Anticipation of logistical chaos mounts as the EU prepares to implement new border protocols involving biometric checks.
These changes could severely impact the UK’s supply chain, crucially during the Christmas season, warn industry leaders.
The European Union’s forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to launch on 10 November, necessitating stringent fingerprint and facial recognition for all non-EU passengers at key transit points such as Dover. According to Logistics UK, these requirements pose a significant disruption risk, potentially causing extensive delays and chaos in the logistical network.
Research highlights that the processing time for a single car escalates from under one minute to potentially seven minutes due to these checks. Imperial College London’s study indicates that each extended minute can add approximately 10 miles to queue lengths, creating unprecedented wait times that could reach up to 14 hours under worst-case scenarios.
As the festive season looms, the UK faces significant logistical hurdles owing to new EU border protocols. The efficient execution of proposed solutions will be paramount to safeguarding supply chain stability and consumer costs.
Logistics UK’s concerns highlight the urgent need for action to mitigate possible supply chain disruptions.
Stakeholders must collaborate closely to prevent consumer costs from escalating amid anticipated border delays.
