{"id":132825,"date":"2025-05-26T08:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T08:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/132825\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T08:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T08:53:10","slug":"uk-food-producers-count-the-cost-as-post-brexit-import-checks-delayed-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/132825\/","title":{"rendered":"UK food producers count the cost as post-Brexit import checks delayed again"},"content":{"rendered":"

British food and flower producers say they have wasted millions of pounds preparing for post-Brexit import checks that may now never be implemented, following the UK government\u2019s sudden decision to delay the planned rollout of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls on EU agri-food imports.<\/p>\n

\nThe sector had been working toward a July 2025 deadline for the introduction of full checks on animal and plant products coming from the European Union. But the government\u2019s recent trade \u201creset\u201d with Brussels<\/a> \u2014 part of a broader push to reduce border friction and food inflation \u2014 has left businesses in limbo and prompted frustration over shifting regulatory timelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe industry cannot prepare because it doesn\u2019t have adequate information on time and has no confidence in the UK government because they say one thing and do another,\u201d said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, which represents suppliers of fruit, vegetables and flowers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve already shown commitment. We\u2019ve invested huge amounts of money \u2014 millions of pounds \u2014 in building infrastructure in good faith at our own cost to allow goods to be inspected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just two weeks before the policy shift, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) told businesses that an authorised operator scheme \u2014 which would allow trusted companies to conduct their own inspections \u2014 was \u201cimminent.\u201d Many firms had already invested heavily in training, facilities and systems to meet the anticipated requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith what the government has just done, the writing is on the wall,\u201d said Mike Parr, CEO of PML Seafrigo, a logistics provider specialising in cold supply chains. His company spent over \u00a37 million building a dedicated customs facility for post-Brexit import checks \u2014 an investment now likely to be written off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spent all that money training our guys in the process, and it\u2019s going to be of no use now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The uncertainty over SPS checks comes at a critical moment in the global supply chain calendar, with the southern hemisphere citrus season just getting underway. Many non-EU imports, including citrus, are subject to rigorous checks under EU rules, but not in the UK \u2014 raising broader questions about the UK\u2019s future food safety regime.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know when these regulations will come into force,\u201d Jenney said. \u201cWe\u2019re just starting the citrus season and there is zero clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The episode reflects the wider economic toll of Brexit red tape<\/a> on UK food and agriculture. According to the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy, British exports to the EU have dropped 16% since Brexit, with customs delays, regulatory divergence and red tape cited as key barriers.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrade with the EU is incredibly important to UK food and drink manufacturers,\u201d said Karen Betts, the Federation\u2019s chief executive. \u201cEurope is our single biggest customer, and most of the food and drink we import \u2014 from ingredients to finished products \u2014 comes from Europe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrade in both directions has become complex and challenging. UK food and drink exports to Europe have fallen by a third since 2019, and businesses continue to face challenges and delays with imports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betts called on the government to improve communication and industry engagement, and to work to influence EU regulations in areas where the UK remains aligned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government must work closely with industry on the detail and ensure the UK is able to influence EU decision-making where this impacts British businesses and competitiveness,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

The government insists the recent delay to SPS checks is part of an effort to reduce costs for consumers, tackle inflation and prevent unnecessary red tape.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe aim is to prevent unnecessary border checks, remove red tape for businesses and help tackle the cost of food,\u201d a government spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

But for many in the industry, the latest delay is less about cutting costs and more about regulatory whiplash. Businesses are left with sunk costs, stalled investment plans and growing doubts over the credibility of UK trade policy.<\/p>\n

With logistics firms, port authorities, and agri-food businesses now waiting for clarity on whether any of the promised border checks will ever materialise, the episode is a stark reminder that post-Brexit policy continues to be as politically charged as it is operationally complex. And for those who have already invested millions in compliance \u2014 only to be left in the dark \u2014 patience is running out.<\/p>\n

\t \t\t\"Jamie \t \tJamie Young \t<\/p>\n

\t\tJamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
\nJamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
\n
\nWhen not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders. \t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"British food and flower producers say they have wasted millions of pounds preparing for post-Brexit import checks that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132826,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5226],"tags":[802,748,2000,299,5187,1699,4884,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-132825","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brexit","8":"tag-brexit","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-eu","11":"tag-europe","12":"tag-european","13":"tag-european-union","14":"tag-great-britain","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114573292767184054","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}