Defra’s plant health division started a four-week period of 100 per cent inspections at Felixstowe this week of all produce subject to the revised EU plant-health regime.
The new regulations mean that all produce has to be inspected before Customs clearance. Reduced levels of inspections have been agreed for a number of products from certain countries. For example, citrus from the US, Uruguay, Turkey, Morocco, Mexico and Israel, apples from Brazil, Chile, China, New Zealand and South Africa, pears from Argentina, Chile, China and South Africa mangoes from Brazil and South Africa and plums from Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Turkey.
A spokeswoman for Defra explained that the Felixstowe has been selected for the exercise as it is one of the biggest ports. Eventually the pre-Customs inspections will be introduced nationwide in compliance with the new regime with the additional costs to be borne by importers.
Further information is available from the plant health section of Defra’s website at www.defra.gov.uk or from the Fresh Produce Consortium.
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