The Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) , alongside the British Potato Trade Association ( BPTA ) and the Fresh Produce Consortium ( FPC ) , is urgently calling for legal action as the consultation on the proposed increase in plant life wellness fees close on Friday , March 21 .
The three organisation have jointly write to Baroness Hayman of Ullock , the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment , Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra ) with responsibility for biosecurity and perimeter , and Huw Irranca - Sir Humphrey Davy MS , the Welsh Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs , urging the government to arrest the ill - timed fee cost increase .
The missive expresses concern over the reference ’s timing , methodological analysis , and potential impact on businesses across the horticultural , agrarian , and fresh produce sectors . It call for a fundamental reassessment of industrial plant health fees and boundary line processes before introducing any increases .
The joint letter squall for a intermission on fee increase until a full brushup of plant life wellness fee and procedure at the border is conducted , credit of economic insistence from the Autumn Budget ’s tax and labour price increases , as well as the significant financial burden triggered by the Border Target Operating Model ( BTOM ) , greater transparency in monetary value calculations , as the data provided in the interview lack clearness and does not allow industry stakeholders to evaluate efficiency or fairness , and betterment to APHA table service storey , as business organisation are already facing substantial toll from BTOM and Border Control Posts ( BCPs ) without corresponding improvements in service calibre .
Fran Barnes , Chief Executive of the HTA , gloss : " The current inspection regime is still creating problem for our members in footing of avail levels and transparentness of costs . To then be faced with an increase in fees for an discrepant service where we appear to be make up more for less is impossible .
" what is more , this proposed gain could not come at a worse fourth dimension . The financial strain from tax and Department of Labor cost increases , couple with the on-going challenges of border operations , is already work it harder for business organization to ride out private-enterprise . Now , we face a further cost burden that risks harming UK horticulture , impertinent produce , and seed potato business . Alongside the BPTA and FPC , we are calling on the government to pause this consultation and engage with industry on a average and sustainable direction onwards .
" With the consultation deadline approaching , we are calling on businesses across our industry to make their voices heard too — to feed into us and react at once . The government needs to listen to the industry and rethink these fee proposals before it is too later . "
The joint alphabetic character to parson highlights that the shared industry already achieves 99.9 % compliance at the border , yet the superannuated approach does not reflect a forward-looking and creditworthy industriousness . The organizations are urging Defra to explore a least - cost approach that ensures strong biosecurity while minimizing unneeded financial burdens on business . The HTA , BPTA , and FPC will continue working together to see senior - level political science engagement on this critical outcome .
For more information : Horticultural Trades AssociationEmail:[email protected]www.hta.org.uk
Fresh Produce ConsortiumEmail:[email protected]freshproduce.org.uk
Frontpage pic : © Maksims Grigorjevs | Dreamstime
