25-05-2025
UK food producers have wasted millions on delayed post-Brexit checks
British food and flower producers have wasted millions of pounds in preparing for post-Brexit import checks that now may never be introduced, industry leaders have warned.
The sector had been working toward a July 2025 deadline for the introduction of full sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls on agri-food imports from the European Union. However, a sudden shift in government policy, tied to the UK-EU 'reset' and new trade talks, means the vast majority of those checks have been delayed.
The Fresh Produce Consortium, which represents suppliers of fruit, vegetables and flowers, said the delays undermined business confidence and left companies in limbo.
'The industry cannot prepare because it doesn't have adequate information on time and has no confidence in the UK government because they say one thing and do another,' Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the consortium, said.
