Checks of fruit and vegetables entering Britain from the European Union will not start before the end of October, the government has announced
The first phase of Britain’s new post-Brexit import system for food and fresh products is due to come into force today after having been postponed five times due to worries about border disruption and the cost-of-living crisis.
Initially, EU exporters of so-called medium risk animal and plant products will be required to present export health and phytosanitary certificates to British authorities.
Physical checks on shipments will only start on April 30 followed by a requirement for safety and security certificates from Oct. 31.
However The cost of importing fruit & vegetables from the EU is forecast to rise by a further £200m, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium, due to a recent amendment to how some fresh goods will be risk-categorised.
The government announced on Friday it had reclassified many fruit & veg consignments that were previously low-risk as medium-risk – meaning they will need extra paperwork and will undertake SPS checks at the border, which comes at an added cost.
FPC chief Nigel Jenney said the “simply shocking” decision was expected to have a substantial impact on shelf prices.“This verdict delivers a severe blow to the industry and will have widespread ramifications,” Jenney said.
