The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) welcomes the new Defra Plant Health Information Service, which has been made live at a time when horticulture businesses are facing huge challenges with importing.
The tool, developed in consultation with the HTA and sector businesses, is a more user-friendly system to navigate the guidance and make clearer the requirements for plants and plant products for businesses importing them.
Sally Cullimore, HTA Technical Policy Manager, commented: "This is a long-awaited and welcome improvement, which now needs to be fully resourced and maintained, with a plan for urgent expansion to include business and trade critical information, such as when and what additional declarations are required. We are keen to work collaboratively to shape this further so it works for our sector - the primary users of the tool.
“The urgency is clear, and we reiterate the asks the HTA has made for action to address the many communication and infrastructure issues which are causing friction at the border, thereby increasing costs and ultimately resulting in lost plants."
The HTA encourages its members and their supply chains to familiarise themselves with the tool and give feedback on suggestions for further improvements.
To use the new service, find out the rules and the pest or disease risks for importing plants, plant products or seeds to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for commercial use, follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-plant-health-information-and-import-rules
