HTA's Sally Cullimore will be taking part in the panel discussion at Four Oaks Trade Show, Exploring the future of red tape for importers & exporters of plants, on Wednesday 3 September, 11.30am.
Join our panel of industry experts: Matthew Appleby HortWeek (chair), with Craig Francis of Cargo Logistics, Malcolm Catlin of Plant Healthy and Sally Cullimore (HTA). More speakers TBC.
Sponsored by Cargo Logistics.
HTA technical and trade policy manager Sally Cullimore said: "The prospect that the EU and the UK may come to an agreement to form a common plant health area represents a fundamental change to the way we have had to import and export plants and plant products since 1 January 2021.
"While this is not a return to the EU, it is a major opportunity for UK hort to mitigate some of the extra costs and difficulties associated with Brexit. Whilst the details are being negotiated, the HTA is working behind the scenes to ensure a path is steered towards a thriving environmental horticulture sector with an agreement that delivers the perfect balance between biosecurity requirements and smooth trade."
Plant Healthy's Malcolm Catlin said: "Whatever the statutory regimes for regulating, notifying and inspecting plant imports and exports in place now or in the future, the rules and the nature of any relevant pest and disease threats need to be clearly understood, whilst updates need to be communicated promptly and working practices revised accordingly, to allow compliance and help protect plant health. This is essential to our trade, as well as our environment and our wellbeing.
