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Policy News & Press Releases

10/04/2025

Easing trade for horticulture: The HTA secures Plant Passport extension

Following significant engagement by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), Defra has confirmed an extension to the current plant passport easement, allowing EU suppliers to continue attaching UK Plant Passports to retail-ready plants before shipping. This extension for 19 months beyond the original 30 June 2025 deadline, to 31 January 2027, provides much-needed certainty for the horticultural industry.

Read the press release here
26/03/2025

HTA says the government needs to prioritise decisive action after Spring Statement

In response to today’s Spring Statement from the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Director of Public Affairs, Jennifer Pheasey, said: “The Chancellor’s Spring Statement offers little relief for horticulture businesses and has failed to put a spring in the step of our members across the sector. Facing fragile consumer confidence and rising costs on all fronts, from inheritance tax to border chaos to plant health fees, this is not an agenda for growth for the environmental horticulture sector..."

Read the press release here
25/03/2025

HTA sets out hit to horticulture from biosecurity & border policy to Parliamentary Committee

Today, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) gave oral evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee as part of its inquiry into border biosecurity. This inquiry examines the UK's animal and plant health controls, with a focus on the movement of plants, plant products, and related goods in and out of Great Britain and their impact on businesses and consumers.

Read the press release here
17/03/2025

HTA calls for urgent government action ahead of Spring Forecast

As the Chancellor prepares to deliver her Spring Forecast on 26 March 2025, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is calling for the government to take decisive action to support the environmental horticulture sector. The industry has enormous potential for economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability, but businesses are facing mounting financial pressures that threaten their future. The HTA wants the government to provide immediate targeted support and policy changes to enable the sector to thrive.

Read the press release here
12/03/2025

HTA sets out GB-NI trade challenges to Parliamentary Committee

Today, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) delivered oral evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee as part of its inquiry into the operation of the Windsor Framework. This inquiry examines the post-Brexit legal agreement, beginning with a session focused on how the framework affects businesses and consumers, particularly regarding the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Read the press release here
10/03/2025

UPDATED: HTA welcomes Caroline Voaden MP’s Bill to champion green spaces and environmental horticulture

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has welcomed the introduction of Caroline Voaden MP’s Private Members’ Bill, which will have its 2nd reading on Friday 7 March and seeks to establish a Government Office for Urban Green Spaces. This proposed initiative would unlock the full potential of green spaces across the UK, recognising their vital role in economic growth, health and wellbeing, environmental resilience, and climate adaptation.

Read the press release here
13/12/24

New HTA data demonstrates the Autumn Budget hit to horticulture

New data from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) further sets out the risks posed to the environmental horticulture sector by the Autumn Budget. As a sector of mostly small and medium-sized (SME) businesses, many of which are family-owned, the challenge is acute due to the triple whammy of measures announced in the Budget concerning changes to inheritance tax (IHT), national insurance contributions (NIC), and the National Living Wage (NLW).

Read the press release here
09/05/24

Shropshire Independent Review into Labour Shortages (Seasonal Workers) – HTA statement

Skills and labour shortages are critical issues for UK environmental horticulture. The HTA has repeatedly sought for a longer-term basis for the Seasonal Worker Scheme. Confirmation of a five-year scheme, albeit with the details yet to be published, is welcome and helps give horticulture businesses who are facing multiple challenges, from weather impacts to new border changes, some much needed certainty and confidence.

Read the press release here
24/04/24

House of Lords debates Horticultural Sector Committee Report

On Friday, 19 April, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) was in the gallery of the chamber to witness the next step in the Parliamentary process for the House of Lords’ Horticultural Committee Inquiry. The debate and motion were the formal presentation of the report in Parliament and provided peers from all parties the chance to set out views on some of the key aspects covered by the wide-ranging review.

Read the press release here
03/04/24

Common User Charge announcement

Commenting on the Common User Charge announcement, James Barnes, HTA Chairman, said: “Whilst it is welcome that it has at last been published, the Common User Charge (CUC) announcement at the eleventh hour confirms our fears that in just one month, UK horticulture’s competitiveness will be again hit by a cost hike for no material gain. 90% of our growers import plants at some stage of the growing cycle. Nearly 100% are SMEs and, in theory, subject to 100% checks and charges. Today, they have near 0% access to the easements or alternatives to BCP usage.

Read the press release here
16/02/24

Two months to go and too many unknowns – HTA member welcomes local MP and Secretary of State to discuss critical April border changes

As part of its push to get clarity on the details of the April border changes, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has joined Plants Limited in welcoming the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to their site in Surrey. As their constituency MP, Plants Limited contacted Mr Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with their concerns following HTA Member briefings.

Read the press release here
14/02/24

Cost of doing business in environmental horticulture – HTA urges action in Spring Statement

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has set our clear asks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of the Spring Statement 2024. The HTA represents approximately 1,400 businesses in the UK's environmental horticulture industry and calls for urgent action to ensure the sector's growth, which makes vital contributions to the economy and environment and delivers on net zero.

Read the press release here
06/12/23

The HTA welcomes the Scottish Government approach to critical horticulture issues

Following a recent series of engagements with the Scottish Government, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) welcomes the clear recognition of the sector’s value and importance in recent communications. Multiple meetings with Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon MSP and officials throughout the year have paved the way for collaborative efforts to address key concerns within the industry.

Read the news story here
29/11/23

Horticultural Trades Association advocates for UK Environmental Horticulture at ‘Plants in Parliament’ event

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) delivered a drop-in showcase in Parliament on Tuesday, 28 November. This ushered in the festive season and underscored the importance of UK environmental horticulture. Sponsored by Heather Wheeler MP, the event attracted over 50 MPs, Peers, and staff, with positive conversations about green spaces and the sector.

Read the press release here
22/11/23

Horticultural Trades Association reaction to Autumn Budget

Fran Barnes, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Chief Executive, said: “Today’s Autumn Budget has acknowledged the need to support businesses to invest for the future. We welcome the response to our asks on Business Rates to ease the Spring cliff edge by extending small business and retail reliefs, full-expensing and measures to support the self-employed. However, we cannot ignore that businesses across the UK horticulture industry have been feeling the mounting pressures of inflation, energy costs, skills shortages, regulatory changes, climate change, and fluctuating consumer confidence over many months.

Read the press release here
06/11/23

HTA joins forces to call for Scottish rates freeze

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), jointly with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and other leading businesses and groups, have set out a united call for a freeze in business rates in Scotland. This clear ask is directed towards the Scottish Government's Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary ahead of the upcoming budget announcement on 19 December, which will set the business rate and associated reliefs for the 2024-25 financial year.

Read the press release here
06/11/23

Recognition for vital horticulture sector: House of Lords report highlights industry’s value

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has welcomed the publication of the report from the year-long House of Lords Horticulture Committee special inquiry for recognising the importance of UK horticulture as a key deliverer of environmental targets. At the forefront of the report’s recommendations is the HTA’s top ask for increased cross-departmental collaboration within the government to acknowledge the sector’s relevance across policy areas.

Read the press release here
12/09/23

Scottish Cabinet Minister Champions Horticulture Industry and Plants Tree at Local School to Promote Green Growth

Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, was given a closer look at the Environmental Horticulture sector on a visit to Ashbrook Nursery in Arbroath. This was part of the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) outreach on its Scottish Growth Strategy, which was brought to Holyrood earlier this year so that industry and politicians could engage in improving the environment, economy and health through trees and plants.

Read the press release here
04/09/23

Politicians visit Aberdeen Garden Centre and Nursery to address horticultural industry challenges

Ben Reid Garden Centre and Nursery in Aberdeen had the privilege of hosting two distinguished political figures last week. On Thursday, 31 August, Stephen Flynn, Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South and Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, visited the garden centre. His visit aimed to shed light on the pressing issues confronting the horticultural industry in Scotland.

Read the press release here
29/08/23

Positive first steps, but the HTA urges further progress on Border Trade Plans for horticulture

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has responded to the final publication of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), welcoming certain aspects of the model, such as commitments to digitise phytosanitary certificates and for the government to create a consultative business readiness group. However, it also expresses disappointment in other areas that could have critical implications for the horticultural sector and says that the BTOM is potentially a missed opportunity for UK horticulture.

Read the press release here
25/05/23

Cross-party support for horticulture at Chelsea briefing hosted by the Horticultural Trades Association

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has welcomed a cross-party group of parliamentarians to a breakfast briefing held this morning (Thursday, 25 May) at the renowned RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Among the attendees were Shadow Business Minister Seema Malhotra MP and Heather Wheeler MP, highlighting the growing importance and recognition of the horticultural sector in Westminster.

Read the press release here
12/05/23

MSPs joined experts, professionals, and academics from Scotland’s horticulture sector at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 10 May at a reception to discuss the future of the industry in relation to the well-being economy, the environment, planning and health.

MSPs joined experts, professionals, and academics from Scotland’s horticulture sector at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 10 May at a reception to discuss the future of the industry in relation to the well-being economy, the environment, planning and health.

Read the press release here