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The National Audit Office (NAO) of the British government has estimated that post-Brexit border controls will cost the country at least £4.7 billion ($5.9 billion) in programs to manage the flow of imports from the European Union. This cost covers 13 border-related programs to deal with physical checks on plant and animal imports, safety and security declarations, and various other costs for ports receiving goods. The initial phase of post-Brexit border controls requiring health certifications for EU meat, dairy, and plant imports began on January 31, 2024, with physical checks coming into force on April 30. The NAO attributes the estimated cost to delays in introducing import controls and difficulties forecasting requirements, resulting in unnecessary government expenditure on infrastructure and staff. The U.K. has set a goal to have the "world's most effective border" by 2025, but the NAO has criticized the plan for lacking a clear timetable or a concrete delivery plan for collaborating government agencies.
