Have Your Say: Defra Calls On Fresh Produce Sector To Shape Future BTOM

The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new evidence-gathering exercise to better understand how the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is operating on the ground — and is calling on fresh produce and wider agri-food supply chain businesses to share their real-world experiences.

Defra is keen to hear directly from stakeholders about the processes and checks taking place at the border, how these are working in practice, and any operational challenges or unintended consequences that have emerged since BTOM implementation.

To support this work, Defra has commissioned independent research organisation Ecorys to carry out in-depth interviews with industry representatives during February 2026. Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams and last approximately 60 minutes.

Importantly, the findings will be reported to Defra anonymously, with insights grouped by stakeholder type (such as importers, hauliers or trade associations). A summary report will be published on Defra’s Science Search platform.

The research will feed directly into Defra’s evidence base as the UK develops its future approach to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreements — making this a timely opportunity for industry to influence policy direction.

Defra wants to hear from:

• Importers, exporters, hauliers and logistics providers

• Customs agents and Port Health Authorities, including Border Control Posts and POAO operations

• Trade associations and professional bodies

The interviews will explore:

• Views on BTOM’s biosecurity objectives and their implications for businesses

• Experiences of new border checks introduced under BTOM

• Operational challenges and improvements since implementation

• How business models have adapted to comply with BTOM requirements

• Whether supply chain changes (such as groupage adjustments) are likely to persist in the context of ongoing UK–EU SPS discussions

Why Your Input Matters

• It helps ensure BTOM reflects real-world operational realities

• It informs Defra’s evidence base for future SPS negotiations

• It highlights practical areas for improvement across border processes

Call To Action

Businesses willing to take part are asked to confirm by 20 February:

• Whether they can participate in an interview

• Their availability for a 60-minute Microsoft Teams interview in February

• Alternatively, to suggest a suitable colleague or contact

All interviews will be audio-recorded for accuracy, stored securely, and permanently deleted at the end of the project.

For fresh produce businesses navigating the day-to-day realities of BTOM, this is a clear chance to make sure policymakers hear directly from the front line — and to help shape the future of border operations and SPS arrangements.

Click here to have your say!