The move, part of ‘reset’ discussions to ease trade, comes ahead of an anticipated new sanitary and phytosanitary deal with the EU.
However, while EU growers continue to see many finished fruit and veg products waved through, avoiding checks that had been due to be introduced next month, trade in the other direction will continue to be subject to the full force of inspections until an SPS agreement is in place.
The easement will also not apply to plants from the EU for planting, with the government missing the chance to relieve problems with delays, costs and damaged plants caused by existing UK border checks there.
“While it might seem a logical step, this extended easement does nothing to support the UK horticultural sector.”
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett
“While it might seem a logical step, this extended easement does nothing to support the UK horticultural sector,” said NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett.
“At the same time, those who rely on imported young plants and plant material to grow their own crops will continue to be subject to border checks until negotiations on re-entering the European Plant Health area conclude.
“These checks, which are costly, cause long delays, pose an infection risk, and create an imbalance which makes it easier for imported fruit and veg to hit shop shelves rather than for UK growers to import the seeds and plants they need to grow the produce themselves.
“This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
How did we get here?
Under the BTOM (Border Target Operating Model) regime, imported finished plants, fruit and veg destined to retailers have been classed as a much lower threat to biosecurity than the ‘plants for planting’ going to UK growers' sites for growing on into finished plants for sale in UK retail.
The NFU has always made the case that growers are already subject to regular site inspections to ensure they meet biosecurity standards and have the expertise and facilities to identify and contain pest and disease outbreaks. In contrast, with finished plants imported for immediate sale direct to consumers by retailers, there are not sufficient biosecurity controls in place to manage any outbreak.
While the import checks on growers ‘plants for planting’ have been in place since 30 April 2024, (this is when the checks have moved from Place of destination to Border Control Points, physical checks were in place beforehand but at the nurseries), the BTOM checks for finished products were still yet to come in as they had been delayed until 1 July 2025.
