increase costs and restrictions on the UK horticulture industry to export to the EU have seen a mark cliff in the value of swap in the first six calendar month of the class , show a missed chance for the sector to grow its donation to UK ‘ greenish trade ’ .
Research behave by the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) shows that exports of live plants and plant materials * from the UK to the EU between January and June this year were valued at £ 9.7 m , compared with £ 16 m in the same period of 2019 – a decrease of 39 % . Rest of the world cut-rate sale have remained broadly stable . This , says the HTA , shows that the although the EU is still the with child market for British horticultural products , the industry is not growing as it could . Extra new administrative price and restrictions are result in British horticulture businesses choosing not to pursue markets in the EU .
“ We had long suspected that this cloggy - handed regime would put too many barriers in the way of those who had hop to arise a client substructure in Europe . Much of the £ 24bn horticulture industry is made up of minuscule and medium sized businesses ( SMEs ) who want to defend ‘ green trade ’ and export the hugely iconic British plants , seeds and trees we produce here . However , the bureaucratic obstacle and Brobdingnagian price are make it business - sapping and unviable . This is forestall SMEs to grow and pass a post - Brexit trade Renascence , ” tell James Clark , Director of Policy and Communications at the HTA .
First - hand experience of HTA members tell a story of business frustrated by trouble transporting their live plants flux with the extra cost and complexity of review and necessary paperwork . These factors combine think that it simply is n’t viable for many to swap with customer on the continent .
David Millais , who lam Millais Nurseries near Farnham in Surrey , said : “ Before Brexit , we exported 5 - 10 % of our production to botanical garden and specialist works shopping centre , and to many reprize retail customers , who grease one’s palms directly from our internet site . We redesigned our website to enable us to capitalize on this marketplace and produce this part of the line of work by 20 % . Brexit has completely stop this . The disproportionate inspection and freight thrill now think of there is no point in attempting to send modest order to Europe because the cost make export unviable for all concerned . ”
David Fryer , Head of Technical at semen party Mr. Fothergill ’s of Newmarket , explains the situation : “ We ’re having to spend so much time navigating the price of inspections and certification , the toll of planning and direction and the risk of consignment delays or rejection , plus restriction on what we can export now and reduced client confidence that we are unable to focus on growth in the EU while we grapple these new shipway of process . ”
The HTA has set in motion a campaign call ‘ rent Britain Grow ’ , calling for the Government to review existing review point and costs and negotiate a plant health accord between the UK and the EU . This will turn on the multi - billion pound sphere to encourage the nation ’s economical increment and fuel external trade post - Brexit .
For more informationHorticultural Trades Association19 High Street ThealeReading , West BerkshireRG7 5AH , United Kingdom+44 ( 0)118 930 3132www.the-hta.org.uk
