19 September 2024

Easement of import checks measure extended

The current easement of GB import checks and fees on medium-risk fruit and vegetable imports from the EU and Switzerland will be extended, according to official guidance from the UK government published on 13 September 2024. The temporary measure was originally supposed to end on 31 January 2025; however, it has now been decided that it will remain in place until 1 July 2025 to allow businesses additional preparation time. 

In practice, it means that medium-risk fruit and vegetable products will not be subject to import checks or additional fees at the GB border and will not require a phytosanitary certificate until 1 July 2025. It is important to emphasise that this measure is restricted to the import of goods from the EU and Switzerland. 

Changes to risk categorisation of plant and plant products

Furthermore, the UK will also recategorise 7 plant commodity groups from the EU, from medium risk to low risk. The below 7 commodity groups will therefore be deregulated when being imported into GB from the EU and Switzerland: 

• Root and tubercle vegetables (chicory roots, horseradish, beetroot, radish, swede, manioc, carrot, salsify veg, ginger, sweet potatoes, sugar beet, yams, taro, yautia, arrowroot, turmeric)
• Fruit of Fragaria L. (strawberries)
• Fruits of Malus Mill. (apple)
• Fruits of Persea americana Mill. (avocado)
• Fruits of Pyrus L. (pear)
• Fruit of Vaccinium L. (cranberry, blueberry, bilberry, lingonberry, and huckleberry)
• Fruit of Rubus L. (raspberry, blackberry and dewberry)

This measure will take effect from 30 January 2025.

Grapes and Asparagus

Grapes and asparagus will be moving within the medium-risk category when being imported into GB. GB. Asparagus will be moving from the medium-risk B to medium-risk A category from the EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and grapes will be moving from medium-risk A to the medium-risk B category from the EU and Switzerland. 

What does this mean for your business?

The above mentioned 7 commodity groups, as well as grapes and asparagus, are currently exempt from plant health controls due to the current easement that is in place for fruit and vegetables imported into GB from the EU and Switzerland. However, after 1 July 2025, which is when the current easement ends, the following applies: 

• Asparagus imports from the EU and Switzerland need pre-notifying on IPAFF, require a phytosanitary certificate and may be subject to checks at the GB border. 
• Grape imports from the EU and Switzerland do not need a pre-notification on IPAFF, but do require a phytosanitary certificate. They may be subject to a lower frequency of import checks. 
• The above listed 7 commodity groups will not need an IPAFF pre-notification or a phytosanitary certificate when imported to GB. They will not be subject to any import checks or fees at the border. 

If you have any questions about the easement of the import checks measure or the (re-)categorisation of goods, please get in touch with us today.