Defra Plant Health Division will start a four-week period of 100 per cent inspections of all produce subject to plant health regulations at Felixstowe on Monday November 7.

The ministry has confirmed that, under the revised European plant health regime, imports of all products subject to the regulations from outside the EU must undergo a plant health inspection prior to Customs clearance.

Reduced levels of inspections have been agreed for certain products from certain countries (freshinfo readers should refer to the Re:fresh Directory and previous FPC newsletters for details).

This focus of plant health inspection resources only involves Felixstowe. Delays in clearing goods at Felixstowe are likely during this period.