The announcement by DEFRA that import and export checks on fruit and vegetables will not be introduced from 1 July 2025 will provide relief for the logistics sector comments trade body Logistics UK’s Head of Trade and Devolved Policy Nichola Mallon.

However, Ms Mallon has urged the EU and UK government to extend a more pragmatic approach to the introduction of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products like pizza and pet food, from the same date under the Windsor Framework, given the reframed and ongoing reset in relations between both parties:

“Our members will welcome the news that checks on fruit and vegetables moving between UK and EU, and vice versa, will not be introduced this summer, given the additional bureaucracy, expense and time it would have costed.

“Traders and logistics businesses have the practical experience of moving goods across borders. They could foresee the difficulties these checks would have caused given the volumes of these perishable items that are imported from the EU every day. They are the experts on where processes can be improved, and it is vital that the government seeks their input as it discusses the technical details and then moves to implementation of a UK EU SPS Agreement

“One significant and extremely costly change that is still expected to apply from 1 July is Phase Three of “Not for EU” labelling on composite products, such as pet food, moving from GB to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. This expensive requirement will most likely be removed by the forthcoming SPS agreement and we would urge the EU and UK to take where possible a more pragmatic approach to support businesses and minimise the considerable cost burden they are facing”.

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk