Lack of border control at Port of Cork hikes cost of fruit and veg

A border control post in Cork would save importers thousands of euro at a time per container and maximise quality and shelf life

The lack of border control in the Port of Cork adds 146,000 extra food miles per month and 166,000 tonnes of additional carbon emissions. Picture: Dan Linehan

Irish consumers are paying more for imported fruit and vegetables because the Port of Cork does not have a border control post.

Food importers say the “illogical and inefficient” system sees at least 2,000 shipping containers of fruit and veg a year, which could be landed in Cork, being diverted to ports in Britain or Europe, for transit back to Ireland for the required checks in Dublin.