Ministerial letter on cyber security to leading UK companies
Ministers and security chiefs have written to leading UK companies about cyber security.Details Hostile cyber activity in the UK is growing more intense, freque...
News & Views
Latest news and views across the fresh produce industry.
Paul Kissack appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of DEFRA
Paul Kissack was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 October 2025. From 2020 until 2025, Paul Kissack...
Calling all Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Water Users
WRAP convenes Collective Action Projects which aim to identify shared water risks for agriculture and coordinate cross-sector solutions with other NGOs, busines...
Apply for a manual release of certain plant, animal and food products
The Border Trade Matching Service (BTMS) formerly Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) and EU CERTEX Manual release request form has been added. Guidanc...
CDS Release 4.9.0 Update
Please find attached an updated version of the Release 4.9.0 guidance that clarifies when the guarantee ID field for Document Code ‘C505’ will be validated. Add...
EFRA finds commercial animal and plant imports system is ‘inadequate’ as banned products pass border unchecked
Following continued Fresh Produce Consortium feedback and written evidence, the EFRA Committee has published its Report into the Border Management Process to da...
End of Waiver Codes XX or XW in CDS from 24th Oct 25
From 24 October 2025, you will no longer be able to use waiver codes XX or XW for goods subject to phytosanitary controls (code N851) in your CDS declarations. ...
Government response to EFRA’s report on the Government’s vision for farming published
The EFRA Committee has published the Government’s response its recent report on the future of farming. It is available here. The report, The Government’s vision...
FreshFel EU issue statement on EU/US trade deal
Freshfel Europe have issued a strongly worded statement expressing their concern following the trade deal reached in July. They give an analysis for the fruit a...
BRC Response to Employer Pays Principle Report
The BRC has issued a response to the Employer Pays Principle (EPP) Feasibility Study, which was commissioned and funded jointly by Defra and the Seasonal Worker...
Advancing STEC Diagnostics - Workshop Report
Following a workshop held in November 2024, the FPC have been involved in a project to further the understanding of STEC diagnostics and interpretation. We are ...
Propiconazole, DCPP and Potassium sorbate expiry date - 30th November 26
Biocidal products must be phased off the GB market. The active substance/product type combinations listed are due to expire under the GB BPR on the following da...