NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett has warned that government’s new border regime is rapidly turning into a ‘car crash,’ and has urged growers to help the NFU gather evidence on how the regime is impacting their businesses.
Writing on the NFU blog, Martin said, ‘Our members are experiencing delays of up to 20 days or more of goods stuck at BCPs (Border Control Points), hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of goods damaged and destroyed as a consequence of the process, transport cost doubling if not more, EU suppliers pulling out of supplying the UK market, concern of cross contamination, the list is endless. The industry is choking under the new regime.
‘It is particularly hitting our ornamental growers hard, but it also impacts protected edibles, fruit trees and more. If not resolved with urgency we will see businesses exit, with thousands of jobs and livelihoods lost. Let me be clear. We are now in a crisis.’
Mr Emmett recently met with Baroness Hayman last week and stressed the urgency to act. He continued, ‘As well as easing the border issues and returning to a Point of Destination approach, I urged her to re-negotiate a new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) plant health agreement with the EU.
‘She was open and listening to our arguments. But government must move swiftly. We’ve invited her to visit a nursery to see first-hand the impact the new regime is having on member businesses, and I hope she holds true to that commitment.’
The NFU has stressed that evidence is critical in arguing for change with the government, and in particular is looking for facts and evidence of how the border regime is impacting horticultural businesses, such as details of delays at the border, lack of communication, the cost of destruction notices, IT issues, and increased haulier chargers.
Martin added, ‘We need a collective and practical response that supports trade in instances where a pest has been intercepted. The recently issued destruction orders have cost the trade close, if not more than, an estimated £1 million through lost crop, disposal costs and lost onwards sales. This is financially unsustainable for growers to burden, and EU-based suppliers are shifting how they are doing business (in some cases pulling away from) with the UK. We need a biosecurity regime that engages with and supports the whole supply chain.’
Growers with information, can speak to their NFU regional county adviser or to the policy team at horticulture@nfu.org.uk.
