The UK government has delayed implementing post-Brexit physical checks on “medium risk” fruit and vegetables imported from the European Union for a further six months, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced.

The move is to allow the new government to consult with stakeholders involved in the import supply chain on the potential impact of the regulation.

Following Brexit new border regulations were drawn up which included the requirement for pyhsical checks on foods imported into Britain from the EU. Three three main risk categories were drawn up for imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain: high risk, medium risk and low risk.

The first phase of this regulation came into force at the end of January this year, which required  health certificates on EU goods ranging from cut flowers, to fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables.

This was followed by a second phase launched on 30 April, which began physical checks for products such as chilled and frozen meat, fish, cheese, eggs, dairy products and certain cut flowers and seeds.

A third phase, which would introduce physical checks on fruit and vegetables, has been delayed several times and has now been pushed out from January 2025 to 1 July 2025.

Defra said: “This easement is a temporary measure to ensure that new ministers have a full and thorough opportunity to review the planned implementation of further border controls, and an opportunity to listen to businesses across import supply chains.”

Defra added that it has also changed the risk categorisation of certain plants and plant products, including deregulation of certain products, ”following further scientific review of commodities across all plant and plant product risk categories.”

Seven commodity groups, including apples and pears, will be recategorised from medium risk to low risk, allowing these goods to move freely into GB from the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with the changes coming into force on 30 January 2025.

The review follows warning from across the food supply chain that the new checks will add costs of over £300m to the fruit and vegetable industry, resulting in higher prices for consumers.

 

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