Belief that customs system will be ready for Brexit ‘borders on insanity’

Logistics company CEVA says delays could lead to 'calamitous situation' at Dover, and warns it may already be too late

One of the world's biggest logistics companies, whose clients include Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Primark, has said it is "bordering on insanity" to think new Brexit customs systems will be in place for 2019.

Leigh Pomlett, the executive director of CEVA Group, which specialises in road, air and ocean-going freight, said Downing Street and the Treasury did not understand how difficult it would be to have a system in place in 15 months' time, when the UK leaves the EU.

Related: Brexit: failure to update customs system could be 'catastrophic'