Fruit and vegetable import checks scrapped ahead of UK-EU SPS deal

Checks due to come into force on 1 July on medium-risk fruit and vegetables imported from the EU will no longer be required. The announcement follows industry warnings that the measures would have added £200m to the fruit and veg industry’s annual costs, which firms would have to pass on to the consumer through higher prices.  

The details of the SPS agreement are now to be negotiated with traders still required to comply with the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). 

The announcement by DEFRA that import and export checks on fruit and vegetables will not be introduced from 1 July 2025 will provide relief for the logistics sector, comments Logistics UK’s Head of Trade and Devolved Policy Nichola Mallon. However, Ms Mallon has urged the EU and UK government to extend a more pragmatic approach to the  introduction of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products like pizza and pet food from the same date under the Windsor Framework, given the reframed and ongoing reset in relations between both parties: "Our members will welcome the news that checks on fruit and vegetables moving between the UK and EU, and vice versa, will not be introduced this summer, given the additional bureaucracy, expense and time it would have cost.  

"Traders and logistics businesses have the practical experience of moving goods across borders. They could foresee the difficulties these checks would have caused given the volumes of these perishable items that are imported from the EU every day. They are the experts on where processes can be improved, and it is vital that the government seeks their input as it discusses the technical details and then moves to implementation of a UK EU SPS agreement.  

"One significant and extremely costly change that is still expected to apply from 1 July is Phase Three of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products, such as pet food, moving from GB to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. This expensive requirement will most likely be removed by the forthcoming SPS agreement and we would urge the EU and UK to take where possible a more pragmatic approach to support businesses and minimise the considerable cost burden they are facing."