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The short, sharp shock of no-deal Brexit

-

Will Britons end up stranded at Heathrow? Will UK shops run out of Swiss cheese and French wine?

The possibility of Britain breaking off from its main trading partner without any arrangements in place are growing as the March 29 exit date nears.

MPs return from their winter breaks Monday with little having changed since Prime Minister Theresa May aborted a December vote on a draft agreement she reached with Brussels because of its certain defeat.

The truth is no one really knows what would happen in case of a "no-deal Bexit" because Britain is the first to leave the bloc.

But here are some things London is telling its citizens to brace for in the first days of a worst-case scenario.

- Rip-off roaming -

Phone addicts could be out of luck.

Free roaming would no longer apply and UK mobile phone operators can start charging extra for subscribers who pop off to "the Continent".

London is also urging people in Northern Ireland to watch out for "inadvertent roaming" when straying too close to the EU border with Ireland.

- Grounded at Heathrow -

Heathrow and other big airports can be a nightmare at the best of times.

Flights could be cancelled at Heathrow and other UK airports
Flights could be cancelled at Heathrow and other UK airports
Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS, AFP

But planes getting grounded when Brexit strikes at 2300 GMT on March 29 because airlines have lost their licences would create chaos that ripples across the world.

London and Brussels are making contingency plans that will allow UK carriers to continue flying to EU countries even if the draft withdrawal agreement is never approved.

But these are bare-bones arrangements that do not allow British airlines to conduct intra-EU flights.

- Forms, forms, forms -

Britons could need to start signing their name. A lot.

Thousands of companies in Britain that do business with Europe would have to fill out reams of customs and duties declarations.

British tourists to the EU who want to rent a car may need to get international driving permits because their UK licences become invalid.

And even pets might need to jump through new administrative hoops that require them to have new passports.

People might want to check theirs as well. Those that expire within six months of travel might need to be renewed in advance.

- Drug dilemma -

Things turn more serious for those who rely on medication.

Officials are talking to drug companies about creating a six-week "buffer stock" on top of the three months they already have in place.

This should help cover any short-term disruptions at the border. Britain will also waive the need for EU firms to re-test their drugs under new rules.

- Shoppers beware -

That one-click purchase at an online store might start looking slightly less tempting post-Brexit.

The British government says "increased costs and slower processing times" for payments made in euros are a possibility.

Parcel deliveries could also get more expensive because waivers for certain import and sales taxes would expire.

- Flicks and tunes -

The Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe...
The Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe will be invalid
PHILIPPE HUGUEN, AFP/File

Catching up on the latest Netflix releases while coasting on a high-speed Eurostar train may become harder.

Britons could theoretically lose access to streaming services while abroad -- everything from Spotify to Amazon Prime -- because the UK would no longer be in Europe's "digital single market".

And the Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe will be invalid.

- Pork pies -

Britons are proud of their Stilton cheese and Scotch whisky.

But the status of everything from Cornish pasties to Melton Mowbray pork pies will be up in the air because they will lose their "geographical indication" status in Europe.

The nations 86 GI-protected products make up a quarter of all its food and drink exports.

- Surprises -

A host of other industries and products could also be affected.

Caviar supplies might start running out
Caviar supplies might start running out
David Becker, GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Britain will have to come up with its own warning stickers for packs of cigarettes because the current ones are protected by the EU image library.

Imported sperm donations could face delays or stoppages.

Caviar supplies might start running out because Britain will not be able to trade in goods covered by European endangered species rules.

Also facing possible disruption: breeders of pedigree British horses and sheep.

Will Britons end up stranded at Heathrow? Will UK shops run out of Swiss cheese and French wine?

The possibility of Britain breaking off from its main trading partner without any arrangements in place are growing as the March 29 exit date nears.

MPs return from their winter breaks Monday with little having changed since Prime Minister Theresa May aborted a December vote on a draft agreement she reached with Brussels because of its certain defeat.

The truth is no one really knows what would happen in case of a “no-deal Bexit” because Britain is the first to leave the bloc.

But here are some things London is telling its citizens to brace for in the first days of a worst-case scenario.

– Rip-off roaming –

Phone addicts could be out of luck.

Free roaming would no longer apply and UK mobile phone operators can start charging extra for subscribers who pop off to “the Continent”.

London is also urging people in Northern Ireland to watch out for “inadvertent roaming” when straying too close to the EU border with Ireland.

– Grounded at Heathrow –

Heathrow and other big airports can be a nightmare at the best of times.

Flights could be cancelled at Heathrow and other UK airports

Flights could be cancelled at Heathrow and other UK airports
Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS, AFP

But planes getting grounded when Brexit strikes at 2300 GMT on March 29 because airlines have lost their licences would create chaos that ripples across the world.

London and Brussels are making contingency plans that will allow UK carriers to continue flying to EU countries even if the draft withdrawal agreement is never approved.

But these are bare-bones arrangements that do not allow British airlines to conduct intra-EU flights.

– Forms, forms, forms –

Britons could need to start signing their name. A lot.

Thousands of companies in Britain that do business with Europe would have to fill out reams of customs and duties declarations.

British tourists to the EU who want to rent a car may need to get international driving permits because their UK licences become invalid.

And even pets might need to jump through new administrative hoops that require them to have new passports.

People might want to check theirs as well. Those that expire within six months of travel might need to be renewed in advance.

– Drug dilemma –

Things turn more serious for those who rely on medication.

Officials are talking to drug companies about creating a six-week “buffer stock” on top of the three months they already have in place.

This should help cover any short-term disruptions at the border. Britain will also waive the need for EU firms to re-test their drugs under new rules.

– Shoppers beware –

That one-click purchase at an online store might start looking slightly less tempting post-Brexit.

The British government says “increased costs and slower processing times” for payments made in euros are a possibility.

Parcel deliveries could also get more expensive because waivers for certain import and sales taxes would expire.

– Flicks and tunes –

The Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe...

The Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe will be invalid
PHILIPPE HUGUEN, AFP/File

Catching up on the latest Netflix releases while coasting on a high-speed Eurostar train may become harder.

Britons could theoretically lose access to streaming services while abroad — everything from Spotify to Amazon Prime — because the UK would no longer be in Europe’s “digital single market”.

And the Eurostar service itself might be in trouble because old licences of UK train operators in Europe will be invalid.

– Pork pies –

Britons are proud of their Stilton cheese and Scotch whisky.

But the status of everything from Cornish pasties to Melton Mowbray pork pies will be up in the air because they will lose their “geographical indication” status in Europe.

The nations 86 GI-protected products make up a quarter of all its food and drink exports.

– Surprises –

A host of other industries and products could also be affected.

Caviar supplies might start running out

Caviar supplies might start running out
David Becker, GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Britain will have to come up with its own warning stickers for packs of cigarettes because the current ones are protected by the EU image library.

Imported sperm donations could face delays or stoppages.

Caviar supplies might start running out because Britain will not be able to trade in goods covered by European endangered species rules.

Also facing possible disruption: breeders of pedigree British horses and sheep.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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