Defra responds to inspection fee and inspection frequency consultations
Following review of consultation results, Defra has announced two changes to the current system of inspections that will be implemented from July 2022:
1. A flat rate fee will be introduced for plants for planting and cuttings, whilst the existing fee structure for bulbs and seeds will remain.
Currently, plants imported from the EU intended for final users are subject to identity checks of 5 – 10%, compared to 100% for plants not intended for final users (i.e. plants for growing-on). The change has been implemented to remove any potential cost advantage for plants finished in the EU compared to those imported for finishing in Great Britain.
2. A GB-focussed risk-based system of checks will be introduced to replace the existing system of full checks on all categories of plants for planting.
The frequency of inspections currently implemented uses a system retained from the European Union which excluded higher risk material, such as plants for planting, from consideration for any reduction in inspection level.
The proposed revision has been adopted following the conclusion that imposing full checks on all categories of plants for planting would not be proportionate to the biosecurity risk when also considering the effects on trade. Therefore, the risk-based requirement for inspections has been balanced with the impact on regulators and on trade.
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