For now, the British have chosen a pragmatic approach to the inspection of incoming plants and flowers subject to mandatory phytosanitary checks. Meanwhile, it has been announced that they will also be inspecting fruits and vegetables at the border as of 31 January 2025. Fears of chaos still loom over the market.
Since 30 April of this year, the British have been taking a pragmatic approach to the inspections of high-risk trees and plants and medium-risk plants and cut flowers. Dutch exporters find that only a small percentage of the trees, plants and cut flowers subject to mandatory phytosanitary checks is actually inspected at the British borders. According to figures from the Dutch quality-control agency KCB, around 88 companies are engaged in the plant and flower export to the UK. These figures are based on the number of businesses to which the agency issues phytosanitary certificates,
In their Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), the British announce, among other things, that they will be inspecting 100% of the woody crops. In practice, this percentage is between one and two percent.: “As long as the current border control posts are overwhelmed, it is much too early to scale up the number of inspections,” says Strategic Advisor Tim Rozendaal of VGB.
