There could soon be a shortage of imported fruit, vegetables and flowers on supermarket shelves because of Defra's "unco-operative and unhelpful attitude" over new regulations, the Fresh Produce Consortium has claimed.
New regulations due to come into force this month require more plant health checks on imports.
However, warned the FPC, the industry was being "hamstrung by Defra's failure to communicate" how the new procedures would operate. As a result, importers were in serious danger of failing to comply, it said.
"We are deeply concerned about possible interruptions in fresh produce supply, which will have a very real impact on the availability of fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves and could damage healthy eating initiatives, such as the government's 5-a-day scheme," said FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney.
He blamed the fact that the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate lacked resources to carry out the additional checks. This raised the spectre of produce being delayed at ports or left to deteriorate until checks could be completed, he said.
The cut flower industry, which relies heavily upon imports, would also be put under severe pressure. Such delays would also cost importers money, added the FPC.
PHSI principal plant health and seeds inspector Brian Ellam admitted his department did not have sufficient resources to carry out all inspections, but said that for now most produce would be automatically cleared at customs before it was allowed to go bad.
"We know we haven't got the resources," he told The Grocer. "We are not in the business of letting produce go off and do not expect to see mass consignments piling up at ports and no food in the shops."
The PHSI was considering delaying the introduction of the regulations due to concerns over IT systems, he added.
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