The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) criticised the UK border strategy ahead of its implementation at the end of April.

FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney has commented on the lack of industry consultation by the UK Government surrounding the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which is due to come into force on the 30th April.

He said: “The Government has single-handedly created the world’s most inefficient and expensive border… This once in a lifetime opportunity has been squandered and we now await Government enforced consequences for both businesses and consumers.

“The UK Government has ignored our extensive advice on how to streamline border processes. Instead, they’ve created a strategy that is both incompetent and hugely expensive. This will drive up costs for our sector, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers already struggling with the rising cost of living.”

Jenney warned of delays and charges, highlighting key problems that may arise.

Obscene charges

Government announced costs including “common user charges” of up to £14,500 per 100 consignments and around £1450 for each vehicle (mixed load). Jenney said this would add millions of pounds in annual costs to the supply chain, and small companies would incur fees of over £50k while major importers would be charged over £1 million.

Delays and disruption

Industry was informed that official inspection staff would not be available at Control Points beyond 7pm. Jenney said that 95% of goods in the sector arrive beyond the hours that UK Government officials wish to work, so “in reality it’s about what’s convenient to them. It’s not about what’s effective for the industry and cost-effective for hard-pressed consumers”.

Last-minute chaos

Jenney said the Government’s “lack of clarity and constant changes” had “created confusion and undermined industry confidence”. Weeks before implementation, common user charges were announced, with expected fees of 20-40 per consignment. The announcement confirmed fees of £145 – a 500% increase.

The Government implemented these charges whilst “simply ignoring our alternative highly efficient and bio-secure solutions, potentially crippling small businesses and undermining the UK’s food security,” said Jenney, criticising the lack of consultation.

Food security

Reflecting on the effects the costs will have on the nation’s food security, Jenney stated: “A key Government responsibility is to feed and flower the nation with affordable produce. Yet their solutions knowingly add £200 million of avoidable costs to the sector and ultimately hard-pressed consumers.”

Taking supply for granted

Jenney said that it was “clear the Government has no understanding or interest” in the UK’s horticulture sector or its international partners, stating that the Government “takes for granted the Nation’s food”.

No export incentive

FPC found that the UK imports 65% of its fresh produce – therefore, a cost-effective border strategy is “essential to encourage growers to export to the UK” whilst offering UK growers a “competitive opportunity to export”.

Jenney said: “We’ve offered workable solutions for years, but the Government has procrastinated and shown total incompetence. To avoid this self-made crisis, we recently proposed a handful of inspectors at key points to support the EU trade; a solution perfectly suited to our just-in-time, perishable goods industry. Yet, this was rejected outright.

“We have become the laughing stock of Europe.”