11. Current Border Controls for Indian High Risk Food Products
11.1 As with many other agreements the UK has in place, risk-based border controls still continue to be applied to commodities that we identify might be a risk.
The FSA and FSS are responsible for delivering the legal requirements of Regulation 2019/1793. In its Annexes, it lists higher risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO) that are subject to enhanced border controls.
Imports of HRFNAO from specified countries can only enter GB through appropriately designated border control posts (BCP) where official controls are undertaken including documentary, identity and physical examinations including sampling. A list of these imports can be seen in Annex 1 and 2 of Regulation 2019/1793.
A higher risk product is food or feed that is identified as either a known or emerging risk or where there is evidence of widespread serious non-compliance with the GB agri-food chain legislation. This may be due to the presence of pathogens, contaminants and toxins including aflatoxins.
The FSA and FSS carry out a joint review of the lists contained in the Annexes to Regulation 2019/1793 to ensure public health and maintain high food safety standards. This review is delivered through the joint FSA and FSS risk analysis process so that Ministers can make risk management decisions based on the FSA and FSS recommendations.
All recommendations are science and evidence based and are developed and considered through a four-nation expert working group, in accordance with the Food and Feed Safety and Hygiene Common Framework, and proposed by officials in Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.
Table 1 below shows a list of Indian products currently under import control from Regulation 2019/1793 as of 18th of December 2024 with the hazard being sampled. Like commodities from many other countries, these goods face stricter import controls in comparison to other Food Not of Animal Origin (FNAO) from India, including mandatory health certificates, pre-notification, and physical inspections.
Commodities listed under Annex 1 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 are subject to a temporary increase in official controls due to identified risks. These goods must be pre-notified to a designated BCP and are sampled at the border according to the set frequency. As this shows, the agreement does not prevent the UK from taking appropriate action on imports from India.
In contrast, commodities listed under Annex 2 are subject to special conditions, requiring both pre-notification and submission of laboratory test results prior to entry into Great Britain, to be also accompanied by an export health certificate. These goods are also subject to additional sampling at the border, with checks carried out at a frequency specified in the legislation. The key distinction lies in the requirement for pre-export testing an additional certification required under Annex 2, which is not mandated for Annex 1 commodities.
| Food or Feed Product | Hazard | Frequency of physical and identity checks |
|---|---|---|
| Fenugreek leaves | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 10% |
| Cumin seeds | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 10% |
| Curry leaves (Bergera/ Murraya koenigii) | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 50% |
| Okra | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 20% |
| Drumsticks (Moringa oleifera) | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 20% |
| Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers | Pesticide residues | Annex1 10% |
| Cloves (whole fruit, cloves and stems) | Pesticide residues | Annex 110% |
| Nutmeg, mace and cardamoms | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 10% |
| Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) | Aflatoxins | Annex 1 50% |
| Seeds of anise, badian, fennel, coriander, cumin or caraway, juniper berries | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 10% |
| Guar gum | Pentachlorophenol and dioxins | Annex 1 20% |
| Ginger, saffron, turmeric (Curcuma), thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 10% |
| Rice | Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A | Annex 1 5% |
| Rice | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 5% |
| Yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) | Pesticide residues | Annex 1 20% |
| Peppers of the genus Capsicum (sweet or other than sweet) | Aflatoxins | Annex 1 20% |
| Food containing or consisting of betel leaves (Piper betle) | Salmonella | Annex 2 10% |
| Groundnuts | Aflatoxins | Annex 2 50% |
| Peppers of the genus Capsicum (other than sweet) | Pesticide residues | Annex 2 20% |
| Sesamum seeds | Salmonella | Annex 2 30% |
| Sesamum seeds | Pesticide residues | Annex 2 30% |
In the 2024 update of Regulation 2019/1793 import controls on Guar Gum and Nutmeg have been reduced due to increased compliance at the border.
The FSA and FSS will continue to monitor, review, and provide recommendations to ministers regarding the Annexes to Regulation 2019/1793. This work supports decisions on whether to include additional products or adjust the frequency of checks on specific food and feed items, in line with our statutory duty to safeguard public health.