The intensification of import controls to the UK from the EU would endanger the arrival of fruit and vegetables

Fruits

Vegetables

United Kingdom

Regulation & Compliances

Market & Price Trends

Published Mar 12, 2024

Tridge summary

Freshfel Europe, a fresh produce association, has raised concerns over the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) proposed changes to a regulation that could reclassify half of all EU exports of fresh fruit and vegetables to Britain as medium or high risk. The changes could increase costs by up to £200 million due to additional checks, restrictions, and potential delays. Freshfel warns that this could impact the competitiveness of EU exports, UK's food security and affordability, and increase food waste. The association urges UK authorities to reconsider and suggests reaching an agreement with the EU on sanitary matters to ensure smooth trade.

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Original content

On 8 March 2024, Freshfel Europe submitted its response to the consultation initiated by Defra on proposed changes to Annex 11 of Implementing Regulation 2019/2072, which, if adopted, will impose unnecessary checks and other restrictions on half of all exports of fresh fruit and vegetables from the EU to Great Britain. Freshfel Europe, on behalf of the European fresh produce sector, and in close collaboration with the UK Fresh Produce Centre, presented the sector's response to Defra's proposed changes to Annex 11 of Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 which would reclassify Half of all EU exports to Britain are medium or high risk. Under the changes proposed by Defra, common exports such as tomatoes, peppers, apples, pears, grapes or strawberries, which in total amount to one million tonnes of exports in 2022, would be reclassified as medium risk and subject to greater controls and procedures additional bureaucracies. Similarly, another 250,000 tonnes of lower risk, including ...

Source: InfoAgro