Nurseries and garden centres in Britain and Europe are experiencing operational challenges due to new post-Brexit border posts, leading to delays, damage, and additional costs for plant importers. The Horticultural Trade Association, along with European trade associations, has issued an open letter seeking urgent solutions, highlighting that the new system has increased import costs by over 25%. The new regulations require certain plant and animal products from the EU to be inspected at border posts, a departure from the previous system of spot checks at nurseries. The situation has led to instances where the majority of plants perished, causing financial losses and impacting supply chains. It also raises concerns about the adequacy of the checks at border posts and the potential for missed disease detections.
