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Vegetable growers are sounding the alarm that post-Brexit border changes are causing significant delays in seed imports, potentially impacting this year's crop yields.
Industry bodies representing UK tomato and pepper growers say new rules for seed imports from the EU are resulting in delays of up to six weeks, disrupting growing schedules and finances.
The British Tomato Growers' Association (BTGA) warns that these delays threaten yields and reduce profitability, while the Cucumber and Pepper Growers' Association (CPGA) reports "costly crop delays" for some of its members.
The root of the problem lies in post-Brexit rules requiring import checks on various plant and animal products at border control posts. These rules necessitate additional testing in Britain for certain high-risk seeds, including tomato, pepper, and oilseed rape, even after checks in the country of origin.
Dr Phil Morley, the BTGA technical officer, highlights that UK testing can take up to 15 working days, and there are instances of seeds being held at border control posts for extended periods before testing.
"Some growers report a six-week delay in seeds arriving at British propagators from when they are being ordered," he said. "This has a knock-on effect for propagators who have programmed their propagation for other crops as well, so they have to rejig their programmes."
Morley also warned that these delays could threaten food security, as disruptions in British production necessitate increased imports.
Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), criticized the regulatory hurdles as "one of countless examples of the poorly implemented UK Border Strategy. All of the self-inflicted issues and avoidable costs were known yet industry solutions have to date simply been ignored.
"For growers, who are already operating under tight timelines and narrow margins, these import delays represent an additional layer of economic pressure. The situation is precarious, as it risks discouraging European seed suppliers from engaging with the UK market."
Jenney further remarked that "the previous Government knowingly implemented the world’s most expensive border solution imposing huge delays and unaffordable costs on industry and UK consumers.
"Without immediate change, the horticulture industry remains compromised by self-imposed measures imposed by the UK Government. These undermine both domestic production and international trade, which are essential to feed and flower our nation."
The situation has prompted calls for the government to negotiate a deal with the EU that ensures mutual recognition of testing standards to minimize duplication.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the concerns, stating, "Protecting UK biosecurity remains one of our key priorities, and we are working with BCPs to ensure they operate effectively and with traders to ensure checks are completed efficiently, swiftly, and without significant delays.
"We continue to work with industry on the importation of seeds, taking a pragmatic approach to supporting businesses and food security, while looking to improve the UK's trade and investment relationship with the EU."
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