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<p>The BTOM minimises additional costs for importers by taking a risk-based approach
to controls and will have a negligible impact on the cost of food. Fruit and vegetable
imports have been classified as low-risk meaning they will not require any additional
paperwork or checks. A limited number of meat and dairy products have been categorised
as medium-risk. For these simplified and streamlined certification will be available
to minimise additional costs.</p><p> </p><p>Now that we have moved away from the EU’s
rigid biosecurity surveillance and reporting systems, we are responsible for mitigating
our own biosecurity risks, which otherwise could devastate UK industries and our ability
to export food, as well as posing risks to the environment, public health and the
wider economy.</p><p>For example:</p><ul><li>An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF),
would be a fundamental threat to the viability of our pig industry.</li><li>Foot and
Mouth cost the British businesses c.£12.8 billion (at 2022 prices) in 2001.</li><li>The
cost of ash dieback is forecast to be £15 billion to the UK.</li><li>With an unprecedented
outbreak of avian flu all effort should be made to mitigate the risk of concurrent
outbreaks.</li></ul><p>The BTOM will strike the appropriate balance between protecting
the UK’s public health, food supply chains and farming industries and natural environment,
and setting a pragmatic, proportionate controls regime. For example, by taking a risk-based
approach our controls will be focused on consignments proven to cause the most significant
biosecurity risk.</p><p> </p><p>To further reduces costs, the Government will put
in a Trusted Trader Scheme which aims to minimise burdens and costs to industry. The
scheme will be accessible to as many sizes and types of businesses as possible, including
small and medium enterprises <br> <br> Overall, the implementation of the BTOM should
have minimal impact on food price inflation for consumers. Initial analysis has indicated
that the policies introduced under the BTOM would lead to an approximate increase
in consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2% over a 3-year period, with around
half of this- around 0.1%- in the first year. Beyond year 3, all else being equal,
we would not expect the TOM to have any further impacts on food price inflation.</p>
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