To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what engagement his Department has had with the Northern Ireland horticulture sector on continuing post-Brexit pressures; and (ii) what support has been made available to the sector to navigate these challenges.

DAERA’s engagement with the horticultural sector includes hosting webinars, providing responsive questions and answers and “How To” guides on the DAERA website. Officials also published guidance on the use of groupage and produced a compliance protocol document to assist and inform businesses. The Department continues to work with representative organisations including the Ulster Farmers Union, Horticulture Forum NI, Growers NI and Confor to provide information and address issues relating to post Brexit pressures on plant trade and the impact of EU prohibitions.

I hosted an online meeting with a collective of garden centre owners on 19 April 2021, to obtain first-hand knowledge of the supply problems they and their customers are experiencing sourcing plants, plant products and other items from their traditional suppliers in GB.

My Department is seeking to address the impacts felt by the NI horticulture sector through engagement with Defra and the EU. I have also written to the Secretary of State George Eustice and the EU Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) Committee on the impacts of the Protocol for the NI sector, requesting the removal of unnecessary trade barriers within the UK internal market.

In the interim, the UK Government (UKG) announcement of 4 March 2021 supports the horticulture industry by enabling authorised businesses in GB to move plants to NI with soil attached, including those in containers, subject to appropriate Phytosanitary Certification.

The UKG’s Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS) is available to help GB businesses supplying the NI market to meet costs associated with the current Phytosanitary Certification requirements. Following my engagement with Minister Eustice, this scheme is now extended to the end of 2023. The UK Government’s Trader Support Service provides training and support, at no cost, to assist NI businesses in meeting customs declaration requirements.

I will continue to press for long established supply arrangements to continue that enable trade within the UK internal market that doesn’t adversely affect NI businesses, including the horticultural sector.