DEFRA's PEACH system is used to advise the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI) of the Import of regulated fresh produce and allow traders to produce their own Certificates of Conformity. At the end of January the system was updated in time for the introduction of a further group of products in February.
Traders can now keep track of their peppers (and other produce) with a traffic light system.
From February 2004 imports of melons, water melons, table grapes, plums, carrots, leeks, apricots, tomatoes, cherries and strawberries will need to be notified to the HMI via the PEACH system in addition to the previously introduced requirements for apples, pears, citrus fruit, peaches, nectarines and kiwi fruit.
Then, on 31 March 2004 the remaining regulated crops will require certification: onions, peas, beans, avocados, sweet peppers, asparagus, spinach, garlic, celery, courgettes, cabbage, walnuts, hazelnuts, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, aubergines, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, artichokes, endives, cultivated mushrooms and chicory.
The crucial changes are that applications will now be risk assessed automatically and where the consignment is considered low risk, a Certificate of Conformity will be available for printing by the trader.
Where the system indicates a consignment is higher risk, an inspector will decide whether or not a physical inspection is required of the goods before a certificate can be issued. Traders will now print off their own certificates in all instances except where a physical inspection takes place. This is a simplification of the process and an improvement in both the speed of delivery of the certificate and clearance of the consignment through Customs.
PEACH now also provides better information for traders, letting them know the state of their application at any time, using a traffic light system.
Any queries in respect of the system should be addressed to the HMI at on 0207 238 1035 or alternatively an overview of the Import procedures can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/hort/hmi/importsfile.htm (Link to an external site - Disclaimer 
).
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 49, February/March 2004
