tony Danker.

“These shortages are already affecting business operations and will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic recovery.” 

Europe is the most important source of food for Britons, accounting for 30 percent of the country’s total supply.