Fruit and veg from outside EU to get more expensive under Starmer's deal

Telegraph

19-05-2025

Fruit and vegetables imported from outside the European Union are set to become more expensive under Sir Keir Starmer's 'reset' deal.
Avocados, pineapples, mangoes and oranges are among the products industry figures are warning will become more expensive after the Prime Minister bound Britain to the EU's rules on food and drink. Even more common items such as tomatoes, many of which are sourced from Morocco, could also rise in price.
Checks on imports into the EU are currently stricter than in the UK. Under the agreement signed on Monday, the Prime Minister has committed Britain to a 'dynamic alignment ... with all the relevant European Union rules' on food and drink checks. It means more red tape at the border, which is likely to push up prices.
Nigel Jenney, the chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said: 'Whilst we have resolved the EU border position, we have moved the problem and the cost to non-EU goods. What we have saved on one hand we have lost on the other.
'A lot of that cost or a lot of that burden now appears to have been applied – subject to dynamic alignment – to goods being sourced from the rest of the world.'
In just one example of extra red tape, currently less than 5pc of citrus fruits imported into the UK are subject to checks at British ports. This could rise to as much as 100pc once Britain aligns itself with EU regulations. On average, just 5pc of fresh food products are checked, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium.
Almost 93pc of pineapples in British supermarkets came from Costa Rica last year and almost one-third of avocados eaten in the UK are from Peru, according to figures from the International Trade Centre.
Fruit and vegetables like these cannot be sourced in similar quantities from Europe, leaving importers with no choice but to stomach the extra checks and delays involved.
Mr Jenney said: 'It's not like just saying 'Oh I'll buy it from Europe instead'. It's not available in Europe ... which is why we source it from around the world.'
One in two oranges imported into the UK comes from either Egypt or South Africa. While citrus fruits can be sourced from Europe, prices may rise unless farmers plant more crops to meet extra demand.
Less exotic fruit and vegetables may also be affected.
The UK has become increasingly reliant on Morocco for its supply of tomatoes, particularly over the winter months. More than a quarter of tomatoes imported to the UK originate from the North African country.
Even many strawberries are now grown and harvested outside of Europe, as supermarkets seek to supply the fruit all year round. Egypt grew 17.2 pc of all imported strawberries sold in Britain last year.
Mr Jenney said: 'We're buying products that are grown in season around the world at the highest possible quality and standards to allow UK consumers to enjoy these things throughout the year.'
There are also concerns that more checks could lead to hold ups at ports and delays to products reaching supermarket shelves.
Mr Jenney said: 'Any inspection by an official body means costs and delays to the industry ... We've solved half the problem, but are imposing another one.
'None of these things are a surprise to the UK Government, either this Government or the previous government. We have highlighted these things for months, if not years.'