London, UK: Planned post-Brexit checks on fruit and vegetables coming 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 checks were initially planned to be introduced by the end of October 2024 as part of the the government’s Border Target Operating Model which introduced checks on plant and animal products coming into the UK on 30 April this year.
That scheme itself has been repeatedly delay from the initial planned launch date of April 2021.
Fruit and vegetable importers were given an easement period for products deemed medium risk until 1 January 2025 but the government now says 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.
