Morocco’s UK blueberry dominance at risk from EU-UK sanitary deal
The organization is calling for the UK-EU summit on 20 November to address the protection of international supply chains.
MOROCCO – Morocco has become the UK’s main blueberry supplier, exporting nearly 19,000 tonnes worth US$144 million between July 2024 and June 2025.
However, a future UK-EU sanitary agreement could require new certifications and inspections for third-country fruit, according to the Fresh Produce Consortium.
The UK imported 82,630 tonnes of blueberries in 2025, almost 15% more than the previous year. Morocco’s volume rose 44% from the previous season, accounting for nearly a quarter of UK imports.
In April, when Moroccan production peaked, its share reached about 75% of monthly UK purchases.
For Moroccan exporters, the concentration in the UK market makes regulatory risk material. London and Brussels are negotiating a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement to reduce red tape and controls that have hampered agri-food trade since Brexit, with the British government intending the new system to take effect by mid-2027.
However, aligning the UK with EU rules would require certain non-EU imports to present phytosanitary certificates and undergo more frequent inspections.
The FPC, representing the British fruit and vegetable sector, is calling for a lasting exemption for fresh produce from third countries intended solely for consumption in the UK.
The organization maintains that the current risk-based system achieves a 99.5% compliance rate and argues that automatically applying all EU requirements is unnecessary.
However, costs extend beyond certificates and inspections. For instance, border delays can shorten the shelf life of perishable fruit, increase losses, and make it difficult to meet supply schedules.
The FPC estimates that new certifications, controls, and fees could add more than £300 million (US$390 million) in annual costs to the entire fruit and vegetable sector, affecting about four million tonnes of fresh produce imported from outside the EU.
“The supply chain from the rest of the world is not optional. It is essential to feeding the country,” said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the consortium, which supports a reasonable approach between London and Brussels but “not at any cost.”
Moreover, the organization is calling for the UK-EU summit on 20 November to address the protection of international supply chains.
For Moroccan producers, the outcome will determine whether one of their fastest-growing markets remains accessible on current terms or whether new costs and delays erode the competitive advantage that drove their expansion.
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