Greater co-ordination and communication between the fresh produce industry, the ports and the UK government is vital to ensure the efficient and cost-effective transfer of perishable fresh produce through ports to the end customer has been called for.

Speaking at the Port Centric Logistics conference, Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), said: “There is a need for a robust and detailed end-to-end supply chain review to realise fully the opportunity to meet the unique requirements of the fresh produce industry. The ports must listen to their customers and understand their business needs.

“There are some good examples of individual ports providing an effective service to the industry, including the installation of dedicated facilities for fresh produce, but too often there is a lack of understanding of the industry and its needs. There are definitely more opportunities for ports to work together with the fresh produce industry.”

The fresh produce industry is dependent on deep sea, ro-ro and airfreight, with over 60 per cent of fresh produce imported to the UK, mostly from within the European Community.

Jenney’s speech follows several months of consternation in the produce trade over EC Regulation 669/2009, which requires further checks on some produce at the port.

Jenney added: “While we continue to fight to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, we need to ports to play their part in focusing on their customers and their products and be more pro-active in finding solutions for the fresh produce industry.

“The FPC is working to ensure that the government keeps its promise to cut unnecessary red tape and burdensome bureaucracy and allow the fresh produce industry to trade efficiently. The government’s action plan has taken on board a number of our recommendations regarding efficiencies and we shall continue to work with SITPRO to ensure that the government fulfils its promise to improve regulation and remove unnecessary business costs.”

In its action plan, the government states: “We will ensure the delivery of a fair and effective regulatory environment for those engaged in international trade, based on streamlined, efficient regulation and procedures for exports and imports - cutting out avoidable costs and delays for business.”

The UK is ranked 16th in the world, well below its key competitors, for ease of trading across borders, leaving UK businesses at a commercial disadvantage.