FRESH PRODUCE CONSORTIUM SAYS POST-BREXIT MEASURES WILL BRING UNNECESSARY COSTS AND DISRUPTION THAT WILL IMPACT ON SUPPLIERS AND CONSUMERS.
CHIEF Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), Nigel Jenney, has condemned the UK government’s post-Brexit border solution, stating that it has made the country “the laughing stock of Europe”.
Suppliers of fresh potatoes will be amongst those negatively impacted by the delays, disruption and additional costs that the solution will inevitably incur, he said.
“The Government has single-handedly created the world’s most inefficient and expensive border,” said Nigel. “This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has been squandered and we now await Government-enforced consequences for both businesses and consumers.
“The UK government has ignored our extensive advice on how to streamline border processes. Instead, they’ve created a strategy that is both incompetent and hugely expensive. This will drive up costs for our sector, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers already struggling with the rising cost of living.”
“Exorbitant” Government costs, including “common user charges” of up to £14,500 per 100 consignments, were slammed by the FPC CE. Nigel said this will add millions of pounds in annual costs to the supply chain and small companies will incur fees of more than £50k.
Unnecessary delays and disruption will also be caused : The industry was recently informed that official inspection staff will not be available at control points beyond 7pm. But 95% of goods in the fresh produce sector arrive beyond the hours that UK government officials wish to work.
“So, in reality, it’s about what’s convenient to them. It’s not about what’s effective for the industry and cost-effective for hard pressed consumers,” Nigel said.
The government’s lack of clarity and constant changes have created confusion and undermined industry confidence. Just weeks before implementation, details like common user charges were announced. “Based on the consultation we expected fees of 20-40 per consignment. The recent announcement confirmed £145 a 500% increase,” said Nigel.
He said there had been insufficient consultation. “The government implemented these fundamental charges whilst simply ignoring our alternative, highly-efficient and bio-secure solutions, potentially crippling small businesses and undermining the UK’s food security,” he said.
Supply is being taken for granted, he added. “It’s clear the Government has no understanding or interest in UK’s diverse horticultural sector or its international partners. They simply take for granted the Nation’s supply.”
The UK imports 65 % of fresh produce and a cost-effective border strategy is essential to encourage growers to export to the UK whilst offering UK growers a competitive opportunity to export, he said.
“We’ve offered workable solutions for years, but the government has procrastinated and shown total incompetence,” said Nigel. “To avoid this self-made crisis, we recently proposed a handful of inspectors at key points to support the EU trade, a solution perfectly suited to our just-in-time, perishable goods industry. Yet, this was rejected outright.”
The Fresh Produce Consortium is now urging the government to make official inspections available at appropriate hours and ensure a border strategy that guarantees food security at a reasonable cost for both industry and consumers.
“We have become the laughing stock of Europe,” concluded Nigel.
