The delayed third phase of the Brexit border controls for imports from the European Union began on Friday - five years after the UK officially left the EU. In October, the Government extended a waiver on safety and security certificates for goods entering Britain from the EU until January 31 2025. It was among a string of delays to the implementation of post-Brexit border controls on products. The first phase of the Government’s new border model, which required additional certification for some goods, came into force at the end of January last year.

A second phase followed at the end of April, introducing physical checks at ports for products such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese and other dairy products and some cut flowers. New charges were also put in place. From Friday, the third phase will see businesses moving goods from the EU required to comply with new UK safety and security declaration requirements - detailed information about the products being shipped.

HM Revenue and Customs said mandatory collection of the data would enable "more intelligent risking of goods", with legitimate goods less likely to be held up when entering the UK. However, it warned businesses that declarations must be submitted before goods arrived at the border to avoid them being held up for unnecessary checks and possible fines. While Britain's major retailers and large EU exporting firms have the resources to handle the demands of the new regime, smaller retailers and wholesalers have complained it puts a disproportionate burden on their businesses.

Plans to extend physical checks to fruit and vegetables have been delayed several times. In September last year they were pushed again to July 1 2025. It comes as Britain marks five years since Brexit with little fanfare as the Government pursues closer relations with the bloc. The UK officially left the EU at 11pm - midnight in Brussels - on January 31 2020, after three-and-a-half years of political wrangling that followed the 2016 Brexit referendum.

The Conservatives celebrated the anniversary, with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel saying it marked five years since her party "honoured the democratic will of the British people and got Brexit done". Nigel Farage, one of Brexit's top cheerleaders, told his GB News show on Thursday: "I still 100% believe it was the right thing to do.". But he admitted he was "disappointed in the way it's been delivered".