The impact of Brexit on plant sales
New UK regulations are disrupting plant supply and trading, with the cost of plants likely to rise, writes Ian Hodgson
The import and export of plants to and from Britain has been significantly disrupted as a consequence of new Brexit trade agreements, with prices set to rise and some plant types becoming unavailable in the UK.
Additional layers of bureaucracy and the imposition of charges for checking consignments of plants entering and leaving the country, as well as 20 per cent VAT, are causing a headache for suppliers.
The situation is affecting everyone who trades in plants and even seeds to and from Europe. Small-scale retailers have been most affected, with some suppliers giving up trading with the UK and vice-versa.
The issues largely revolve around needing to produce and pay for phytosanitary certification from the country of origin for every consignment of plants coming into and from the UK to prevent inadvertent introduction of noxious pests and diseases. When rules came into force on January 1, trade with
Northern Ireland was the first to be derailed. As a result, Garden News is now not able to send magazines cover-mounted with seeds to our readers in Northern Ireland.
‘Hit from both sides’
“Although the UK is now sovereign over its own phytosanitary zone, Northern Ireland is still part of the EU from this perspective, which means enacting all the administration and phytosanitary provisions, the latter as much as £152, plus a £26 document inspection fee,” explained Peter McDermott, managing director of online plant retailer YouGarden.
“With the additional delays due to customs clearance, it’s just not economic for the normal value of an order. I’m being hit from both sides, the loss of business from Northern Ireland and the phytosanitary charges, which are likely to cost YouGarden in excess of £250,000 a year. With final agreements fixed in just a matter of weeks, negotiations for our sector were botched. Retailers won’t be able to hold costs down so plant prices are likely to rise.”
Tariffs take their toll
Phytosanitary tariffs are levied on a sliding scale depending on the biosecurity risk, spanning £182.38 for trees and shrubs prone to Xylella disease, to £20.50 for bulbs and £18.24 for finished plants for retail, while plants raised and sold in the UK are exempt. The fact tariffs are levied per consignment, with plants now having to be sent bare-root (unless grown in coir or a sterile growing medium rather than loam-based composts) is proving to be an insurmountable problem.
Customers’ sadness
Brittany-based Barnhaven Primroses, which produces the famous Barnhaven varieties, has been badly hit as 40 per cent of its business came from the UK. “All plants must now be sent to the UK bare-root, with no soil,” said Barnhaven’s Jodie Mitchell. “With the cost of phytosanitary certification, postage and the inspection fee, the average cost for a parcel of six plants, not including the price of the plants and 20 per cent VAT, is around £60.
“We’ve received many letters and emails from elderly customers who are very sad to lose us. We will also no longer be able to attend plant fairs in the UK. Some of the plant fairs we attend in Germany and Paris will also be affected by the fact UK nurseries will no longer be able to attend.”
Similarly, Swiss-based edible and ornamental plant breeder and retailer Lubera has also ceased trading with the UK. Lubera owner Markus Kobelt said: “We’re working on a solution on how we can continue to bring a wide range of plants to the UK and directly to our customers’ homes. However, such a solution won’t be available before 2022 or 2023. English breeders are also asking us to act as a sort of Noah’s Ark to keep their plants on the continent so they can be propagated here.”
Some European nurseries have established UK operations to get round the issues. Dutch tree nursery Van Den Berk established a nursery in West Yorkshire in early 2020, while Netherlands-based Smits Nurseries now has a base in Berkshire. Young fruit plants from Lubera Edibles, a partner company of Lubera, will still be on sale in retail outlets and garden centres because they’ve been raised by micropropagation techniques and grown on in a sterile growing medium.