Introduction of the final tranche of new import controls on plants and plant products arriving from the EU, due in July, is to be postponed. The new target for their introduction is now the end of next year.
Controls that have already been introduced will remain in place. High priority plants and plant products will still need a phytosanitary certificate and import checks on them will continue at places of destination, rather than at border control posts as planned.
Regulated and notifiable produce and cut flowers will not be subject to import checks from July, as had been scheduled, and will not need to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.
Making the announcement at the end of April, minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency Jacob Rees-Mogg said it would be wrong to impose new administrative burdens and risk disruption at ports and to supply chains when Britain was facing rising costs.