Minister hears from HTA and its members on boosting UK-EU plant trade

10 March 2026

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) today supported a roundtable discussion with Dame Angela Eagle MP DBE, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, at Westminster, on the importance of delivering a UK-EU reset to boost international plant trade.

The HTA and its members had the opportunity to speak with the Minister about ways to remove barriers, burdens, friction, and costs currently affecting environmental horticulture businesses across the UK.  The sector relies on global supply chains, importing almost £760 million worth of plants and plant material in 2024. However, due to trade barriers, exports have plummeted since Brexit to just £24 million. 

The event ‘Increasing trade in plants, agricultural products, food, and drink’ - run by the Industry Forum - also included insights from other business sectors about opportunities to grow UK exports and followed Monday’s announcement from the UK Government, confirming a ‘mid-2027’ target for the UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement entering into force.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive at the Horticultural Trades Association, commented:

“Alongside other industry voices at today’s Industry Forum roundtable with Minister Eagle, I reiterated the urgency with which HTA members are calling for action and easements on unnecessary border friction that continues to hinder our sector. I also set out the environmental horticulture industry’s value to the UK economy and our opportunity to deliver green investment and growth if the barriers to do so are lifted.

“We know costs are continuing to increase for many horticultural businesses, so the swift delivery of an EU-UK SPS agreement, and action to ease pain at the border, will help give our members some confidence and certainty for the tough times ahead. We also want this to be an opportunity that resets the competitiveness of UK growers, including to export.

“The HTA looks forward to continuing the conversation over the coming months and working with the Government to deliver real change for our members.”

For more information about the HTA’s position on SPS and for the Windsor Framework briefing paper, visit: hta.org.uk/policy/political-stakeholder-briefings