Physical border checks on certain EU fruit and veg arriving in UK may not come into force until July 2025, Fresh Produce Consortium reveals
Defra is proposing to delay EU fruit and veg border checks until July 2025 after consistent lobbying by the UK trade body the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).
If approved by the government, post-Brexit sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU medium-risk fruit and vegetables due to come in from January 2025 will be pushed back to 1 July 2025, the FPC has revealed.
The FPC said it wrote to Baroness Hayman of Ullock, parliamentary under-secretary of state at Defra on 7 July 2024, to ask for clarity on the review of medium-risk EU fruit and vegetable products and the adoption of the Authorised Operator Scheme (AOS).
In its letter, the group requested an extension for the easement on medium-risk fruit and vegetables and the AOS roll-out to be aligned to 1 July 2025 to allow industry and wider EU supply chains to effectively prepare.
Baroness Hayman responded on 29 August 2024, telling the FPC that Defra is currently planning for “easement to end on 1 July 2025”, and that Defra is “looking to adapt SPS controls from this time”.
The under-secretary added that a recommendation to ministers on AOS adoption is anticipated in the first half of 2025.
While acknowledging that these proposals are subject to government approval and ministerial sign-off, the FPC hailed Baroness Hayman’s response as “positive on many fronts”.
The industry body added that it feels the new Labour government is listening to the FPC.
FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney has consistently warned that UK border checks in their current form will create £200 million in extra costs to industry and consumers, and could push up prices in supermarkets.
In a statement this week, Jenney said: “This consideration to defer the easement until 1 July 2025 is a significant victory if approved.
“FPC will continue to lobby government on the most appropriate action and timescales to allow industry to prepare, whilst working with our members and EU partners to understand the requirements and the impacts these will have.”
He added: “We are delighted at FPC that there is a willingness of the new Government to work with industry by delaying this date. We believe that SPS controls are vital to protect plant health and food safety but also recognises that, with the current delays and IT issues, it is imperative that all supply chains are fully prepared for any significant changes.”
Full checks on agricultural goods arriving from the EU were originally meant to come into force at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, but have been repeatedly delayed over the last four years.
The extension of the easement was first reported by the i newspaper, which obtained the letter from the minister to industry.
When approached for a statement, Defra’s press office told FPJ it did not comment on leaks.
