In the UK, proposed increases in plant health statutory charges by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) have been rejected by the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).
The charges see Fera set on moving towards a full cost-recovery for its services, with proposals including a 458 per cent increase for plant health checks, a 111 per cent increase for plant passport inspections, and 113-312 per cent increases in fees for plant health licensing and services.
However, the FPC noted that Fera had failed to provide the fresh produce industry with sufficiently detailed information about its current resourcing and service levels as part of the consultation on proposed increases in charges.
'This is an extortionate escalation in charges, in several cases over 100 per cent,' said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of FPC. 'We demand that Fera makes immediate efficiencies and targets its resources towards where the real plant health problems lie, outside of fresh produce. The industry should not have to bear exorbitant costs for a continually inefficient service.'
FPC pointed out that plant health issues arising from fresh produce were minimal, accounting for less than one per cent of all consignments, and insisted that Fera should undertake a full review, introduce efficiencies and reduce the frequency of checks on reputable traders before it considered introducing any increased charges.
'Some of the industry will struggle to absorb these costs, even if they were phased in over three years,' Jenney added. 'The UK will be rendered less competitive, and there is a risk that trade will be pushed elsewhere in Europe where these services can run efficiently.
'Alternatively UK consumers could face, for no benefit whatsoever, a 1.9 per cent increase in prices, according to Fera's estimated values. That's something which any government would wish to avoid in the current economic climate.'
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