The UK’s Horticultural Trades Association and related groups across Europe warn that new border controls are not working
The commercial organizations that represent the centers of UK gardening and the EU have signed an open letter calling on political leaders to address the border “crisis” posterior al Brexit.
They claim that new changes to import procedures, implemented in April, are causing delays, damages and additional costs to those who introduce plants in the uk. “The UK has a single border with the EU in terms of trade in plants and plant products“says the letter.
“Nowhere else in the world is there a border that sees such plant volume and products vegetables traded between countries who don’t have one health agreement form and phytosanitary (SPS), recognition or agreement”.
The groups demand “constructive dialogue and action” in the face of the 4th of july british general election. Among the signatories is the Horticultural Trades Association UK, which represents some 1,400 garden retailers. EU bodies supporting the petitions include the Dutch Nursery Material and Flower Bulb Association and the International Plant Association. Flower Tradebased in Brussels.
“High risk” plants are no longer controlled in nurseries
Las rules introduced At the beginning of this year they assume that plant products and animals from the EU arriving in the United Kingdom will undergo more exhaustive controls.
Before its application, most of the products imported from the EU were not being controlled, a temporary measure to give companies time to adapt to the post-Brexit changes.
From now on, products that present a medium health risk of the population and environment from the United Kingdom will be tested for pests and diseases.
Los high risk products They will also now be inspected at the border, whereas previously they were controlled once they reached their destination. Horticultural groups say the new system is less effective at detecting plagues and diseasesbut also runs the risk of causing liquidity problems to some companies.
According to their forecasts, the import costs will increase by more than 25% due to the greater duration of the journeys and applications, increased damage to stocks and the fees related to the controls themselves.
For a single truck, they calculated that the added costs of the controls could reach 1,740 pounds (2,052 euros) if a supplier brings 12 different lots of plants. The professional organizations They called these expenses unsustainable for small businesses.
Withered plants in waiting trucks
In the letter, a company claims that three of its vehicles transporting plants were held for 44 hours in a border post for software problem. “It turned out that it was an APHA test to detect a specific insect, the results of which took so long to arrive that the numerous plants aboard the trailers had died, rotted or withered,” the document stated.
He stated that the port operator, which did not operate 24 hours a day, was untraceable: “The carrier and the agent knew nothing about what was happening with the plants, which were not cared for“. Another transportation company stated that 23 of its trucks were inspected during the first week of controls.
This caused drivers to wait 93 hours, costing the company £38,000 in you pay extra (44,819 euros). It not only means a burden on budgets of companies, but professional organizations have expressed concern about drivers’ well-being.
They claim that drivers often They do not have access to toilet facilities nor to hot food and drinks, when their waiting times regularly exceed 10 hours.
“While the elections cause a political pauseas associations that represent the entire supply chain, we ask that whoever wins at the polls commit to Look for solutions immediately and urgently with the horticultural industry,” the groups point out in their letter to the Government.
“As a sector composed mostly by SMEsbut which also supplies large retailers, who are subject to climate impacts, work limitations and other increases input coststhe impacts of border changes are hitting harder and with greater impact.”
The Government has stated that it is working closely with merchants to ensure the efficient processing of goods. It is also publishing guidance for businesses on how to reduce delays.
