Increased controls on “high risk” imports of certain fresh produce will not provide additional protection for consumers and will impose additional costs and bureaucracy on importers, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).

It claims the late consultation by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on the implementation of EC Regulation 669/2009 gives the fresh produce industry insufficient time to set in place procedures before the FSA’s final guidance is published and the actual implementation of the regulation on January 25, 2010.

The FPC’s key issues in response to the FSA’s consultation are the timing of consultation and subsequent implementation of the regulation; how the EU will place products on the “high risk” list, and how they will be reviewed; duplication of pre-notification of imports with additional costs and effort by the industry and disruption; and delays affecting importers and agents pending completion of checks.

It also expressed concern over the cost to the industry to cover imposed inspection charges, sampling and residue testing, additional storage costs, damage and loss of products, and their disposal.

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said: “The fresh produce industry is already required to provide prior notification and documentation for imports of fresh produce. The FSA’s proposed implementation means that companies will have to complete an additional Common Entry Document for the Local/Port Health Authority covering each consignment of ‘high risk’ product and pay them for the privilege. This runs completely counter to the government’s objective of reducing the burden on industry regarding importation. We want to ensure that unnecessary duplication is avoided by insisting that government departments and their agencies share information. We believe that the ALV system, which is about to be adopted by the industry, could provide this service without additional effort and costs.

“The FSA’s timeframe for holding fresh produce on average for 10-15 days is totally unacceptable, given the highly perishable nature of these products,” added Jenney. “It will result in product being unfit for use, leading to loss of retail value of between £2-5 million each year and unnecessary wastage.”

The regulation introduces increased controls setting out the frequency of physical checks and pesticide residue monitoring required for certain foodstuffs from third countries. Currently the list includes bananas, mangoes, yard long beans, melon bitter, Lauki, peppers and aubergines from the Dominican Republic; pears and vegetables like peppers, courgettes and tomatoes from Turkey; and vegetables including yard long beans, aubergines and brassica from Thailand.

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