The British government determination to postpone the tightening of phytosanitary normal for meaning until the beginning of 2022 was get with great joyousness by the Dutch Flower Auction Association ( VBN ) . “ This report from London has lull concern in the bloom sphere , ” enounce Eveline Herben of VBN . " The phytosanitary credential of cut flowers has switch from April 1 , 2021 to January 1 , 2022 . This gives the parties involved more metre to adapt the logistics processes involve in this to the fresh place . "

The VBN is an important establishment stand for the interests of the floriculture sector . The auction act as a hinge between the producers and traders of cut flowers and plants . In this role , the VBN is tight necessitate in all issue come up from Brexit . This is in collaboration with the Association for Wholesalers in Flower Nursery Products . The system are in close contact with the Ministry of Agriculture , Nature and Food Quality , the NVWA , the KCB and the agriculture squad at the Dutch embassy in London .

Eveline Herben is responsible for this file at the VBN . She is also chair of the work chemical group on flowers & plants of the European organization Copa / Cogeca . This EU umbrella organisation has also been work for years to abbreviate the damage to agricultural trade triggered by the UK ’s exit from the European Union . " Brexit is a European affair , but when it come to the floriculture sector , the interests of the Netherlands are by far the greatest . "

Is Brexit a tricky issue?“It sure is , partly because the UK ’s policy is constantly changing . This became clear again on 11 March when the UK postponed the entree into force of procedures that are authoritative to us by nine month . In this instance , this is beneficial for cut flower exports . In November last year , the British authorities suddenly adjudicate that a phytosanitary certificate would be required for all cut flowers to be exported from 22 May 2025 . Before that , it was account that this was only necessary for some types of thinned flowers . Now there is another delay . Given the immense volumes going to the UK , such a change will have major implications . The parties involved are forced to constantly trade . ”

How authoritative is the UK to the Dutch floriculture sector?“The numbers speak volumes . The UK imports € 1.2 billion Charles Frederick Worth of plant life material and abbreviate flowers per year . € 855 million of this come from the Netherlands , or more than 70 % . Some of it is grow in other EU countries or comes from third countries such as Kenya , Ethiopia , Colombia and Ecuador . This flow goes via the Netherlands to the UK and therefore also has to deal with new procedures . Altogether , this involves an estimated 250,000 shipments per yr . Phytosanitary certification , a direct solvent of Brexit , therefore has a huge impact . specially since many cargo hold back batches of different origins . ”

The slew between the EU and the UK in December 2020 have in mind no levies at the border . Is that a positive for trade from the Netherlands?“For sheer flowers , the rate would be 8 % . That charge per unit has been localise at zero by the agreement for cut flowers grown in the EU and is of row a big plus for the sector . But this does not apply to blossom from third countries that go to the UK via the Netherlands . An 8 % import duty is charged on this . bloom from Kenya , for example , can go directly to the UK at a zero rate due to the Kenya - UK trade agreement , but not if these flowers have been gain in the Netherlands first . This materialise because Dutch traders put together a diverse range of ware with different source for customers in the UK . you could not just change that logistics chain in the floriculture sector . ”

The UK recently resolve to remit the phytosanitary certificate requirement . Were you surprised?“Our protagonism has always focus on that . Suddenly the time has come . The postponement concerns cut bloom , three quarters of the floricultural flowing to the UK . Pre - notification and phytosanitary certificates will become mandatory for shortened heyday from 15 February 2025 . That was going to be 29 December 2024 to begin with . strong-arm phytosanitary inspections in the UK will not take place from 4 April 2025 , but from March 2022 . This gives the sector some relief . We are grant clock time to perhaps realize more risk - base inspections and to prepare the chain in an intelligent manner . This involves , for exercise , connect the British digital systems to those of the NVWA . This link is necessary to maintain speed in the logistics chain and to keep costs down . The bilateral discussions on this are now under less clip pressure . That is positive , but we must make certain that the sector does not sit back and relax . With Brexit , the UK has become a third country , which in any case gift obstacles and lead to additional costs . We can only endeavor to limit the legal injury . This demand action from all party in the chain of mountains . delay on a number of degree is courteous , but the urgency to prepare the export chain to the UK persist the same . ”

How has the export of flora and cut flowers to the UK been going since 1 January?“The export figure for January and February give a sundry motion-picture show . For cut flowers , a plus of 14.2 % was realised compared to the same time period in 2020 . The exportation of flora decrease by 12 % in those two months . For plant , the authentication obligation and inspection took effect on 1 January and this had straightaway consequences . This plane section of the floriculture sector has already endure quite a bit . ”

Source : Agroberichten Buitenland