Flower growers have warned of a shortage of bouquets on Valentine's and Mother's Days due to new post-Brexit border checks coming into force at the end of the month. Chrysanthemums, carnations, and orchids are classed as 'medium risk' imports under a new regime introduced after the UK left the EU.
From January 31, importers will have to produce health certificates proving they are disease-free on arrival. From the end of April, all shipments will have to be manually checked at ports, whereas they are currently checked at their destination garden centers, where they can be maintained.
In a letter to the UK government, the Dutch flower wholesalers' association, VGB, asked that the checks be delayed until 2025.
In the letter, seen by the Guardian, VGB director Matthijs Mesken warned that although only five types of flowers are affected, they are present in 85 percent of shipments due to mixed bouquets of cut flowers. 'This timing coincides with the absolute peak of the seasons, which poses challenges for our industry,' he wrote.
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