The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has said it is “gravely concerned” over Defra’s ability to implement fully EU plant-health imports legislation.
In a meeting between the industry and Defra plant health officials last week, the consortium identified a series of issues it believes could have a “catastrophic impact” on the industry when plant health import procedures are fully rolled out at the end of March.
In a letter sent to Defra after last week’s meeting, FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney was critical about the perceived lack of understanding among the officials responsible for the implementation, even after several years of negotiation and discussion.
He wrote: “At a time when we are only a matter of weeks away from the full rollout of plant health regulations, Defra appears to have little understanding or appreciation of the day-to-day workings of the industry, and little thought seems to have been given as to how the relevant legislation is to be implemented or the impact it will have on the industry.”
The FPC is primarily worried about the length of the notification and inspection periods for imported produce, as well as the costs of implementing the system. For seafreighted imports, prenotification will be required three days prior to arrival in the UK, and up to a maximum of three days will be needed following arrival for possible inspection and customs clearance. For airfreighted fresh produce, these times will both be set at four hours.
Jenney said: “The proposed maximum periods will have serious detrimental impacts on businesses (and the wider supply chain) which are forced to wait up to six days, following notification, for an inspection or to be told that they won’t be inspected.
“The FPC has told Defra that it is essential, given timely prenotification, that the documentary and identity checks are completed prior to the arrival of the goods, and physical inspections should take place within 24 hours of arrival to avoid delay.”
The FPC also expressed doubts over the validity of making decisions when a full understanding of the costs incurred by Defra for plant health inspections are not yet known.
As FPJ went to press, Defra had declined to comment on these issues. Nor had it responded to the FPC about its concerns.
Jenney will be chairing a plant health imports meeting in Reading on March 5, which will be open to those members of the trade who have registered in advance.
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