Nigel Jenney , Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium ( FPC ) , has release a statement after yet another government U - turn on post - Brexit boundary line balk .
As businesses calculate the cost of million waste on now - redundant base , Jenney is demanding limpidity , recompense , and common sensory faculty from the UK government .
" The manufacture can not ready because it does n’t have passable data on fourth dimension and has no confidence in the UK government because they say one affair and do another , " Jenney said .
" We ’ve already , as an industriousness , shown commitment . We have invested huge amounts of money , millions of pounds , in building base in good faith at our own monetary value to allow goods to be inspected . "
" For days , we ’ve been urge the government to engage properly with industriousness and provide well-defined , uniform timelines for significance demand , " continued Jenney . " The tonic green groceries sector alone has commit millions – with no Duncan James Corrow Grant funding – in specialist inspection facilities at the government ’s request . These are now largely underutilised due to a deliberate failure to render enough official inspectors . Without urgent natural action , these sites will become white elephants . "
Among them is PML Seafrigo , which spent more than £ 7 million on a new customs quickness in Kent to treat perishable goods . That investment may now go to waste . " With what the government has just done , the writing is on the paries , " said Mike Parr , main executive of PML Seafrigo , which manages cold supply chains for perishable imports .
" We spend all that money training our guys in the operation , and it ’s conk out to be of no use now . ““We do n’t know when these regulations will come into forcefulness , " Jenney say . " We are just starting the southerly hemisphere citrus season . These non - EU products and many more may be capable to new regulation , we just do n’t bed . " It ’s beyond frustrating . "
Karen Betts , Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation , recall industry - all-inclusive business , highlighting that the EU rest the UK ’s largest export market for food for thought and drink . " Our manufacturers need stability and a functioning patronage system , not policy lurches , " she say .
Just weeks before the government ’s latest reversal , Defra had indicated that an empower wheeler dealer scheme would launch imminently – prompting a smart undulation of costly preparations . For citrus fruit importers reliant on predictable regulatory requirement , the confusion has been specially prejudicious .
" As the 1 July speedily approaches , after incessantly bespeak clarification from Government , both FPC and the late Parliamentary EFRA Committee have been unable to guarantee the necessary information . There is still no pellucidity over whether or when the young import government will be enforced , " Jenney added .
The broader economical toll is becoming clear . A recent study by the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy found that UK food and wassail exports to the EU have dropped by 16 % since Brexit , cite regulative uncertainty and custom cerise tape .
Now , the FPC and port authorization are call for recompense . The British Ports Association reports that over £ 120 million has been pass by ports in cooking for post - Brexit handicap – include £ 23 million at Portsmouth International Port alone . " These facilities were construct in good faith , under exonerated government charge , " said Jenney . " If they ’re now superfluous to requirements , the government must do the veracious thing and reimburse those who acted responsibly . "
Despite the chaos , Jenney stay focussed on root . " What the fresh green goods diligence needs is certainty – not delay after holdup , " he pronounce .
" We remain firm ready to play with government to build a proportionate , effective border regime . But we wo n’t sit back while our sector ’s time , money and trust are blow . "
For more entropy : Fresh Produce ConsortiumEmail:[email protected]freshproduce.org.uk
