The Dutch customs office is writing to 72,277 Dutch firms which do business with the UK warning them to make sure they are properly prepared for Brexit.

The service’s general director Nanette van Schelven told the Financieele Dagblad in an interview it is ‘high time for action’ because many companies are not ready to deal with the consequences.

In particular, Van Schelven said she is concerned that companies which will have to deal with customs regulations have not applied for a special number, which will be needed to trade with Britain once it has left the EU.

‘Around half the companies who did business with the UK last year have not got a number,’ she said. ‘And that means they are not in touch with customs.’

Meanwhile, the Dutch food and product safety board NVWA is training dozens of foreign vets to operate as inspectors because of the shortage of officials to inspect meat, fish and poultry imports from the UK after March 29.

In total, the service plans to take on 143 new members of staff, including 100 vets, broadcaster NOS said. It is now recruiting in Belgium and southern and eastern Europe because of the shortage of vets in the Netherlands.

Non-Dutch speaking vets will be given intensive language courses covering a total of 18 weeks before they are trained to carry out inspections.