FPC urges Prime Minister to defend UK consumers and retain proven risk-based controls at upcoming UK–EU summit
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has called on UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to secure a fresh produce solution at next month’s UK–EU summit in Brussels.
The UK trade association has warned that failure to protect vital global supply chains will saddle the sector with more than £300mn in avoidable annual costs, ultimately hitting shoppers.
In a statement, the FPC said the government must ”negotiate boldly” for UK consumers, in order to preserve access to safe, affordable fruit and vegetables, maintain the UK’s proven science-based, risk-based approach, and secure a long-term exemption for rest-of-world fresh produce destined solely for the UK market.
It estimates that around 4mn tonnes of fresh produce is imported annually from outside the EU, a volume equivalent by weight to approximately 50bn adult 80g portions of fruit and vegetables.
”FPC supports a closer trading relationship with Europe and wants an SPS agreement that works for UK consumers,” it outlined.
”It has already offered practical proposals to protect global sourcing while maintaining high biosecurity standards, but says those solutions continue to be ignored.
”FPC’s main ask is a long-term exemption from ’dynamic alignment’, primarily because it adds costs and drives avoidable food inflation for UK consumers,” the association continued.
”The exemption would only include rest-of-world fresh produce imports sold in the UK, so the UK could keep its current, proven and proportionate border checks for UK consumers.
”Any produce exported to the EU can easily be managed to meet EU standards in full,” it outlined. “The existing UK–EU customs border already successfully manages this approach and offers ongoing assurances to the EU.”
FPC pointed to 99.5 per cent border compliance under the existing UK regime, and said the government’s own scientific assessments support a proportionate approach to the biosecurity risks associated with fresh produce.
It argued that imposing additional EU requirements on compliant supply chains would add self-imposed costs without a corresponding benefit for UK consumers.
The consortium urged ministers to defend this approach in the negotiations rather than impose the “substantial additional burden” of EU-style restrictions at the UK border.
”The EU system is unnecessarily complex and costly and could be viewed as protectionist,” it commented. “FPC also wants meaningful industry engagement before any arrangements are finalised.”
Additional certification, inspections and official fees will drive annual costs above £300mn, while border delays also shorten shelf-life, increase waste and undermine the supply reliability of fresh produce.
Smaller importers and overseas suppliers will ultimately find UK trade less viable, reducing competition and consumer choice, FPC said.
FPC argued that the government must explain what savings the proposed agreement would deliver for industry and ”hard-pressed consumers”, with the sector seeing only additional costs and burdens on non-EU supplies as it stands.
“They’ve simply moved the problem and not solved it,” FPC stated.
Strong domestic production and reliable imports are both vital to year-round food security, the consortium emphasised, with global supplies maintaining availability when UK and European production cannot meet demand.
FPC warned that limiting the UK’s sourcing options would leave consumers more vulnerable to limited availability and price shocks.
“The rest of the world supply chain is not optional. It is fundamental to feeding the nation and mitigating food security risks,” said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC.
”Yet we continue to see policies developing that will add hundreds of millions of pounds in unnecessary costs to global food imports at a time when affordability and resilience should be the priority.
“We support a sensible reset, but not at any cost,” he added. ”We have repeatedly offered practical solutions that would deliver a balanced, resilient and effective food supply system.
”Unfortunately, the sector fears it will once again be ignored, with fresh produce businesses becoming the casualty of short-sighted policy decisions.”
