On March 25 , the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) provide unwritten grounds to the Environment , Food and Rural Affairs ( EFRA ) Committee as part of its question into border biosecurity . This enquiry prove the United Kingdom ’s animal and works health controls , focusing on the movement of plants , plant products , and related goods in and out of Great Britain and their impact on businesses and consumers .
Sally Cullimore , Technical Policy Manager at the HTA , outlined the challenge that member businesses face due to a lack of control over their supplying chain , inferior biosecurity , and Sanitary and Phytosanitary ( SPS ) agreements . These challenges include increased costs , postponement , and administrative burden that disproportionately impact lowly and average - sized go-ahead ( SMEs ) . The HTA is advocating for effective biosecurity measures and a smooth , cost - in force border , which are crucial for the success of UK horticulture .
The HTA ’s written grounds , submitted in January 2025 , highlights the sector ’s critical reliance on plant life imports , with 79 % of UK nurseries relying on plant life Cartesian product imports ( 99 % from the EU ) . In 2023 , these imports were valued at over £ 770 million . Speaking after the sitting , Sally Cullimore said : " We ’re passionately committed to fasten a prospering time to come for our member . The disproportionate impact of current border procedures , with full plant life health controls since 2021 , is unsustainable . We must enhance public knowingness about the risks associate with personal plant consequence , cover the inefficiencies of current SPS controls , and address the shortcomings of the Border Target Operating Model , including pathetic communicating and capacity take at Border Control Points ( BCPs ) .
Sally Cudmore
" We need the administration to do on these issues urgently : improving communication , unblocking BCPs , fairly reviewing peril categories , guaranteeing the GB Plant Passport easement beyond June 2025 , and supporting our seed trade . finally , long - term stability requires an SPS arrangement with the EU . To be effective , this agreement must be ground on reciprocal recognition of each other ’s plant health regimes , uphold biosecurity , enhance smooth and monetary value - effective trade , and support UK horticulture . We will keep to get together to make that a reality – because our members deserve nothing less . "
The HTA views an SPS agreement with the EU as a key solution to address border consequence and rubbing . The HTA is calling on both the UK and the EU to talk terms this arrangement , which has the electric potential to ease the swift and effective move of plant imports and exports across the UK - EU border without unwarranted delay or cost . If craft right , an SPS agreement will not only maintain biosecurity but also have the potential to enhance it , which is of great importance to the sector . Any concord with the EU must be based on common acknowledgment of each other ’s plant life wellness area , which is of paramount grandness . The HTA is make grow a detailed position on this and would be proud of to provide this to the citizens committee .
The HTA is preach for several actionable answer , include improving communicating and data point transparency , addressing capability takings at Border Control Points ( BCPs ) , revisiting the UK ’s commodity risk of infection categorization , and confirming a guarantee for a proceed easing to let GB Plant Passports to be affix to retail - ready plant in the EU beyond June 2025 .
For more information : Horticultural Trades Associationwww.hta.org.uk
