In order to give UK businesses time to prepare, Lord Frost delayed checks on goods to January 1, 2022.

       Businesses must now pre-notify the Government of any food, animal or plants products from the EU.

       This applies to products of animal origin, animal by-products, high risk food and feed not of animal origin.

       Businesses will also need to prove the place of origin of the product and submit customs declarations forms.

       Previously, Britain was alleged to have adopted a "sneaky" tactic in a bid to force the European Union to back down in the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol, according to a commentator.

       Mujtaba Rahman, the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice, said that after realising triggering Article 16 would unite Brussels, the UK "began toying with another idea: of letting talks run long, neither suspending nor fully implementing Protocol - a sneakier play".

       However, Mr Rahman said Britain has now adopted a safer approach to talks with the EU on Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

       The expert said it is now likely the UK will drop its demand that the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) must be removed from the Protocol.

       Additional reporting from Katie Harris and Bill McLoughlin.

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