The UK ’s dream to develop the " world ’s most effective border by 2025 " has been sharply criticise as industry experts exposed severe inefficiencies , high-pitched costs , and short communicating from the regime during a session of the Environment , Food and Rural Affairs Committee yesterday ( 25 March ) .
Nigel Jenney , the Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium ( FPC ) and a salient industry voice , described the reality starkly : " Our worldly concern - leading margin is currently the most expensive and least efficient globally . This is a self - imposed crisis creating immense distress and significant additional costs that ultimately consumers must shoulder . "
Sally Cullimore Technical Policy Manager at the Horticultural Trade Association ( HTA ) continue : " The current blueprint but does n’t act for our industry . We are aghast at how thing have been manage and deeply concerned about the lack of data provided to experts at the border . "
Jenney added that " exporting fresh produce to Europe has become closely impossible . "
SME ’s bear the bruntThe repercussions of increase phytosanitary ( SPS ) controls have particularly impacted small and medium - sized enterprises ( SMEs ) , which constitute 80 % of business organization importing .
job face average additional costs of £ 14,000 per 100 freight due to the Common Usage Charge ( CUC ) fees , leading to an one-year bill of around £ 200 million for the industry .
Nicola Mallen , Head of Trade and Devolved Policy , Logistics UK , highlighted the critical role of the ' groupage ' model , noting : " It ’s increasingly becoming unviable . SMEs can not engulf these spiraling costs , tug price mellow for consumer . "
Mallen underscored the issue of pricy molding wait , adding : " Every hour of waiting cost businesses an extra £ 50 - 60 . These accumulative expense are drive European logistics companies away . "
communicating breakdownA fall back theme during the committee school term was Defra ’s poor communication . Jenney knock the pertinacious want of reaction from the section , saying : " Questions we ’ve been raising for age remain unrequited . Our proactive provision and suggestions have been knowingly ignore . "
Mallen add , " Drivers and logistics firms are leave behind completely in the dark , significantly hampering sector increment . "
Katrina Walsh , Strategy Director , the International Meat Trade Association , also cited " formulation fatigue , " describing the repeated time lag of deadlines and the deficiency of expert governmental advice .
manufacture implicationsJenney expressed picky defeat with the centralized command at Sevington Border Control Post ( BCP ) , notice it monopolizes review , starving regional adroitness of business .
" We spell 65 % of our fresh produce and 80 % of blossom . Getting this right wing is imperative , but we ’re investing vast gist without clear benefit , " he explain .
Jenney also foreground the urgent indigence for around - the - clock inspection resources , which despite satisfying investment from industry penis , stay wildcat by Defra , compound inefficiencies .
" We have offered regional restraint head inspection facilities for a least cost root . Our track record book show we can self - manage effectively , " Jenney asserted .
Sector viability at riskThe lack of light governmental steering poses a spartan peril to biosecurity and industry viability .
Cullimore express flat out : " The current pattern simply does n’t work for our industry . Biosecurity allegiance within our sphere is exceptional , yet export fresh produce to Europe has become virtually unsufferable . "
A self - made crisisJenney ’s message was light : " Enough is enough . We have a self - made crisis on our hands . We need real solutions , not just rhetoric . "
Amid these bare warnings , the futurity of the UK ’s sweet produce diligence hang in the equipoise , wait critical administration action .
you could watch the full sessionhere .
For more selective information : Fresh Produce ConsortiumEmail:[email protected]freshproduce.org.uk
