POTATOES imported into the UK from the EU, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein will be free from SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) border checks until 2027, following a new Defra announcement.
Defra has confirmed that the current easement on medium-risk vegetables will align with the end of the Transitional Staging Period (TSP), a period during which the full implementation of UK import controls on certain goods, particularly from the EU, is temporarily eased. It was introduced as part of the UK’s post-Brexit import arrangements, allowing for a phased introduction of new regulations. The current easement on medium-risk fruits and vegetables was due to end on July 1st, 2025, but has been extended to January 31st, 2027.
This means that SPS border checks will not apply to these products until that date – and only if the proposed EU/UK SPS Agreement is not in place by then.
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has campaigned hard for such an outcome, with relentless lobbying, strategic engagement with the media and direct dialogue with senior Government officials and Ministers. It estimates that UK consumers will save millions per year, thanks to the exemption.
FPC Chief Executive Nigel Jenney (pictured outside No 10 Downing Street) said: “This is especially vital for the wholesale and foodservice sectors, where many businesses are SMEs and family-owned, and would have been disproportionately affected by the planned 1 July 2025 deadline. Additionally, this means that fruit and vegetables will also remain exempt from the Common User Charge (CUC) when entering via the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel – a huge benefit for importers using these major entry points.”
SPS potato checks in the context of UK trade with the EU involve phytosanitary measures to ensure the safe movement of potatoes, preventing the spread of pests and diseases.
