The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has hit out at proposals outlined by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) that would see an increase in charges for plant health inspection in the UK, calling the move 'unjustified'.
According to the FPC, the industry had been 'footing the bill' for an incomplete inspection service, resulting in delays in the completion of checks and additional costs since 2005.
'This is a classic case of over-the-top EU red tape which fails to address the real risks of plant health and the practicalities of importing fresh produce and cut flowers in these challenging times,' said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of FPC. 'The UK government must seize this opportunity to work with the industry to target unnecessary bureaucracy and minimise cost.
'The government should force the EU to see sense to adopt the Assured Trader Scheme (ATS) immediately, and allow the industry to self-regulate, reducing both government and industry costs by millions of pounds,' he noted.
Mr Jenney called for a thorough review of the level of service that is provided to the UK industry, and said that reduced inspection levels reflected the negligible risk from fresh produce.
'Instead Fera is proposing to increase the total annual cost of plant health import charges to nearly £2.5m (€3m), with no additional benefits to the industry,' he said.
Pointing to the fact that less than 1 per cent of imported consignments in the UK have any issue, Mr Jenney added that the FPC was pushing for Fera to fast-track the development of the ATS, which would actually reduce levels of inspection and administrative costs for reputable companies.
'After years of poor performance Fera has accumulated a large financial reserve, with many physical inspections not taking place but charges being levied regardless,' he continued. 'Based on actual physical inspection levels we estimate that the industry has funded around £5m (€6m) since the inception of charging. FPC wants the industry to be reimbursed where no inspections have taken place.'
Fera has stated that the increased charges are required to reflect changes in the sterling/euro exchange rate, something that has been refuted by the FPC.
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