Why Burnham Must Hear Jenney’s Warning Before EU Reset Hits Britain’s Global Food Supply

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to pursue closer European ties at the UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, promising lower costs and less paperwork for farmers and food businesses. But Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) chief executive, Nigel Jenney, has repeatedly highlighted a danger that those ambitions must address: additional barriers for essential fresh produce arriving from outside the EU.

Farmers Guardian reports that food exports will be at the forefront of Burnham’s talks. The challenge for the Prime Minister is to recognise that Britain’s food security also depends on what comes in — and from where.

According to FPC analysis previously reported by Freshtalk Daily, up to four million tonnes of imported goods, representing around half of UK fresh produce imports, could fall within expanded controls under the proposed sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. These could include additional inspections, phytosanitary certification, pre-notification requirements and compliance systems.

The consortium estimates that the additional burden could exceed £300 million, including fees, certification, logistics, spoilage and investment in reporting systems.

For importers, wholesalers and foodservice suppliers, the concern reaches well beyond paperwork. Delays can shorten shelf life, undermine quality and increase waste. Produce such as citrus, mangoes, blueberries and sweet potatoes depends on predictable movement through the border; disruption risks passing costs along the chain to consumers.

Jenney also explored the threat to global imports in an interview with Fruitnet’s Fresh Produce Journal Podcast earlier this year. His message has remained consistent: an EU reset must protect Britain’s wider trading relationships.

In comments published by Freshtalk Daily he said: “The answer to a more volatile world isn't to narrow our supply base, it's to protect the breadth of it”. He argued for stronger EU trading arrangements alongside dependable Rest of World sourcing.

The affordability warning is equally sharp. In separate comments published earlier this year, Jenney warned that adding EU-style border friction to Rest of World produce would mean “it would tax healthy eating through the back door”.

FPC has proposed retaining existing inspection arrangements for produce imported for UK consumption as a possible exception within the agreement. It has also sought clearer information on regulatory differences, costs and implementation, highlighting the exposure of smaller wholesalers importing products such as mangoes.

The industry has provided a route for others to press that case. As reported by Food & Drink Technology, FPC’s national action platform brings together its UK-EU Reset Action Pack and the “One Squeeze Too Far” chefs’ petition, connecting businesses, hospitality professionals and consumers with political representatives.

Burnham should meet Jenney and the businesses handling these imports before negotiating commitments become operational realities. Ministers need to demonstrate how the reset will protect global sourcing as well as improve European trade.

The Prime Minister’s promise to ease pressure on supermarket prices must be tested against the whole supply chain. Listening to Jenney now would give that promise a better chance of becoming reality.