UK-EU deal will ‘dissolve’ £60m a year of costs for plant trade, says Angela Eagle
Summary
A planned UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary deal could remove most plant-trade border checks and paperwork, saving the UK horticulture industry an estimated £60 million a year. The agreement is expected to be signed at a 20 November summit, but implementation is not expected before the first quarter of 2028.Key Facts
- The Horticultural Trades Association estimates that border-related costs for plant trade total £60 million a year.
- The costs include inspection fees, certificates, port and agent fees, extra labor, and additional haulage.
- The deal is expected to remove most physical checks and accompanying certificates and paperwork for covered trade.
- Provender Nurseries spent at least £500,000 building a post-Brexit control site that could become obsolete under the deal.
- Provender managing director Richard McKenna hopes the agreement will persuade some European suppliers to resume exports to the UK.
- Angela Eagle said the savings could put downward pressure on food prices but did not confirm that UK food prices would fall.
- The agreement is not expected to take effect until the first quarter of 2028.
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