Where have all the flowers gone? UK border controls stem supplies

Europe’s powerful plant sector is struggling to cope with UK post-Brexit border checks that are adding delays and costs to exports and forcing some suppliers out of UK markets.

The checks, introduced by the UK government as part of biosecurity measures, have been described as “painful” by Europe’s horticultural sector.

UK plant importers are so alarmed by the impact the checks are having on the supply of plants, flowers, and other horticultural products that they have written to the UK government asking for change.

In a letter to Sue Hayman, the UK Minister for Biosecurity and Plant Health, HTA CEO Fran Barnes didn’t pull any punches as she outlined the scale of the challenges facing EU exporters and UK importers.

“The pressure on our industry is immense. Specialist transporters are now pulling out of the UK market entirely, leaving us with a shrinking pool of suppliers,” she said.

“All parties involved in moving plants, trees, flowers, bulbs, and seeds between the EU and the UK are now doing so under maximum pressure, facing unmanageable increases in costs, experiencing painful border processes, yet with minimal information with which to do it,” she said.

Pressure on long-held business relationships with EU suppliers

The HTA explained that well-established business relationships between UK importers, EU exporters, and their various hauliers and service providers are being strained to breaking point due to the onerous border checks.

Insufficient capacity at UK ports to conduct the lengthy physical inspection of horticultural products, to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country, is disrupting the flow of goods.

The delays, which can run into days or weeks, are placing a significant financial burden on EU exporters, particularly small and medium-sized businesses that cannot easily pass the costs on to their customers due to long-standing contracts. Each physical check can cost between €500 and €1,000.

The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable

Dutch exporters have been particularly hard hit by the delays. The UK is their second-largest market for flowers and plants, worth nearly €1 billion annually.

Matthijs Mesken, Director of the Dutch Flower and Plant Exporters Association (VGB), painted a bleak picture of the current state of trade.

“Up to 150 trucks carrying flowers and plants can arrive at UK ports on any given day, and every one of them is subject to inspection.

“While only 3% to 10% of flowers are checked, 100% of plant shipments must go through inspection. This causes unpredictable delays, especially when the trucks are left waiting without refrigeration, something that can devastate delicate products like flowers,” he said.

He added: “Freight operators specialising in the transport of plants are now withdrawing from the UK market, and exporters are expressing deep concern about the potential loss of the UK as an important market for the EU’s horticultural sector.

“We’re seeing more companies hesitate or decide against sending goods to the UK. If this situation continues, it’s not just a few deliveries that will be impacted – it is entire business relationships built over decades.”

Poor communication is breeding uncertainty

The HTA lays the blame for the disruption squarely at the door of UK government. Although it concedes that the biosecurity measures are necessary, it argues that the changes have been poorly communicated and inconsistently applied, leading to confusion at ports.

HTA boss Barnes said: “All parties involved in transporting plants, trees, flowers, bulbs, and seeds between the EU and the UK are now operating under maximum stress, facing unmanageable increases in prices.”

The HTA cited a particularly disruptive incident at the Sevington border control post in Kent earlier this year, where lorries carrying plants from Italy were held for over a week.

Speaking at the time, Vincenzo Marini, CEO of Marini Haulage, a logistics company shipping plants to the UK, shared his frustration: “One of our drivers had to wait for eight days in a lorry with no clear information from border officials as to why the plants were being held.

“In the end, I had to switch drivers just so that the first one could go home after sleeping in the vehicle for days. It’s unacceptable for businesses to be kept in the dark like this.”

The UK government emphasised that these checks are necessary to safeguard British plant health and that they are working to ensure smoother operations at ports.

Exporters argue that the current system is unsustainable, with many calling for a review of the processes or even a delay in the implementation of further phases of border controls.