Britain Proposes Further Delay on EU Fruit and Vegetable Checks

Britain considers delaying checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports until July 2025. The checks, crucial for post-Brexit regulations, could result in cost increases for consumers. The Fresh Produce Consortium highlights potential added costs of 200 million pounds to the industry.

Britain is once again proposing to delay checks on fruit and vegetables imported from the European Union, pushing the implementation back by another six months to next July, according to an industry body.

Eight years after its vote to leave the European Union, Britain is still in the midst of instituting all required physical checks on imports. A first phase of checks on meat, fish, cheese, and other products commenced in April. The subsequent phase, which includes fruit and vegetables, has already been postponed until January 31, 2025. According to the Fresh Produce Consortium, Britain's environment department Defra is now proposing another extension to July 1, 2025.

When Reuters contacted Defra on Friday, the department declined to comment. The prospective cost of these new checks could lead to more expensive shopping bills for British consumers, considering the country imports approximately 80% of its fruit and about 50% of its vegetables, though not all from the EU. The new checks are forecasted to add an estimated 200 million pounds to the fruit and vegetable industry, according to FPC estimates.

(With inputs from agencies.)