In 2024, exports on the United Kingdom (UK) changed rigorously, as the UK became a third country due to Brexit. Plants and certain flowers destined for the UK must undergo phytosanitary inspections, while some of the imports are inspected by the British at the border. Tim Rozendaal, Strategic Advisor and Project Manager at VGB, looks back at the changes in exports to the UK and looks ahead.
“Last year saw some drastic changes in the trade relationship between the Netherlands and the UK. In January, after repeated postponements and amendments, an inspection requirement was introduced for five types of cut flowers. Companies have since been given the opportunity to use an in-house inspection system, whereby own employees are trained to carry out the inspections. Then, the British pre-notification system PEACH transitioned to IPAFFS.
However, the most visible change has been the shift in the import inspections from random checks at the point of arrival to inspections at border control posts. The British acknowledged they did not have the capacity and expertise to implement the inspections as described in the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).”
