Only six months into the government’s new border regime and my predictions last year of it being a ‘car crash’ are turning fiercely into a reality.
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.
‘We need to hear from you’
We need the government to urgently call an emergency meeting to address the challenges of their border operation before we lose large chunks of our industry – one that should be seen by the government as a prized asset to deliver for the environment, climate mitigation, biodiversity, and the public’s health.
We need to hear from you, our members.
Evidence is critical in arguing for change, so can I ask you all to reach out to your NFU regional county adviser or to our policy team at [email protected] with the key facts and evidence of how the border regime is impacting your business.
- Delayed at the border? For how long, why and at what cost?
- Examples of a lack of communication about consignments on hold.
- Served destruction notices? For what reason, and what was the cost?
- How much has your haulier charges gone up by in the last six months?
- How have your EU suppliers reacted?
- IT issues, including delays in issuing certifications, system failures for example.
“Evidence is critical in arguing for change, so can I ask you all to reach out to your NFU regional county adviser with the key facts and evidence of how the border regime is impacting your business.”
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett
A longer-term solution
I met with Baroness Hayman last week and stressed the urgency to act.
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 will do all it can to hold the government to account.
Appropriate approach for pest interceptions
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.
