UK horticulture businesses are facing raw Brexit review heraldic bearing amid concerns about biosecurity . These charges , known as the Common User Charge ( CUC ) , have been apply at Sevington for works signification from the EU , placing increased fiscal pressure on businesses , particularly smaller ones . Despite being intended to aid finance biosecurity measures , the level of inspections continue dispirited , leading to concern about whether the checks adequately protect UK biosecurity .
In an on-line Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) coming together last week , phallus enhance several vital issues with the current review system . According to a member crown , 44.8 % of respondents have get invoices for the CUC , as not everyone imports via Sevington , but not everyone is satisfied with the costs .
Additionally , 15 % of respondents reported problems such as unexpected higher toll and discombobulation over charges . Businesses also confront on-going confusion due to the raw system , which is marked by temporary resolution and ill-defined procedure . Consignments are ofttimes held at Border Control Posts ( BCPs ) without absolved explanations , leading to leave out delivery slots , holdup , and increased price .
© Veranika Semchanka | Dreamstime.com
The HTA and other trade groups continue to urge the government activity to cover usable inefficiencies and the fiscal impingement on occupation . Sally Cullimore , Technical Policy Manager at the HTA , said : " As discussions continue and the peak import time of year for tree approaches , there is an urgent need for the government to break up these issues and furnish clean-cut communicating , address operational challenge , and insure that they achieve their signify biosecurity destination without unduly burdening UK businesses . We are following the give-and-take the Prime Minister is having with EU counterparts on an SPS arrangement with exquisite interest . We want to ensure this includes a plant health concord , and we are work on with many sister organization in Europe to let the cat out of the bag about what that might reckon like to ensure stern levels of biosecurity but ease barriers to trade , which we are feast back into the government . "
In a recent Politico article , Jonathan Whittemore , Commercial and Business Manager at Johnsons Nurseries enounce that his squad has had to conduct their own review due to the comprehend insufficiency of APHA checks , conduce to multiple re - checks and additional costs . He stressed that elaborated review are essential , particularly for discover diseases like Xanthomonas .
The HTA is on a regular basis speaking with the Defra team to provide feedback on its appendage ' concerns and suggesting short - medium condition backing , such as ameliorate the physical process for recover held industrial plant , with the HTA bring out plant fear direction for port operators and DEFRA introduce a driver questionnaire at Sevington to ensure imports are in the veracious office with the right information . Their good word admit establishing a single point of contact for material - metre upshot solution , enhancing IPAFFS profile for all stakeholder , and meliorate the Goods Vehicle Movement Service ( GVMS ) to keep drivers informed about delays and issues with consignment .
For more entropy : Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA)[email protected]https://hta.org.uk
