Burnham Must Protect Britain’s Fresh Produce Supply From £300 Million Reset Bill

FPC urges Prime Minister to defend UK consumers and retain proven risk-based controls at 20 November summit

The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) is calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to secure a fresh produce solution at next month’s UK–EU summit in Brussels, warning that failure to protect vital global supply chains will saddle the sector with more than £300 million in avoidable annual costs, ultimately hitting shoppers. 

FPC says the Government must negotiate boldly for UK consumers: preserve access to safe, affordable fruit and vegetables, maintain the UK’s proven science-based, risk-based approach and secure a long-term exemption for rest-of-world fresh produce destined solely for the UK market.

The scale is substantial. FPC estimates that around four million tonnes of fresh produce imported annually from outside the EU will be affected.

That volume is equivalent by weight to approximately 50 billion adult 80g portions of fruit and vegetables, underlining the importance of global supply to the nation’s five-a-day.

A solution already on the table

FPC supports a closer trading relationship with Europe and wants an SPS agreement that works for UK consumers. It has already offered practical proposals to protect global sourcing while maintaining high biosecurity standards, but says those solutions continue to be ignored.

FPC’s main ask is a long-term exemption from “dynamic alignment”, primarily because it adds costs and drives avoidable food inflation for UK consumers. The exemption would only include rest-of-world fresh produce imports sold in the UK, so the UK could keep its current, proven and proportionate border checks for UK consumers.

Any produce exported to the EU can easily be managed to meet EU standards in full. The existing UK–EU customs border already successfully manages this approach and offers ongoing assurances to the EU.

FPC points to 99.5% border compliance under the existing UK regime and says the Government’s own scientific assessments support a proportionate approach to the biosecurity risks associated with fresh produce. It argues that imposing additional EU requirements on compliant supply chains would add self-imposed costs without a corresponding benefit for UK consumers.

The consortium is urging ministers to defend this approach in the negotiations rather than impose the substantial additional burden of EU-style restrictions at the UK border. The EU system is unnecessarily complex and costly and could be viewed as protectionist. FPC also wants meaningful industry engagement before any arrangements are finalised.

A £300 million cost to getting it wrong

FPC warns that additional certification, inspections and official fees will drive annual costs above £300 million. For highly perishable produce, border delays also shorten shelf life, increase waste and undermine supply reliability.

Smaller importers and overseas suppliers will ultimately find UK trade less viable, reducing competition and consumer choice.

Fruit and vegetables imported from the EU are already exempt from UK plant health border controls. FPC argues that the Government must explain what savings the proposed agreement would deliver for industry and hard-pressed consumers.

At present, the sector sees only additional costs and burdens on non-EU supplies. They’ve simply moved the problem and not solved it.

Protecting the supply that feeds the nation

Strong domestic production and reliable imports are both vital to year-round food security. Global supplies maintain availability when UK and European production cannot meet demand. FPC warns that limiting the UK’s sourcing options would leave consumers more vulnerable to limited availability and price shocks.

Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said:

“The rest of the world supply chain is not optional! It is fundamental to feeding the nation and mitigating food security risks. Yet we continue to see policies developing that will add hundreds of millions of pounds in unnecessary costs to global food imports at a time when affordability and resilience should be the priority.”

He added: “We support a sensible reset, but not at any cost. We have repeatedly offered practical solutions that would deliver a balanced, resilient and effective food supply system. Unfortunately, the sector fears it will once again be ignored, with fresh produce businesses becoming the casualty of short-sighted policy decisions.”

Ahead of the 20 November summit, FPC is urging the Prime Minister to put those solutions at the heart of the negotiations and protect the global fresh produce supply on which UK consumers depend.

Businesses can support the campaign through the FPC Action Pack at freshproduceaction.co.uk/action-pack.