Planned post-Brexit checks on fruit and vegetables brought into Britain from the EU have been delayed for the third time, amid concerns from suppliers that they could lead to higher prices for shoppers.
The government said plans to introduce checks on some fruit and vegetables, such as celery and tomatoes, from 1 January would now be postponed by six months, in a move that would give it more time to understand the impact on businesses.
The delay marks the third time the checks have been postponed in the past 12 months. The checks were initially planned to be introduced by the end of October 2024.
The Fresh Produce Consortium, which represents 700 companies, had pushed for a delay, warning that checks could add more than £200m to import costs and result in higher prices on supermarket shelves.
The checks on fruit and vegetables were the next phase of the government’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) which introduced checks on plant and animal products coming into the UK on 30 April this year.
That scheme was also delayed – on five separate occasions – from the initial planned launch date of April 2021.
The BTOM regime now involves certain medium and high-risk plant and animal products being checked at border control posts at Britain’s ports as part of a bid to prevent the import of plant and animal diseases. Importers are also charged by border control posts to cover the cost of inspections.
Fruit and vegetable importers were given an easement period for products deemed medium risk until 1 January 2025.
However, the government has now said that this will be extended until 1 July and importers will not be subject to checks or associated fees until this date.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (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.”
It also confirmed that several fruit and vegetable products, including apples and pears, which were previously deemed medium risk, would now be changed to “low risk” and could be imported without any checks or charges.
The FPC said it was still waiting for the final list of products that had been recategorised and would now be exempt from checks, but estimated that about 80% of fresh fruit and vegetables would be exempt from checks.
The Guardian has asked Defra for details of what the other reclassified products were.
Nigel Jenney, the chief executive of the FPC, said: “We are delighted that the new government is listening to the robust and cost-effective alternatives the industry has proposed for years.
“However, we still need to fundamentally rethink the broader strategy in terms of how it negatively impacts imports of cut flowers and plants, which is harming the backbone of our industry, wholesalers and SMEs.”