EU Member States should guarantee the fruit and vegetable supply chain

The Commission has issued new practical advice on how to implement its Guidelines for border management, in order to keep freight moving across the EU during the current pandemic (see press release, 23 March). To ensure that EU-wide supply chains continue to operate, Member States have been requested to designate all the relevant internal border-crossing points on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) as “green lane” border crossings (see map). The green lane border crossings should be open to all freight vehicles, whatever goods they are carrying. Crossing the border, including any checks and health screening, should not take more than 15 minutes.

Procedures at green lane border crossings should be minimised and streamlined to what is strictly necessary. Drivers of freight vehicles should not be asked to produce any document other than their identification and driving license and if necessary a letter from the employer. The electronic submission/display of documents should be accepted.

The Commission has set up a network of national contact points and a platform to provide information on national transport measures taken by Member States in response to the coronavirus epidemic. The national contact points will support the effective functioning of the green lane border crossing points.

The Guidelines state that Member States should act immediately to temporarily suspend all types of road access restrictions in place in their territory for road freight transport and for the necessary free movement of transport workers.

Transport workers, irrespective of their nationality and place of residence, should be allowed to cross internal borders. Restrictions such as travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine of transport workers should be waived, without prejudice for competent authorities to take proportionate and specifically adapted measures to minimise the risk of contagion.

In particular, the EU’s Communication to Member States on the implementation of green lanes states that “All freight vehicles and drivers should be treated in a non-discriminatory manner, irrespective of the origin, destination, or country of registration of the vehicle, or of the nationality of the driver.”

Member States also plan to lift existing weekend bans. No additional certifications should be imposed on goods legally circulating within the EU single market. According to the European Food Safety Authority, there is no evidence that food is a source or a transmission source of COVID-19.