Reaction to new checks for fresh produce

PML Seafrigo director Mike Parr says: “This marks yet another U-turn by the UK government which will have a profound impact on those operating in the transfer of perishable fruit and vegetables from Europe into the UK and ultimately, on the availability of fresh produce on the supermarket shelves. We’ve already endured so much chaos at the behest of officials who seem to be either oblivious or simply don’t care regarding the ramifications of their erratic decision making. 

“We have not been privy to the risk assessments that have led to those in power to decree that certain fruit and vegetables now represent a medium risk and must therefore be inspected, so remain baffled as to why there has been a complete retraction of all that has been previously debated and agreed.

“We are still waiting to understand whether commercial border control points, such as that operated by PML Seafrigo at its Kent logistics and transport hub, will be approved to conduct these inspections.

“We do not know if the proposed Authorised Operator Status (AOS) programme - which was designed to enable those with a designated Border Control Post to undertake the appropriate training to perform the planned physical and identity import checks – is going to be rolled out. Our staff were trained 10 months ago.”

Address confusion

Logistics UK is calling on the government to address the confusion caused by its reclassification and publish its assessment of the impact on the UK’s supply chain.  

Speaking ahead of the introduction of the first stage of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which will see checks put in place at the UK’s border with the EU, Logistics UK’s head of trade Nichola Mallon is seeking urgent clarification from government about exactly what will be required from business to ensure that trade can continue to flow smoothly.

“Logistics businesses have been pressing government for clarity on how border checks will be done on freight from the EU since the Brexit vote,” she says. “With only days until the first stage of the BTOM is to be introduced, why is the government providing conflicting and confusing information that will slow down the preparedness of the UK’s businesses to trade effectively with their EU suppliers?” 

On 24 January 2024, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that it was changing its classification of how fruit and vegetable imports will be handled after 31 October 2024, meaning they will be subject to physical checks before being passed to cross the UK border. Since then, the government has rowed back, stating that some fruit and vegetables from the EU are “temporarily being treated as low risk” and that “further information related to the categorisation of fruit and vegetables from the EU will be available shortly”. No rationale has been provided for this reclassification of fresh produce or any further detail given. And as Ms Mallon continues, this confusion is preventing businesses from preparing effectively for the country’s new trading relationship with the EU.

“In selling the BTOM to industry, the government stated that 90% of all sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) commodities – those of plant or animal origin - are low risk, meaning they wouldn’t require an Export Health Certificate, be subject to physical checks or hit with a higher import charge. This change in classification will add significant time and costs to this critical “just in time” supply chain. Logistics businesses are already struggling with rising inflation, as they operate on particularly narrow margins. These increased costs can only add to inflation and at a time when food inflation remains high.”

Laughing stock

Mike Parr confirms his company remains in the dark as to whether or not the new Border Control Post Common User Charge is applicable to commercial Border Control Posts.

“What we do know is that this latest directive will signal major disruption in the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to the UK. Prices will inevitably be driven up as more European producers take the decision to boycott the UK market due to the unacceptable costs and frankly, pure hassle, associated with exporting to Britain,” he explains.

“We also know that the 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. And of course, result in perishable goods sitting in transit for lengthy periods which will have a detrimental impact on shelf life.

“Furthermore, if the government goes ahead with this system, Sevington is unable to provide the necessary temperature-controlled warehousing facilities or sufficient staff to enable the removal of certain items from a groupage consignment, which means that a whole consignment would be condemned rather than individual items.

“The UK is becoming a laughing stock and many producers are simply not interested in working within its ever-changing logistics landscape.”