Minister of Transport makes it clear: There is no prohibition on unpacking containers with non-essential goods during lock-down

Epidemic Response Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday 01^st April

Question: David Seymour asks Twyford about containers that are not being unloaded if they don't contain essential goods. He says this is bringing down the whole system as they are taking up space needed at a cost to logistics firms.

Answer: Phil Twyford says there is no rule against containers being unloaded with non-essential goods, despite some "unhelpful" reporting on this.

He makes absolutely clear that anything needed to get containers out of port that are essential would itself be essential.

It's the rest of the logistics industry for non-essential goods that is not.