Flower producers in the Netherlands have urged the UK government to postpone implementing border regulations for plants and food after Brexit, which were scheduled to begin this month. They argue that exporters are not adequately prepared and that any delays at customs could lead to significant financial losses.
The Dutch organization, VGB, representing wholesale businesses in the flower industry, has sent a letter to the UK government expressing their worries about the lack of preparedness for upcoming changes. They believe these changes will cause disturbance during the peak seasons of Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
The checks, which make up part of a new post-Brexit border regime, will require European importers to provide health certificates for “medium and high risk” animal and plant products from 31 January, while physical inspections of these goods will start at the end of April.
The government has postponed the implementation of these checks five times already. However, VGB is requesting an additional extension, with physical checks now scheduled for September 2025. Additionally, they are advocating for a reassessment of which flowers are considered high risk.
The VGB director, Matthijs Mesken, shared a summary of the letter with the Guardian, stating that they are worried about the upcoming implementation of phytosanitary certificates for medium-risk products on January 31, 2024.
“This timing aligns with the peak of the seasons, creating difficulties for our industry.”
According to him, although there are only five flower types that are considered “medium risk”, they make up almost 85% of the shipments due to being included in mixed bouquets. This poses challenges for Dutch exporters.
Starting in January, the new certification process will be implemented and from 30 April onwards, there will be more rigorous physical inspections of products.
The correspondence mentioned that the April payments might cause a delay in the delivery of goods to their intended location and could potentially result in significant harm to the flora during border inspections.
Mesken expressed concerns about the timing of [checks] being introduced during the planting season and right before the spring bank holiday.
During this time, he clarified that the large amounts of traffic crossing the borders each day aligned with the plants’ most delicate stage of flowering. He also emphasized that any delays could have severe consequences, leading to significant damages and losses.
The government’s plan for the border is to safeguard the UK from biosecurity risks. The updated regulations will take advantage of Brexit policies to streamline import controls for goods from around the world.
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According to VGB, Britain currently has the most efficient border in Europe and it is important to maintain this for the entire logistics network. VGB proposed that the UK government delay physical inspections of plant imports until at least September 2025.
There is a growing worry that the implementation of new checks may lead to an increase in food and plant prices, as importers may not be able to cover the additional costs associated with these checks.
According to the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), an organization representing 70% of the UK’s fresh produce supply chain, they predict that import fees will result in an extra £10 million in expenses each year, which will ultimately be reflected in higher prices for consumers.
The FT was informed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that implementing the technology would lower the expenses of the upcoming border. Additionally, officials will strive to minimize any interruptions while enforcing the border’s target operating model (BTOM).
A representative from Defra stated: “We are collaborating closely with stakeholders in all impacted industries within the UK, throughout the EU, and with trading partners globally to ensure preparedness for the BTOM.”
Source: theguardian.com
