Representatives from the fresh produce industry have welcomed the announcement that the government will extend ‘the easement of import checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables imported from the EU from January 2025 to 1 July 2025.’
This means that a wide range of fruit and vegetable products will not be subject to import checks at the GB border or charged the associated fees until this date.
Defra has also 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. Seven commodity groups (including apples and pears) will be re-categorised from medium risk to low risk, allowing these goods to move freely into GB from the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and these changes will come into force on 30 January 2025.
However, in a statement the government stressed, ‘This easement is a temporary measure to ensure that new ministers have a full and thorough opportunity to review the planned implementation of further border controls, and an opportunity to listen to businesses across import supply chains.’
It added, ‘Defra will continue the systematic, proactive screening of potential new and emerging biosecurity risks. This is alongside maintaining our responsive approach to changes in risk levels via surveillance, enhanced inspection, regulation, import controls, research and awareness raising.’
Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Industry, which has continuously lobbied for post-Brexit import checks on fresh produce to be reviewed, stated, “We are delighted that the new government has listened to FPC on behalf of the industry and has proactively adopted many of the changes we have requested.”
The FPC estimates that the proposals mean that 80 per cent of fruit and vegetables from Europe will now be exempt from the new border checks. However, Jenny warned, “There’s still much more to be done.” The industry is calling for fully authorised control points and an effective authorised operator status by July 1, 2025, to minimise costs for both the industry and consumers.
“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,” continued Jenney.
“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.”
In a statement, Defra confirmed it remains committed to BTOMs, saying, ‘We will continue to work collaboratively with FPC whilst we implement the phased BTOM biosecurity controls.’
