Fresh Produce Consortium helps postpone border checks for EU imports in what CEO describes as “landmark win”
The UK government has announced that planned post-Brexit border checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU, due to be introduced on 1 July this year, will be delayed until 31 January 2027.
UK trade association the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has called it a landmark win that demonstrates the power of collective action, after years of lobbying and pressure through the media by FPC.
“The move spares the industry from 700,000 consignments annually subject to UK SPS (sanitary & phytosanitary) border controls and avoids an eye-watering £200mn in added costs – savings that will directly benefit UK consumers already struggling with the cost of living,” the FPC stated.
“This is a unique and sector-specific exemption, and one we’ve fought long and hard to achieve,” said FPC’s chief executive, Nigel Jenney. “We’re proud to have secured a common-sense solution that protects our diverse and critical industry – from supermarket supply chains to the thousands of SMEs in wholesale and foodservice.”
Instead, the government has extended the current easement to align with the end of the UK’s Transitional Staging Period (TSP).
“The delay also allows breathing room while the UK and EU negotiate a new SPS agreement – a process widely expected to take months, if not years,” FPC stated. “Crucially, this means that fruit and vegetables will also remain exempt from the Common User Charge (CUC) when entering via the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel – a huge benefit for importers using these major entry points.”
Jenney commented: “We thank our members for their backing – especially those who took a public stance or lobbied ministers directly. This exemption is their win too.”
But Jenney warned that efforts to avoid punishing non-EU exporters were needed. “The government must ensure that policy resets don’t penalise imports from the rest of the world,” he said. “We remain committed to working in partnership to unlock the full potential of UK horticulture and protect national food security.”
Fresh fruit and vegetables may have been granted relief, but sectors including meat, dairy, fish, plants and flowers remain subject to full border checks.
FPC said it is now calling on the government to: deploy out-of-hours inspectors at plant and flower Control Points to meet 24/7 trade needs; fast-track Authorised Operator status for trusted businesses; and review inconsistencies between the treatment of EU and non-EU imports, particularly for fresh produce such as citrus.
