Up to 21 new port health authority jobs are being advertised in Hull, despite emerging reports of a potential further delay to the introduction of new post-Brexit border checks.
The recruitment drive launched this week by the Hull and Goole Port Health Authority aims to double its workforce to be able to deal with the inspection of food imports entering Britain from the European Union. A new system of physical checks is due to start on July 1.
However, it’s being reported the government is exploring the option of yet another delay in implementing the new regime, which has also required construction of a new multi-million pound border control post at Hull’s King George Dock. Checks were first delayed in June 2020 followed by further deadline extensions in March and September last year.
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Before Brexit, checks on food imports from EU states were not required under frictionless border trade regulations. Between them, the ports of Hull and Killingholme which are covered by the port health authority, typically handle nearly 150 million kilos of imported EU food a year.
Laurence Dettman, the authority’s chief port health inspector, said: “Despite repeated delays, I am pleased with progress made towards our border readiness. However, the coming months will be critical in meeting government, trader and consumer expectations”.
(Image: Hull Live)
The new jobs being advertised at the Hessle Road-based authority include 20 port health support officers on a salary range of between £23,484 to £25,927 depending on experience. A new port health inspector’s post is also being advertised with an annual salary of between £33,486 and £36,371.
Mr Dettman said current staff were receiving in-depth training on the new inspection regime while a new seven-day-a-week shift had been drawn up to cope with the anticipated huge increase in the authority’s workload. He said weekly data on new EU-UK pre-notifications on imported food products introduced in January showed “huge volumes” of relevant consignments arriving from the continent.
He said: “Although we remain under unprecedented pressure, our preparations are rapidly gathering pace and I remain cautiously optimistic that our excellent and expanding team will be ready for the challenges ahead. We are taking the opportunity, ahead of full implementation of EU import checks, to increase our contact and liaison with traders to help them understand and support compliance with the new requirements.”
As well as the new officers, the authority has also contracted with a leading veterinary agency to supply veterinary cover for required new health checks on livestock being imported through Hull and Killingholme. Importers will be charged an inspection fee by the authority.
From July 1, all food imports from the EU will be required to enter the UK through the new border control posts. As well as the one in Hull, a second new facility has been built at Killingholme.
(Image: PA)
Physical and certification checks on EU dairy products have been held back until September while similar checks on EU fishery products are due to start in October. Border checks on imports from the UK started in most EU countries immediately after the end of the transition period covering the UK’s exit from the EU in January 2020.
Reports of the July 1 date being pushed back further emerged this week amid fresh warnings from food industry chiefs over the impact of the new inspection regime on EU food imports. Shane Brennan, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, said introducing full veterinary controls on food imports would lead to “a collapse in supplies” for UK firms relying on frequent deliveries of fresh food products from the EU.
Speaking about the current situation with P&O Ferries, Mr Dettman said: “As long as they keep running and bringing freight it will not impact on the authority. We are also responsible for enforcing food safety legislation on the ferries. Both ferries currently have a food hygiene rating of five and are due our inspection within coming weeks so we hope they can maintain the high standards achieved.”
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