As of 14 December 2019, the plant passport will be mandatory for everybody. Without such a passport, you cannot auction plants. Are you ready for the new situation?
Getting everything in order at Meko Hulsebosch has been quite a task, says Ton van Eijk. "First the inventory of what we had to do, then the changes that had to be made to the labelling machines and plant labels, and scanning the new layout into the software." They will probably also be needing extra staff for the associated paperwork.
Each plant traceable
Arrangement suppliers like Meko Hulsebosch are in a difficult segment, admits Richard Wiegel of Royal FloraHolland. "They combine different products and each individual one needs to be traceable. It might be a bit touch-and-go whether everything is in order by 14 December, but I expect that it will."
To unburden the chain and strengthen the market place, a plant passport at pot level will become mandatory from pot size 10 as of 14 December 2019. Royal FloraHolland will be enforcing this as of July 2020.
What if a lot cannot be auctioned after 14 December because a plant passport is missing or doesn't meet the relevant criteria? "In that case we will contact the grower or supplier of the lot in order to discuss what is missing and how this can be resolved for future lots."