Plant nurseries and garden centres in Britain and Europe are sounding the alarm over the inefficiency of new post-Brexit border posts, which are causing significant delays, damage and extra costs for plant importers.
The Horticultural Trade Association, which represents 1,400 UK retailers and gardeners, along with several European trade bodies, has written an open letter urging immediate action to address the problems. It warns that the new border system, introduced in April, adds more than 25% to import costs.
Health Transport Authority reports indicate that these checks caused significant delays in deliveries at the border, which sometimes lasted for up to 44 hours. These delays not only increase the risk of pests and plant diseases entering the UK, but also result in significant financial burdens. For example, one transport company recorded 93 hours of driver waiting time in the first week of new checks, resulting in an additional £38,000 in pay. This company expects an increase of £1.5 million in logistics costs over the next year, an increase of 25%.
The new rules require certain plant and animal products entering the UK from the European Union to be inspected at border points near British ports. Previously, inspections were carried out randomly upon arrival at nurseries. The shortcomings of the current system are highlighted in a recent incident where three trailers of plants were held for 44 hours due to a software glitch, causing most of the plants to wilt and be rejected by the end customer.
Signatories to the letter include the International Flower Trade Association, which accounts for 80% of the value of global trade in flowers and potted plants, and the Dutch Flower Wholesalers Association. They stress that the costs of border inspections make trading unviable for many small businesses, with some suppliers facing an additional cost of £1,740 for mixed loads of plants.
Post-Brexit regulations classify plants intended for agriculture as high-risk, subjecting them to more stringent checks than those for medium-risk products such as meat and dairy products. Importers claim that border posts are not adequately equipped to handle large quantities and volumes of plant imports, leading to further delays and increased costs.
Previously, plants were kept under controlled conditions in nurseries and farms before being inspected by government officials. Now, inspections are carried out almost exclusively at border posts. The government asserts that these measures enhance biosecurity by preventing harmful diseases from entering the country. However, the letter raises concerns about the quality of inspections, suggesting that some inspections are superficial and that there is insufficient communication about inspection results to end customers.
One example cited was a shipment of 50 mature olive trees, known to be hosts for the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa, where inspections were abandoned due to unloading difficulties. The client received no information on the status of the inspection, raising biosecurity concerns.
The government responded by saying it is working with merchants to ensure checks are completed efficiently and quickly and has published guidance to help businesses reduce delays. It ensures that checks are carried out by fully trained staff following standard operating procedures.
Additional signatories to the letter include the European Flower Nursery Association, Royal Anthos (the Dutch Association of Flower Nursery Stock and Flower Bulbs), VBN (the Dutch Flower Auctioneers Association) and Transport en Logistiek Nederland (the Dutch Transport and Logistics Association).