As of today , new border checks for meat , plants , and flower spell from Europe have commenced , stirring malaise among UK importer . These check , take aim at bolstering biosecurity , are see by many as excessively high-priced and complex , a sentiment powerfully vocalise by Nigel Jenney , Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium .
Jenney criticizes the new system , which mandates identity element and physical review for goods hold medium - risk , such as meat and prune efflorescence , with only 1 % to 30 % of consignments to be haphazardly selected for suss out . However , all high - danger goods , include live animals , will now undergo mandatory border inspections .
While some agriculture groups have welcomed the enterprise , contend that it levels the playing field with EU producers who have been subject to similar scrutiny since Brexit , Jenney contest that the young measuring rod are impractical for perishable goods .
He highlights the operational shortcomings , particularly the timing of inspection . " Our good are highly perishable and trust on a just - in - time delivery model . Unfortunately , the approved commercial-grade deftness for inspections nigh at 7 pm , missing the windowpane when 95 % of our consignments arrive , " Jenney explains .
This timing mismatch means that vehicles either must await until the next day or divert to government facility like Shevington , incurring steep fees . Jenney illustrates the disparity in costs : " Using an industriousness adroitness could cost around £ 100 per inspection , if choose , whereas Shevington charges are about £ 5,000 for every load , regardless of inspection . "
Jenney has publically criticized the government ’s access , calling it " lewdly expensive " and " highly bureaucratic , " and fear it will make the UK the " express joy stock of Europe . "
Despite age of consultation and preparation , he argues that the checks were not designed with efficiency in mind , potentially harm UK businesses and consumers alike .
The Department for Environment , Food & Rural Affairs ( Defra ) has broach two pilot program to research substitute review methods using new applied science and business data , yet Jenney remains skeptical . " These might cover some issues , but they are at least a year away , and we need solvent today , " he states .
The office underscores the tension between regulative design and practical implementation , with significant repercussions for the UK ’s trade copulation and intragroup market operations . Jenney ’s advocacy highlights a vital debate on the equalizer between security system and operational viability , reflect broad industry frustrations .
For more entropy : Fresh Produce ConsortiumMinerva House , Minerva Business ParkLynch Wood , Peterborough PE2 6FTTel . : +44 01733 237117Email:[email protected]freshproduce.org.uk
