Requirements for UK imports postponed to January 2022

Relief for the European Fruit & Vegetable sector. The obligation of phytosanitary certificates for exports of fresh produce from the EU to the United Kingdom, initially scheduled for April 1, 2021, is postponed to January 2022.

 

 

 

The British government has just agreed to postpone the introduction of phytosanitary certification requirements for fruits and vegetables, considered to be low-risk plant products, until January 2022, when documentary checks will begin to apply. Physical checks at border control posts on fresh products will only be applied from March 2022.

 

 

 

Freshfel Europe welcomes this announcement "We consider this postponement to be essential to ensure the supply of the UK market and the continuation of trade flows across the Channel, through which the EU27 exports more than 3 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables costs per year ".

 

 

 

Currently, EU supply accounts for 40% of UK domestic demand for fresh produce.

 

 

 

This new 9-month transition will have to be used by the authorities of the EU and the United Kingdom to accelerate preparations to ensure the smooth running of operations in 2022. More than 750,000 phytosanitary certificates will be needed each year. which will represent a considerable economic and administrative burden. This transition will give more time to work on digitization and the successful introduction of electronic certification in 2022.