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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the operational impact of the Border Target Operating Model on plant imports in Surrey Heath constituency.

The general impact of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) to the cut flower trade is likely to be minimal since only a limited group of EU cut flowers (such as chrysanthemum and carnations and orchids), are medium risk goods. All other EU cut flowers are low risk and will not be subject to border checks.

EU Medium risk cut flowers have been subject to prenotification since 1st January 2022. EU Medium risk cut flowers have required a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) since 31 January 2024, and inspections for EU Medium Risk goods at the border since 30th April 2024.

GB plant health services have significantly increased the number of plant health inspection staff to service the demand for import checks in England and Wales of EU plants and plant products. Inspector levels are being monitored to ensure these meet demand and deliver checks in line with set Service Level Agreements (SLA) and ensure minimal trade disruption.