European Parliament Approves New Genomic Techniques
The European Parliament has this week approved the regulation on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). These rules had already been provisionally agreed with the Counc...
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SPS Agreement: Preparing Your Business - Govt Release Information
DEFRA have published new information titled SPS Agreement: Preparing Your Business as of this morning. The information has been made available on GOV.UK and can...
HSE Announcements of GB expiry date postponements
GB Biocidal Product Regulations have been amended affecting all biocidal active substance and product type combinations which expire between 23 June 2026 and 30...
Defra Decision - NO PLANT HEALTH FEE INCREASE
Following the targeted consultation on proposed changes to plant health fees, which took place 27 Jan – 21 March 2025, Defra have provided an update. They recei...
Proposed Future GB MRL - Indoxacarb
Indoxacarb is no longer an approved active substance in GB and there are no PPP authorisations. HSE has reviewed the MRLs and identified a number of MRLs which ...
Certain plant health requirements for potatoes no longer necessary
Following the declaration of Colorado beetle eradication in December 2025, Defra has worked closely with counterparts in the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fi...
HSE updates Infections / biological hazards at work
HSE has published extensively improved guidance on managing infection risks and biological hazards in workplaces. The guidance has been refreshed as part of a r...
GB plant health controls for Solanum, Capsicum and Ginger - implementation date confirmed
The GB Plant Health Service has now introduced legislation to update Plant Health import requirements across Great Britain. These measures will enhance biosecur...
HSE Proposal to withdraw approval of the active substance mepanipyrim
HSE has conducted a review of the approval of the active substance mepanipyrim and proposes to withdraw the approval. A current approval for this active is as a...
Plant health civil sanctions - APHA publishes guidance
The civil sanctions guidance has now been published by APHA and you can see it here (also available in Welsh at that link). The consultation response has also b...
Regulated Non-Quarantine Pests - Additional Declaration Requirements
Due to recent amendments by European Union (EU) of Annex V of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, as of 6 July 2026 phytosanitary certificates (PCs) for exp...
Proposed future GB maximum residue levels (MRLs) amendment - Dithianon
HSE has identified acute intake concerns for the current MRLs for dithianon in/on apples and pears; in addition, HSE identified chronic intake concerns as a res...
EU / GB Re-Set List of Legislation in Scope
The Government announced confirmation today that the UK will align with EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) legislation. This covers:food and feed safety; food...
Government announcement on the UK-EU SPS Agreement - Pesticide Update
The UK government has agreed with the EU to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area, by way of an SPS Agreement – and pesticides are expected t...
DEFRA chief to be quizzed on perceived shortcomings amid staffing cuts
Evidence session: The work of DEFRA Tuesday 3 March, 10.00, in Committee Room 6, Palace of Westminster Watch on Parliamentlive.tvThe new Permanent Sec...
French Authorities Suspend Imports of Certain Foodstuffs Containing Banned Pesticide Residues from 5th Jan 2026
On 5 January 2026, the French authorities announced an immediate suspension on the import of foodstuffs from countries outside the European Union that contain ...
Guidance for ICS2 Road Movements
The Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety and security system for certain goods moving by air, maritime, road into Northern Ireland.• It is alread...
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...
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...
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...
Cyfluthrin and Citric acid approvals due for renewal 27 August 25
Under the GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR), active substance approvals will expire unless a renewal application is submitted at least 550 days before th...
Fenamiphos MRL's Lower from 14.11.2025
Fenamiphos is no longer an approved active substance in GB and there are no PPP authorisations. HSE has reviewed the MRLs and identified a number which do not r...
New Export Health Certificate for High Risk Food and Feed Not of Animal Origin to the EU - 12th August 2025
The Commission has updated its model certificate for HRFNAO. Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 has been updated and this contains amendments to the model certificate as...
Priorities for a UK-EU SPS agreement - Call for Evidence
On 19 May 2025, leaders from the UK and EU met in London for the first formal bilateral meeting since the UK’s departure. In that meeting, both parties agreed t...
Failure to Prevent Fraud - New Corporate Offence from 1st September 2025
A new corporate offence 'failure to prevent fraud', will come into force on 1 September 2025 under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. This marks...
Farmer Opinion Tracker for England
The Farmer Opinion Tracker for England is now published with data from first run in September 2019 to date. The tracker provides a snapshot of views and opinio...
High Risk Not of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) under NIRMS - Change from 12 August 25
The EU has updated the list of high-risk food not of animal origin (HRFNAO) in Regulation 2019/1793. The changes apply from 12 August 2025. Under NIRMS, any go...
GB maximum residue level (MRL) amendments Strawberries, mangoes and others
The GB MRL Statutory Register has recently been amended and new statutory levels have been set. To meet the requirements of international trade, and to accommod...
UK Government response to the Review of the UK Internal Market Act 2020
A well-functioning UK internal market is vital to delivering the government’s ambition to improve economic growth for the benefit of businesses and people in al...
Authorisation by Declaration - 10 uses in a rolling year implementation date
Following previous engagements regarding an increase in how often importers can use Authorisation by Declaration; there is now an implementation date. The new l...
Findings of not authorised substances in food and feed certified as organic - EFSA Report
The European Commission requested EFSA to prepare a technical report on 21 active substances not authorised for use but detected more frequently in organic food...
Decision on the new MRL for potassium phosphonates in or on mangoes - Import tolerance request
The MRL for potassium phosphonates in or on mangoes has risen from 2 - 100mg/kg. The MRL shall enter into force and appear in the GB MRL Statutory Register on 2...
Decision on the new MRL for acetamiprid in or on strawberries
There has been a change of MRL for acetamiprid in strawberries from 0.5 - 0.7mg/kg. The date of entry into force: 28 May 2025 and details can be found here: htt...
Setting Import Tolerances for Difenoconazole - EFSA Journal publication
AbstractIn accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Syngenta Crop Protection AG submitted an application to the competent nationa...
HMRC publishes Valuation Customs Technical Handbook
The Valuation Customs Technical handbook has now been published by HMRC. This handbook explains the 6 methods for establishing the value on which Customs Duty a...
Phase 3 "Not For EU" labelling to go ahead from 1st July 2025 as planned
Following the UK/EU Summit on 19 May, the Government is taking forward a new strategic partnership with the EU that will deliver greater prosperity and security...
Defra Secretary of State to be quizzed by EFRA Committee May 20th 11am
Evidence session Tuesday 20 May, at 11am, Committee room 6, Palace of Westminster Watch live on parliamentlive.tv The cross-party group of MPs will next week ...
Precision Breeding Act 2023 - Framework commences from 14 November 2025
Over the last few weeks, the secondary legislation necessary to implement the Precision Breeding Act 2023 for plants in England successfully passed through Parl...
EFRA Committee holds the final evidence session of its biosecurity at the border focus 6th May 2.30pm
Tuesday 6 May at 2.30pm, Committee Room 6, Palace of WestminsterWatch live on parliamentlive.tv The EFRA Committee holds the final evidence session of its b...
Update to Phytosanitary Control Measures: onions
This update is due to the Department for Business and Trade correcting their dataset entry in respect of measure type 360 - Phytosanitary Certificate (import). ...
New arrangements now in effect for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework - 1st May 2025
Traders need to be aware of new arrangements under the Windsor Framework, an agreement between the United Kingdom and European Union. The new arrangements for t...
Precision Breeding Secondary legislation
On 25 February, the UK Government introduced secondary legislation into Parliament to fully implement the UK Government’s Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding...
26 tonnes of Illegal Plant Protection Products seized in France and Spain
Law enforcement from France and Spain, supported by Europol, have arrested 29 members of a criminal organisation for selling illegal plant protection products. ...
Reminder for legal obligation for workplaces to segregate waste for 31 March 25
A reminder that from 31 March, many workplaces - including businesses and non-domestic premises - will have a legal obligation to separate recycling and food ...
Changes on how to import bananas into the UK by weighing consignments and making simplified declarations for imports.
A number of changes have been made to the government guidance:Replacement of the reference to commodity code 0803 90 10 with commodity codes 08039011 00 and 080...
Preventing food crime webinar: reducing risk across the sector - 24th Feb 13.00pm
The Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit at Food Standards Scotland invite you to join their ‘preventing food crime webinar’ where they will be exploring ways...
Thiamethoxam not approved for use on sugar beet
The Government confirmed on 23 January that an emergency application for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet in England will not be granted. Th...
Legislation extending easements on checks of imports of organic goods from EU, EEA and Switzerland and marketing standards import certifications
Defra has now laid the legislation to extend existing statutory derogations from 1 February 2025 to 1 February 2027 on the following import certification requ...
Changes to Plant health legislation from 30 Jan 2025
The GB Plant Health Service have introduced legislation here that will come into force from 30 January 2025. Risk assessments are a dynamic process, so all comm...
Biosecurity at the border - EFRA Call For Evidence due 29 Jan 2025
There is a call for evidence to examine animal and plant biosecurity measures for personal and commercial imports to the UK. The Committee will examine both the...
Feedback to FSA - Correcting references in the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Standards Act 1999
This consultation concerns the correction of references to the EU in the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Standards Act 1999. Under the proposals inoperable refere...
Change to EU SPS inspection frequency for tomato, pepper, aubergine & cucumber plants
Import inspection frequencies are kept under constant review considering the current risk position. The UK Plant Health Risk Group has reviewed the position for...
Northern Ireland Business Readiness Survey
FPC is encouraging it's members to participate in an HMRC Voice of the Customer Survey to share your understanding and readiness for the new arrangements under ...
Conifer Import Reminder
If you are importing cut conifer trees less than 3m in height or foliage from the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein to GB, you will need to obtain a Phytosanitar...
How to comply with the BTOM and the new import controls that are now in place
The following summary has been provided by Defra as a guide to meeting EU import controls1. Register for IPAFFS online on GOV UK if you haven’t already done s...
Update on physical and identity checks for non-qualifying goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain
Defra have confirmed that physical and identity checks on non-qualifying goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain will not start during 2024. D...
Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator
In 2013, the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) was appointed to oversee the relationship between the UK’s largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers. H...
Plant Health Legislation - Reminder for 9th November 2024
From 9 November 2024, the remaining changes will come into force. This includes: Listing certain pests, based on preliminary assessments, as provisional quarant...
Plastic Packaging Tax increase from 1 April 2025
On 30 October, the Chancellor announced in the Budget that the rate of Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Th...
Requirement for all ware potato growers to be registered with APHA in England and Wales
Over the coming weeks APHA will be working with key potato stakeholders across England and Wales to ensure all ware potato growers are aware of existing plant h...
Defra Call for Comments on Large Plants / Machinery inspection at BCP / IC's and CP's
We would like to notify you of a call for comments on the proposal to introduce a derogation from the minimum designation requirements at Border Control Posts, ...
FPC Interpretation Guide to Medium Risk A & B EU Fresh Produce Categories
The UK Government have now released all information relating to the finalised SPS controls of Medium Risk Fruit & Vegetables being imported into the UK from...
Fruit & Vegetable Marketing Scheme Derogation Extended
The Fruit & Vegetable Marketing Standards derogation has been extended.The derogation on the requirement for marketing standards Certificates of Conformity...
Organics COI requirement extended to 1 February 2027
Defra Organics today announced that the derogation on the requirement for Certificates of Inspection for organic goods entering GB from the EU, EEA and Switzerl...
Defra Confirm extension of easement for Medium Risk Fruit & Vegetables to 1 July 2025
After many months of lobbying, FPc today received the following communication from Defra, "I am emailing to notify you of a change to the current BTOM timeline...
Alistair Carmichael elected as Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Alistair Carmichael MP was the sole nomination for the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and has therefore been elected, unopposed. ...
Food Crime Strategic Assessment 2024 published
It is four years since the food crime units within the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland published the 2020 Food Crime Strategic Assessment, out...
Guidelines for assessing the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods placed on the market - UKHSA Updated Guidance 2024
These revised guidelines were completed in 2024. Since the previous edition in 2009, the UK has left the EU and this has resulted in transfer of legal responsib...
Northern Ireland Round Up of Information and Contacts
Please find an attachment which outlines a recent change to the NI HRFNAO amendments - there is a removal of a range of products from Annex 1, as well as a numb...
EFSA GMO Panel comment on New Genomic Techniques
EFSA was asked by the European Parliament to provide a scientific opinion on the analysis by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health &...
DEFRA Contractual Fairness Consultation Response
Between December 2023 and February 2024, Defra, in collaboration with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, conducted a ...
Expiry of the approval of the active substance myclobutanil in GB
The approval of myclobutanil was not supported for GB renewal. The approval of myclobutanil has now expired as a pesticide active substance in GB. The statutory...
CIPC Store Testing Data Required by CIPC Residues Monitoring Group
The CIPC Residues Monitoring Group (CRMG) is a cross-industry body which has been set up by the UK potato industry to satisfy the data submission requirements o...