A lack of detail ahead of planned checks and fees on fresh produce due to go live on 1 July is causing ‘chaos and turmoil’ in the industry
The financial burden of unclear new border policies set to go live this summer will see fresh produce companies pass on costs to consumers, trade body Fresh Produce Consortium has warned.
Speaking on the current affairs radio show The James O’Brian Show on LBC this week, chief executive of the FPC, Nigel Jenney, criticised the government’s lack of clarity and direction, describing the current system as “chaotic and incoherent”.
“The costs imposed on our industry don’t just vanish,” he said. “They will ultimately be passed onto hard-pressed British consumers. That’s the brutal reality.”
It comes as the FPC, along with the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), has written a joint letter to MP Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, urging the government to explore a more dynamic partnership model.
The industry won a delay for new checks to produce, which were due to go live in January, with a new date of 1 July. However, Jenney said that date is fast approaching and little detail has been provided.
“Since then, FPC has consistently requested detailed information. Yet, we have received no effective responses, and no direct communication or guidance has been offered by the UK government to the trade,” he said.
Under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), products such as asparagus and grapes are classed as ‘medium risk’ and will require a phytosanitary certificate and, in some cases, a pre-notification to be made on IPAFFS, the government’s Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System.
Apples and pears were downgraded from medium to low risk in January of this year, meaning they can travel freely to the EU. The full list of categorisation for plant products, fresh produce and flowers can be found here.
In another letter, the FPC and HTA have shared their concerns over the lack of coherent strategy with Defra under secretary of state, Baronness Hayman of Ullock. She is due to appear before the Animal and Plant Health Oral Evidence Session in parliament on 6 May, where she is expected to address the issue.
“With no clear answers or certainty, the ‘go live’ date of 1 July is fast approaching. The industry is in turmoil, with inadequate information and insufficient time to prepare,” said Jenney.
Separately, soft fruit grower Tim Chambers, of WB Chambers, has also spoken to LBC about the 300 tonnes of fruit he discarded last year, after he said paperwork and delays caused by Brexit meant the shipment was not worth sending.
“We used to be certain we could deliver to our foreign customers on a particular day or even hour — we can’t do that anymore,” Chambers told LBC.
Jenney said the “shockingly poor communication” from government has left both the UK trade and EU officials unable to plan. “Government departments have spent years developing this border strategy, yet now expect industry to absorb the operational burden with just a few weeks’ notice,” he said.
“Empty promises of a future “EU reset” are not enough. Such a reset could take years to materialise. What’s needed now is decisive action.
Defra was contacted for comment.
