BBC News
By Daniel Thomas
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Retailers have played down fears of food shortages after France shut its borders to UK hauliers for 48 hours due to the UK s new coronavirus variant.
But they warned of serious disruption without a resolution, with Tesco and Sainsbury s saying some fresh produce such as lettuce could run short.
The prime minister s spokesman said the UK had a diverse food supply chain.
The risk is European hauliers will avoid the UK for fear of getting stranded in the country. Poses difficulties
The head of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), Ian Wright, said the border closure had the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies - and exports of UK food and drink .
Submitting.
Police were turning hauliers and others away from Dover after the French decided to close their borders to UK vehicles following the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus
It came as the south-east of England grapples with a new variant of coronavirus that could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original strain.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the 48 hour ban on accompanied freight was “slightly surprising”.
But he said that “probably about 20 per cent” of goods going into and out of the country passes through Kent. Most goods actually come in and out by unaccompanied containers and those will continue to flow.”
Supermarket shoppers have reported seeing queues and empty shelves similar to those from the start of the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown.
The busy conditions come despite repeated calls not to panic-buy after a new variant of coronavirus in the south-east of England caused France to stop freight travelling from the UK.
Kevin Edger said he had to go to three supermarkets for his shopping in Bridgend, Wales, on Monday after being met with empty shelves in Sainsbury’s – he also queued for almost an hour.
Just popped to @sainsburys and guess what, people have been panic buying, again. Selfish. Literally no veg or fruit. pic.twitter.com/tEj5UdNngl
Covid 19 coronavirus: UK cut off by travel bans over new virus strain
21 Dec, 2020 05:17 PM
7 minutes to read
By: Pan Pylas of AP
Trucks waiting to get out of Britain are backing up for miles and people are stranded at airports as many countries impose stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus that authorities say may spread more easily.
A growing number of countries are halting air travel from the UK, while France has banned trucks from the country for a period of 48 hours while the new variant is assessed.
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British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the strain is out of control around London and southeastern England - but experts have urged caution, saying it s not clear if it s more lethal. There were rising hopes Monday that France would allow traffic to flow again, if truck drivers take coronavirus tests on arrival.
The UK confronted threats of food insecurity and panicked shopping days before Christmas as European nations restricted trade and travel to guard against a resurgent coronavirus, offering Britain a preview of the border chaos to come in the absence of a Brexit deal. Fearing a fast-spreading new strain of the virus that forced a strict lockdown across England, France on Sunday suspended travel from the UK for 48 hours and Germany halted arriving flights from Britain. The crisis gave renewed urgency to negotiations for a trade deal with the European Union that remained at a critical stage after weekend talks. The French government will want a stricter testing regime before lifting the blockade.