The UK Government will scrap border checks on fruit and veg imported from the European Union in an early move to ease trade ahead of its new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU.
The agreement will establish a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary zone, a move the UK Government says will slash costs, ease pressure on food prices and eliminate routine SPS border checks for food exports and imports.
This means that checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables – including tomatoes, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches and peppers –Â imported from the EU will not be required.
In the short term, businesses can continue importing medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU without the products being subject to import checks or being charged associated fees.
The SPS agreement will make food trade with the UK’s biggest market cheaper and easier, the UK Government said.
Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said:
“This Government’s EU deal will make food cheaper, slash bureaucracy and remove cumbersome border controls for businesses.”
The easement of import checks on medium-risk fruit and vegetables from the EU was introduced as a temporary measure to provide businesses time to prepare for their implementation, and ensure a smooth flow of essential goods across the UK border.
The easement of checks has now been extended from 1 July 2025 to 31 January 2027 as a contingency measure, following the UK Government’s announcement that it will agree a new SPS deal with the EU.
The details of the SPS agreement are now to be negotiated and traders must continue to comply with the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
