Border checks reducing choice and posing food security risk - importers

New Brexit border checks are reducing consumer choice and compromising the UK's food security, according to fresh produce sellers and plant growers.

- Jack Simpson

A joint letter from the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) and the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has called for an urgent meeting with the government over the continued issues their members face when importing plants and cut flowers under the current border regime.

The HTA represents garden retailers and growers, while the FPC represents 700 fresh produce suppliers and distributors. Their letter comes six months after post-Brexit border checks on plant and animal products entering the country from EU countries were introduced.

From 30 April this year, plants for planting and some cut flowers coming into Britain from the EU became subject to checks at border control posts across the country. Before this, plants were inspected at their point of destination, meaning nurseries and growers could store them in controlled environments on site.

The border changes, brought in to mirror the checks on British exports going into Europe, were intended to improve the country's biosecurity and prevent the spread of disease.