Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to communicate the peat ban for the professional horticulture sector with (a) UK-based nurseries and (b) international suppliers of plants and trees that import products into the UK.

We have conducted a formal consultation which ended on 18 March 2022. This was followed up with more detailed stakeholder engagement last autumn with over seventy representatives from the horticultural sector. The Government response to the consultation was published on 27 August 2022. The latest government position can be found at: https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/24/media-reporting-on-peat-ban-for-the-professional-horticulture-sector/

In recent weeks I have met with a range of stakeholders, including the Horticultural Trade Association and visited horticultural businesses where I have discussed our proposals. My officials are in regular contact with representative groups, including the National Farmers’ Union and the British Leafy Salads Association. Further meetings with stakeholders are planned in the coming months.