With just one month to go, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and its members are pleading with the government to act swiftly and responsibly to secure the future of environmental horticulture. The industry is calling for business-critical information and details on the costs, capacity, and capability of Border Control Points, as urgent questions remain unanswered.
The HTA has clearly and frequently set out the now imminent risks to the UK’s horticultural businesses and urges immediate government intervention ahead of the 30 April Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) changes. The sector seeks a solution allowing Border Control Posts (BCPs) to open while sustaining the current Place of Destination (PoD) scheme and unlocking barriers to Control Point access. This would enable BCPs and easements to be fully tested, functioning, and accessible to businesses in the environmental horticulture sector.
James Barnes, HTA Chairman said “Environmental horticulture imports nearly £800 million of plants and plant material that services all stages of production and the supply chain in the UK. The April changes turn on its head how we currently operate. Being one month away and lacking information on the fundamentals of how the UK border will work for plant movements is untenable, particularly when you think there have been over four years to plan since Brexit took place. This threatens the UK’s biosecurity and sector viability and increases the likelihood of reduced choice or empty shelves just when we see the peak time for people to prepare their gardens for summer.
“The HTA and its members have made a huge amount of investment and upskilling on trade, but without the details, we do not know how their business will operate beyond 29 April. We are beyond too little, too late, and in planning for the worst, hoping for the best territory. As a sector, we will be the largest single user of Border Control Points, but it seems little heed has been given to the hours of consultation. This is extremely disappointing for a sector contributing £28.8 billion to GDP and employing nearly 700,000 jobs critical to health, wellbeing, environment, and net-zero target delivery. We need urgent action, and we hope the government shares our interests in successful and secure trade.”