The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has announced a monumental victory for the UK food industry. Following extensive lobbying efforts, the UK government has agreed to significant changes to import regulations, easing the burden on businesses and consumers alike.

Key changes secured by the FPC include:

• Postponement of Import Checks & Fees: Import checks and associated fees on medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU have been delayed from January 2025 to 1st July 2025.
• Reclassification of Products: Several commodity groups, including apples and pears, have been reclassified from medium to low risk, facilitating their free movement from the EU, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein starting 30th January 2025.

FPC's Chief Executive Nigel Jenney hailed the government’s responsiveness, stating, “We are thrilled that the new government has heeded the industry’s concerns and proactively implemented many of the changes we proposed. The delay in border checks and the waiver of fees until July 2025 is a particularly significant win, both for the industry and for consumers.”

Jenney estimates that these changes will exempt a staggering “80% of all fruit and vegetables from Europe” from the new border checks, significantly reducing regulatory hurdles for the industry.

While celebrating this landmark achievement, Jenney emphasised that the FPC's work is far from over. “We still have a long way to go,” he stated. 

“We need control points to be fully authorised and available by 1 July and at the same time we need authorised operator status available and effective by the go-live date, which will minimise the cost to industry and to hard-pressed consumers.

"In addition, we hope and believe that the new government will begin to dismantle the fundamentally flawed BTOM strategy of the previous government which continues to impact the industry badly in the flower and plant sector. Not only is it eye wateringly expensive, it is simply not sustainable. 

"If the previous government had listened to the industry many years ago, we could have a much more effective, border solution without the huge scandalous waste of taxpayers money building Sevington and many other facilities that are unnecessary and unaffordable."

The FPC will continue to advocate for full authorisation of control points and the establishment of an effective authorised operator status by 1st July 2025, to ensure minimal costs for both businesses and consumers.

Jenney expressed confidence in the future, stating, "We are eager to collaborate with the new government to develop efficient and effective solutions. We commend the government for listening to the industry and adopting pragmatic, efficient, and bio-secure measures that we have long championed."

This unprecedented victory, unmatched by any other trade sector in the UK, underscores the FPC's unwavering commitment to supporting the fresh produce industry and ensuring access to top-quality food at affordable prices for all.