Jenney Champions Industry Interests as EU Talks Leave Crucial Questions Unanswered

The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) led by Nigel Jenney has welcomed signs of progress in the long-awaited EU reset talks but warns that a lack of urgent detail could see fresh produce businesses — and UK consumers — caught in the crossfire of yet another avoidable regulatory crisis.

The Positives: A Common SPS Area Could Unlock Major Benefits

There is cautious optimism following announcements that the UK and EU may establish a common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area — a move that would effectively eliminate the need for border controls on agrifoods traded between the two. If fully implemented, this agreement would mean:

• UK dynamic alignment with current EU SPS and other standards

• Common standards for food labelling, food safety, organics, horticultural marketing standards, pesticides, and plant health

• A significant reduction in post-Brexit red tape for UK-EU trade in fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and plants

FPC believes this could save hard-pressed UK consumers up to £200 million annually, as reduced friction at the border would lower officially imposed on-costs across the supply chain.

FPC has stood out as a relentless advocate for industry interests, offering practical, evidence-based solutions to government that would enhance food safety without crippling businesses.

“We have repeatedly laid practical answers at the government’s feet,” Jenney said.

The Negatives: Big Unanswered Questions and Risks to Non-EU Trade

FPC has raised serious concerns over a lack of clarity and timing, warning that this step forward for EU trade may represent two steps back for UK food security and global sourcing.

“This could have been avoided if the original FPC UK/EU border solutions had been adopted instead of the ineffective and unaffordable solutions implemented by the previous government,” explained Jenney.

Key issues include:

• No timeline for when the SPS agreement will be implemented. Therefore, current EU/UK controls remain in place

• The 1 July BTOM easement expires, meaning specific EU fruit and vegetable imports will be subject to UK border controls

• Dynamic alignment suggests EU rules will also apply to UK imports of fresh produce sourced from around the world, significantly increasing UK border checks and costs for these goods

• Higher border inspection rates for many products unless exempted — e.g. citrus currently has zero checks, whereas the EU requires 100% inspection

• Risk of costs being passed on to UK consumers and reduced supply chain flexibility

The Immediate FPC Asks

In response, FPC is urgently calling on the UK government to:

1. Provide a clear timetable for the new SPS agreement, including when it will be finalised and applied

2. Extend the 1 July 2025 BTOM implementation deadline for EU fruit and vegetables until the agreement is in place — or ensure that industry Control Points are fully staffed with official inspectors 24/7 and/or Authorised Operator Status is adopted simultaneously

3. Avoid unnecessary border controls on non-EU sourced fresh produce by adopting long-term derogations from dynamic alignment to facilitate UK sales — thereby ensuring these goods are not subject to inappropriate SPS checks or blanket EU standards for UK-only consumption

Equal Value, Equal Treatment

It is worth noting that 50% of the UK’s fresh produce imports come from the EU, but the other 50% are sourced globally — and both are equally vital to national food security and price stability. FPC continues to stress that these sources must not be penalised due to a lack of joined-up thinking on border strategy.

“After years of engagement with UK government departments, it is deeply frustrating that we seem no further forward in securing a system that actually meets the needs of our industry and consumers,” added Jenney.

Final Word

With the promise of better EU trade on the table, this could have been a turning point. But without clear timelines, safeguards for non-EU trade, and urgent practical support, the FPC warns that the UK may once again find itself solving one problem by creating another — and it's consumers and growers who will pay the price.

Nigel Jenney and the FPC continue to lead from the front—demanding fairness, transparency and a smarter way forward.