The UK government on Friday pushed back potential border checks of medium-risk fresh produce items coming from the European Union to 1 July 2025.
The checks, which potentially could have thrown businesses and the entire fruit and vegetable import supply chain into turmoil, originally were set for 1 January 2025. The temporary easing will give them and ministers, as well, a chance to review how they want to proceed should the status change next summer.
“This extension will give businesses and traders more time to prepare for the implementation of these controls and will ensure that checks are introduced progressively to protect our biosecurity whilst also minimising disruption and costs to trade,” Defra noted in a release to the Fresh Produce Commission.
One of the key changes happening on 30 January 2025 will be the lowering of categorization of seven commodities, including apples and pears, from medium risk to low risk. Should implementation of border controls occur, that easing would help. It is unclear whether other commodities would be considered for status change, as well.
Mike Parr, who is the director of PML Seafrigo in London, noted the potential impact of border controls and resulting fees in a recent column in Produce Business.
“Prices will inevitably be driven up as more European producers decide to boycott the UK market due to the unacceptable costs, and, frankly, pure hassle, associated with exporting to Britain,” he wrote. “We also know the inland border facility at Sevington is simply not equipped to cope, and the resulting queues for drivers trying to access the government Border Control Post will cripple the transport network. That will of course, result in perishable goods sitting in transit for lengthy periods, which will have a detrimental impact on shelf life.
“Many producers are simply not interested in working within [the UK’s] ever-changing logistics landscape. At a time when the whole nation is being encouraged to engage in a healthier lifestyle, which includes eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, these very items are likely to become less available and more expensive. To say we are frustrated is an understatement.”
Defra did indicate that it will still “continue the systematic, proactive screening of potential new and emerging biosecurity risks. This is alongside maintaining our responsive approach to changes in risk levels via surveillance, enhanced inspection, regulation, import controls, research and awareness raising.”
