Dover Warns Summer Border Disruption Could Hit Fresh Food Supplies

The UK’s fresh produce supply chain could come under renewed pressure this summer after the Port of Dover warned that congestion linked to the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) risks major disruption to freight movements through Kent during the peak holiday period.

Although most HGV drivers travelling through Dover are exempt from the new biometric border checks, the Port claims they could still become caught in traffic generated by passenger vehicles undergoing EES processing. 

This could create knock-on delays for time-sensitive imports and exports, including fresh food, medicines, and automotive parts during July and August.

Writing to Business and Trade Committee chair Liam Byrne MP, Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said the situation had the potential to mirror or far exceed the problems seen over the May half-term getaway, resulting in “untold disruption” across Kent, and affecting both the Port of Dover and the Port of Folkestone.

During the May half-term holiday, Bannister pointed out that just a few hours of EES processing triggered a Critical Incident which resulted in queues of up to four-and-a-half hours and widespread congestion around Dover.

With higher traffic volumes expected over the summer holidays, the Port is urging the UK government to secure operational easements with France and the EU to prevent freight becoming trapped behind tourist traffic.

“Behind the British tourist and community disruption will be the freight traffic, with HGVs being held on the M20 motorway whilst the authorities attempt to clear the disruption,” Bannister wrote to MP Liam Byrne.

Bannister added that the situation was particularly frustrating because "the vast majority of hauliers exiting the UK hold European passports and so do not need to get caught up in EES, but will do so because of the inability to bypass the queues of tourist and local traffic.”

Tourist Vehicles Must “Keep Moving”

For the fresh produce industry, the stakes are significant. Dover handles around one-third of UK goods traded with the EU, including perishable products that depend on rapid cross-Channel transit to maintain quality and availability.

These “just-in-time” supply chains continue to rely on Dover as the fastest crossing between the UK and continental Europe, according to Bannister. 

He also argued that diverting freight is not a practical solution since alternative ferry routes would only become commercially viable after delays exceeding 16 hours or approximately 20 missed sailings, while spare capacity on other routes is limited.

"The only arrangement to keep HGVs and trade moving is to keep tourist vehicles moving,” Bannister stated.

The Port of Dover has already invested £40 million in infrastructure to support EES implementation, including a dedicated processing facility in the Western Docks that is equipped with 84 kiosks intended to complete passenger checks before travellers reach the ferry terminal.

However, according to Bannister, that facility cannot yet be used as planned because the EES kiosk technology is not operational. 

Instead, French border authorities are processing passengers in the more constrained Eastern Docks ferry terminal, reducing overall border capacity during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Traffic modelling carried out by the Port indicates that, without changes to the operation of EES, queues could extend for miles onto the public highway during peak summer weekends.

Time Is “Running Out”

Bannister said Dover has repeatedly called on ministers to negotiate either a temporary deferral of EES during the busiest weeks of the summer or greater operational flexibility when traffic reaches critical levels. 

While the government has recognised the Port’s preparations and acknowledged the issue at senior levels, he said there is still “no workable solution agreed and time is rapidly running out”.

MP Liam Byrne echoed the Port’s concerns, warning of “border chaos” if the UK fails to reach an agreement with France to pause the new EU border technology this summer.

“Ministers must urgently secure that agreement now,” urged Byrne. “Once queues stretch for miles through Kent, it will be too late.”

UK Transport Operators Affected Already

Separately, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has warned that the introduction of EES also brings stricter enforcement of the EU’s 90/180-day rule, which limits UK truck drivers to spending no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period within the Schengen area.

In a statement, the RHA said the rule means lorry and coach drivers will “rapidly run out” of days for international work.

“We’ve heard from a number of firms – both haulage and coach – already running into difficulties,” the organisation stated.

The UK is not the only nation to be affected, according to RHA, noting that EU businesses also rely on these drivers and operators.

Left unchanged, RHA said EES will continue to limit the work British operators take on, push up costs, and damage businesses and wider supply chain resilience.

“That’s why we’re asking for a professional drivers’ exemption to the 90/180 rules,” the organisation said. 

“We’re also calling on EU states to take a pragmatic, light touch approach to enforcement and to suspend penalties for at least two years.

"We want the next Prime Minister and the government to put this high up the agenda in any future talks with the European Commission.”

Source: Motor Transport