LONDON: The United Kingdom’s fruit and flower growers are confronting what has been termed an “existential threat” by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the country’s largest farming body. The NFU has raised concerns about the potential impact of new post-Brexit border checks, cautioning that these measures could severely harm businesses and disrupt next year’s crops.
Scheduled for implementation in April, the changes to import rules will subject nearly all young plants entering the country to border checks, a move that the NFU fears could lead to extended delays and result in the damage or destruction of plants.
Martin Emmett, Chair of the NFU’s Horticulture and Potatoes Board, expressed apprehension, stating, “There is a concern that border control points can pose an existential threat to horticultural businesses in this country.” Emmett, whose company Farplants produces approximately £20 million worth of products, with just over half originating from the EU, emphasized the fear of growers facing unusable deliveries. He stressed that any unnecessary delays could lead to stock destruction, ultimately impacting businesses in a profound and detrimental manner.
The UK’s fruit and flower growers heavily rely on the EU for young plants, originating in countries like the Netherlands, before being imported into the UK for planting. As the April deadline approaches, the industry is bracing itself for potential disruptions that could have far-reaching consequences for the agricultural sector.