HTA calls on Defra minister for urgent action on border issues and communications

20 September 2024

Following the recent holds on plant consignments at Sevington, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has further written to the new Defra Minister responsible for borders to set out the cumulative impact of border disruption and delays on UK environmental horticulture and trading partners.  

 Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA said:

 "The impact of UK border control implementation, delays and processes, including at the Government’s Sevington Inland Border Facility, are hitting HTA members hard in a very challenging year. The latest issues at Sevington have had a massive impact on several HTA members and are another cost on top of what has been building up since 30 April.

The HTA has been directly supporting members and actively liaising with Defra and APHA for clarity on this specific issue, as well as a growing volume of the trade-related issues in recent weeks.  

 Whilst we welcome the Government’s stated mission to reset the relationship with the EU, including supporting a new approach to EU-UK SPS arrangements, inclusive of the area of plant health, urgent action on the here and now is needed. It is unacceptable to have the lack of communication we have experienced, and we need prioritisation of action before this drastically risks the viability of the plant trade and business relationships. 

All parties involved in moving plants, trees, flowers, bulbs, and seeds between the EU and the UK are now doing so under maximum pressure, facing unmanageable increases in costs, experiencing painful border processes, and having minimal information with which to do it.

We understand the previous Government initiated the BTOM policy. We approach our engagement constructively and are solutions-focussed. We have resubmitted our evidence-based impacts and ask for an urgent response and meetings."