THE Port of Rotterdam has warned that imports of livestock from the UK will grind to a halt this month should Britain crash out of the European Union, as a vital inspection point at the harbour isn't ready.
The port's manager of external affairs, Mark Dijik, said: 'We face a couple of hiccups and livestock is one of them. In the absence of a deal or a further delay, Brexit is now scheduled for April 12, rather than the original deadline of March 29.
Rotterdam's port is a crucial gateway for imports from Britain to the Netherlands and the rest of the EU, handling about 40 million tonnes of shipments between the two nations each year. Port operators on both sides of the British Channel are rushing to get ready for Brexit after decades of tariff-free trade between the UK and the bloc.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority, which oversees inspections of livestock, has hired about 100 veterinarians in advance of Brexit, but the building where checks will occur is still under construction.
If the deal is passed, then a transition agreement would keep the current customs rules in place until the end of 2020. After that, the UK would become a so-called third country from the EU's standpoint, meaning customs clearance would be required for all UK trade with the bloc, reports Bloomberg.
WORLD SHIPPING
The port's manager of external affairs, Mark Dijik, said: 'We face a couple of hiccups and livestock is one of them. In the absence of a deal or a further delay, Brexit is now scheduled for April 12, rather than the original deadline of March 29.
Rotterdam's port is a crucial gateway for imports from Britain to the Netherlands and the rest of the EU, handling about 40 million tonnes of shipments between the two nations each year. Port operators on both sides of the British Channel are rushing to get ready for Brexit after decades of tariff-free trade between the UK and the bloc.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority, which oversees inspections of livestock, has hired about 100 veterinarians in advance of Brexit, but the building where checks will occur is still under construction.
If the deal is passed, then a transition agreement would keep the current customs rules in place until the end of 2020. After that, the UK would become a so-called third country from the EU's standpoint, meaning customs clearance would be required for all UK trade with the bloc, reports Bloomberg.
WORLD SHIPPING