Post-Brexit EU import checks delayed and produce reclassified in major boost for UK industry
In what has been hailed ”a monumental victory” for the UK fresh produce industry, the Labour government has announced changes to post-Brexit import rules.
Following extensive lobbying by trade body the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Defra on Friday (13 September) officially postponed the January 2025 introduction of physical import checks and fees on medium-risk fruit and vegetables imported from the EU.
Defra described the delay (or ’easement’) to 1 July 2025 as a ”temporary measure” to ensure that new ministers have a full and through opportunity to review the planned implementation of further border controls, and an opportunity to listen to businesses across import supply chains.
The government has also reclassified seven commodity groups, including apples and pears, from medium- to low-risk, allowing their free movement from the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
And Defra changed the risk categorisation of certain plants and plant products, including deregulation of certain products, following further scientific review of commodities across all plant and plant product risk categories.
These changes will come into force from 30 January 2025.
FPC’s chief executive Nigel Jenney welcomed the government’s responsiveness and hailed the news as ”a monumental victory”.
“We are thrilled that the new government has heeded the industry’s concerns and proactively implemented many of the changes we proposed. The delay in border checks and the waiver of fees until July 2025 is a particularly significant win, both for the industry and for consumers,” he said.
Jenney estimates that these changes will exempt a staggering “80 per cent of all fruit and vegetables from Europe” from the new border checks, significantly reducing regulatory hurdles for the industry.
While celebrating this landmark achievement, Jenney emphasised that the FPC’s work is far from over. “We still have a long way to go,” he stated. “We need control points to be fully authorised and available by 1 July and at the same time we need authorised operator status available and effective by the go-live date, which will minimise the cost to industry and to hard-pressed consumers.
“In addition, we hope and believe that the new government will begin to dismantle the fundamentally flawed BTOM strategy of the previous government which continues to impact the industry badly in the flower and plant sector. Not only is it eye wateringly expensive, it is simply not sustainable.”
Jenney added: “If the previous government had listened to the industry many years ago, we could have a much more effective, border solution without the huge scandalous waste of taxpayers money building Sevington and many other facilities that are unnecessary and unaffordable.”
The FPC said it will continue to advocate for full authorisation of control points and the establishment of an effective authorised operator status by 1 July 2025, to ensure minimal costs for both businesses and consumers.
Jenney expressed confidence in the future, stating: “We are eager to collaborate with the new government to develop efficient and effective solutions. We commend the government for listening to the industry and adopting pragmatic, efficient, and bio-secure measures that we have long championed.”
He described these latest developments as an ”unprecedented victory, unmatched by any other trade sector in the UK”. He added that this ”underscores the FPC’s unwavering commitment to supporting the fresh produce industry and ensuring access to top-quality food at affordable prices for all”.
The FPC is the UK’s leading fresh produce trade association, representing the entire supply chain from field to fork.