The government will scrap border checks on fruit and veg imported
from the European Union in an early move to ease trade ahead of
its new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU.
The agreement will establish a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary
zone, slashing costs, easing pressure on food prices and
eliminating routine SPS border checks for food exports and
imports.
This means that checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables
(including tomatoes, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches, peppers,
and more) imported from the EU will not be required – and will
therefore not be brought into force this summer.
In the short term, businesses can continue importing medium-risk
fruit and vegetables from the EU without the products being
subject to import checks or being charged associated fees.
The SPS agreement will make food trade with the UK's biggest
market cheaper and easier. Cutting excessive red tape and fees
for traders exporting to and importing from the EU will
strengthen supply chains and reduce prices for businesses and
consumers.
Biosecurity Minister said:
This government's EU deal will make food cheaper, slash
bureaucracy and remove cumbersome border controls for businesses.
A strengthened, forward-looking partnership with the European
Union will deliver for working people as part of our Plan for
Change.
The easement of import checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables
from the EU was introduced as a temporary measure to provide
businesses time to prepare for their implementation, and ensure a
smooth flow of essential goods across the UK border.
The easement of checks has now been extended from 1 July 2025 to
31 January 2027 as a contingency measure, following the
government's announcement that it will agree a new SPS deal with
the EU.
The details of the SPS agreement are now to be negotiated;
traders must continue to comply with the UK's Border Target
Operating Model (BTOM).
Protecting UK biosecurity remains a key government priority, and
risk-based surveillance will continue to manage the biosecurity
risks of these products.
Defra will continue to work with the Animal and Plant Health
Agency and Border Control Post operators to maintain UK
biosecurity while minimising disruption to the flow of goods.
