Dutch flower exporters criticize implementation of new Brexit checks from April

More than four years after Brexit, the United Kingdom is set to begin physical checks of food and plants coming from the European Union. Among the products affected are cut flowers, most of which come from the Netherlands, the world's largest flower exporting nation. There, traders are warning that the timing of the changes is poor and the details remain unclear, with just weeks to go. 

The process of growing the famous Dutch tulips is long and slow. But once they've been picked, the clock starts ticking, as Sandra Munster, owner of Kwekerij Siem Munster tulip growers, explained to CGTN Europe.

"What we pick today, we bunch today and it's sold tomorrow morning, so within 24 hours they're on their way," she said. "We need speed, we work with a fresh product. And the people who have florist's shops all around the world, they want them as fast as possible."

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Long-delayed Brexit rules could slow that process down. New paperwork requirements have already come into effect and from April physical checks will begin at ports of entry for some plant and animal products.

"Up to 23 million flowers move through here on any given day before making their way to buyers all over the world," said Munster. "The UK is a significant market for Dutch flowers and physical checks at the border could have knock-on effects for the wider industry."

The world's largest flower auction isn't short of buyers. Trade groups say smaller exporters could decide the UK isn't worth the hassle. Not all types of flowers will need to be checked at the British border. But the ones that do are present in around 85 percent of shipments, slowing down the entire delivery.

Tim Rozendaal, from the Dutch Association of Wholesalers in Floricultural Products, is worried. He said: "The 30th of April is in the midst of planting season and therefore on our peak days massive volumes land at just a selective number of border control posts and we've therefore got big doubts whether the capacity is up to dealing with that."

Rozendaal is also worried about the cost. "We haven't got a clue about the cost structure or the actual costs, who is going to pay for it, how it's going to be presented and what the costs are going to be," he said. 

The UK government has already delayed the checks five times and says it won't do so again. It argues they're needed to protect biosecurity and to create a level playing field. But the process will increase costs - and that won't smell so sweet to the British consumer.

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