UK government scraps border checks on EU produce imports

In June 2025, the UK government announced it would no longer implement planned border checks on fruit and vegetable imports from the European Union. This decision came about due to what the government refers to as Sir Keir Starmer's Brexit reset deal, which aims to streamline trade between the UK and the EU. The original measures, set to take effect on July 1, were designed to address sanitary and phytosanitary concerns regarding certain products, particularly those classified as 'medium-risk' such as tomatoes, grapes, and peppers. However, the government has stated that foregoing these checks will prevent businesses from incurring approximately £200 million in additional supply chain costs. Industry stakeholders expressed relief at this decision, fearing that the proposed measures could have exacerbated inflation and adversely affected food supply chains, thus threatening the viability of many businesses dependent on these imports. This decision represents the fourth delay in implementing border checks, which were initially slated to begin in January. In the light of these developments, the government has positioned the Brexit reset deal as a means to foster a stronger partnership with the European Union, emphasizing reduced bureaucracy and lower food costs for consumers.