Union Fleurs, the Dutch Association of Wholesalers in Flowers and Plants (VGB) and the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) participated in the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) UK – EU DAG and DAG Civil Society Forum meeting in Brussels on 19 - 20 September 2024.

These meetings are constituted under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). They identify and work on key areas under the TCA, such as trade in goods, and will also focus on the upcoming TCA review in the coming months and years.

Through Union Fleur, VGB, and the HTA’s interventions, they raised the opportunity and need for a plant health agreement and succeeded in discussing the issue, specifically referencing plant health in the DAG joint statement. Achieving such an agreement would address many of the challenges, delays and costs faced by businesses in the UK and EU.
 

Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General, Union Fleurs commented:

“The flowers and plant supply chain are globalised, integrated and complex as operators are handling perishable goods that need as smooth logistics and processes as possible to supply the market with the largest choice of products. It requires predictability, a level playing field, and streamlined bureaucratic processes to thrive at best. The EU-UK trade in flowers and plants exceeds a value of 1,5 billion EUR annually and is vital for many of our members. Active cooperation between organisations of the sector on the EU and UK sides has been essential over the past years to monitor, identify and raise awareness towards policymakers on both sides of any supply chain disruptions as those generate a range of added costs on businesses and final customers. The Domestic Advisory Groups under the TCA offer a useful platform to voice priorities for the flowers and plant supply chain and advocate on any issues that need attention. We will continue our joint efforts and call for governments on both sides to focus on common grounds through an EU-UK Plant Health Agreement. We need an agreement to ease unnecessary and costly bureaucratic processes where possible, which should be achievable without compromising biosecurity standards on any side.”

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Public Affairs, HTA commented:

“The HTA welcomes its appointment as a new member of UK DAG. These groups are an important consultative forum to advise on key challenges and opportunities for UK-EU trade. At these first meetings, we participated in Brussels, securing the visibility of both the environmental horticulture sector and the ambition we share with our sister associations for action on border issues and recognition of plant health regimes, which is a great outcome. Our active participation in the upcoming TCA review is well-timed. Both UK and EU governments must be aware of the impacts of friction in our EU-UK trading relationship on our member businesses and their customers and see our close cooperation and joint-working with EU and International Associations on these key issues.”

Tim Rozendal, Strategic Advisor, VGB commented:

“It was great to collaborate as EU-UK representatives of our sector, making a solid case to prevent further regulatory divergence. Instead, let's focus on the shared foundations of our SPS regulations and work towards restoring a plant health agreement, reducing unnecessary inspections, bureaucracy, and costs while maintaining our current high biosecurity levels.”