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UK-EU deal long overdue, says garden centre owner UK-EU deal long overdue, says garden centre owner
(about 1 hour later)
Robin Mercer has had difficulty sourcing rosesRobin Mercer has had difficulty sourcing roses
The new agri-food deal with the EU will mean the reversal of a ban on some British-grown plants being sold in Northern Ireland.The new agri-food deal with the EU will mean the reversal of a ban on some British-grown plants being sold in Northern Ireland.
Some common varieties have been prohibited since 2021 under the terms of Northern Ireland's original Brexit deal.Some common varieties have been prohibited since 2021 under the terms of Northern Ireland's original Brexit deal.
That deal meant Northern Ireland continued to follow the EU's strict rules on plant health while the rest of the UK had its own rules.That deal meant Northern Ireland continued to follow the EU's strict rules on plant health while the rest of the UK had its own rules.
Under the new deal the UK as a whole will realign with EU plant health rules, which will mean the ban can be dropped.Under the new deal the UK as a whole will realign with EU plant health rules, which will mean the ban can be dropped.
Robin Mercer, from Hillmount Garden Centre in County Down, said the deal was "long overdue" as the current arrangements had driven up costs.Robin Mercer, from Hillmount Garden Centre in County Down, said the deal was "long overdue" as the current arrangements had driven up costs.
"In the past before Brexit we were bringing in trolley loads of roses every week, now we're having to source them from different places and there isn't the same selection," he said."In the past before Brexit we were bringing in trolley loads of roses every week, now we're having to source them from different places and there isn't the same selection," he said.
"There's a lot of suppliers in England that won't work with us now because it's too much hassle, too much paperwork.""There's a lot of suppliers in England that won't work with us now because it's too much hassle, too much paperwork."
A horticulture industry body says lifting trade barriers should "boost our range of plants and products and how quickly we can get them"A horticulture industry body says lifting trade barriers should "boost our range of plants and products and how quickly we can get them"
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) said the deal would help the industry across the UK, which has seen trade with European suppliers disrupted.
Neil Grant, chair of the HTA's retailer committee, said: "Garden centres and their customers have seen prices rise and choice reduced as a direct result the trade barriers we now have with European suppliers.
"We know of many retailers who report that inspection delays have led to damaged, unsalable stock, as well as staffing issues around ever-shifting delivery times, all of which add costs to garden centres across the UK.
"Lifting trade barriers should boost our range of plants and products and how quickly we can get them."
The deal should also mean GB retailers resume online sales of plants and seeds to Northern Ireland.
Customs declarationsCustoms declarations
However the changes will not be implemented anytime soon and for NI businesses and consumers will not remove all the barriers which went up in 2021. The deal should also mean GB retailers resume online sales of plants and seeds to Northern Ireland.
Monday's deal is described as a "political declaration" which now has to be converted to a legally binding text. However the changes are not yet legally binding and therefore it is unlikely they will be implemented until next year.
That will take months to negotiate and it is unlikely it will move to implementation before next year.
In the meantime some requirements which the last government signed up to in 2023 Windsor Framework deal will continue to be implemented.In the meantime some requirements which the last government signed up to in 2023 Windsor Framework deal will continue to be implemented.
For example a new phase of "Not for EU" labelling on GB food products being sold in NI will go ahead in July.For example a new phase of "Not for EU" labelling on GB food products being sold in NI will go ahead in July.
That is despite the fact that labelling with ultimately be phased out as a result of the new deal.That is despite the fact that labelling with ultimately be phased out as a result of the new deal.
Most commercial goods being sold from GB to NI will also continue to require customs declarations, even the products which are covered by Monday's deal.Most commercial goods being sold from GB to NI will also continue to require customs declarations, even the products which are covered by Monday's deal.
NI fishing and food supply
Patsy Farren is from Donegal Prime Fish, based in Skeoge industrial estate in Londonderry.
He believes Monday's deal could open up new markets for his company and cut down on red tape.
They used to sell smoked salmon to Germany but after Brexit, he said the paperwork made that process too complicated.
"The headache for us after Brexit was that GB suppliers just said they wouldn't be bothered with the paperwork and would no longer supply us," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.
"They just dropped us so we found our own market on the island of Ireland".
Patsy Farren believes the deal could open up new markets for his fishing company
Lynas Foods in Coleraine has 180 suppliers from Great Britain.
Managing director Andrew Lynas hopes the deal will cut down on paperwork and "the big unseen" of costs.
"It's okay moving goods to Scotland at the moment but getting them back is a nightmare," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.
He said they were "cautiously optimistic" that the deal could be a good one.
"But the devil will be in the detail and we think it will be about 18 months before we know that," he said.
Hilary Benn said the deal was a "major step forward" for businesses in NIHilary Benn said the deal was a "major step forward" for businesses in NI
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the deal was a "very practical agreement" which has been warmly welcomed across many sectors.Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the deal was a "very practical agreement" which has been warmly welcomed across many sectors.
"I think when people judge this they will see it as a good deal that is particularly good for Northern Ireland because it will remove a lot of the paperwork, the checks, the costs and so on," he told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme."I think when people judge this they will see it as a good deal that is particularly good for Northern Ireland because it will remove a lot of the paperwork, the checks, the costs and so on," he told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme.
Benn said the deal meant there would be a "significant easing" of paperwork needed to send some products back and forth, first introduced by the Windsor Framework.Benn said the deal meant there would be a "significant easing" of paperwork needed to send some products back and forth, first introduced by the Windsor Framework.
He said this would allow goods to flow more freely between the UK and the EU.He said this would allow goods to flow more freely between the UK and the EU.
"Let us celebrate what's been achieved because it really is a significant step forward for many, many businesses that are moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, which is why the welcome has been so positive," he added."Let us celebrate what's been achieved because it really is a significant step forward for many, many businesses that are moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, which is why the welcome has been so positive," he added.
Stuart Anderson, from Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said it was "hugely positive news on the face of it"
Stuart Anderson, director of public affairs at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said he remained concerned about the customs burden for movement between GB and NI.Stuart Anderson, director of public affairs at Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said he remained concerned about the customs burden for movement between GB and NI.
"The customs issues have been in play since the original deal was introduced," he said.
"There has been some movement on that though the Windsor Framework – some of it creating perhaps more challenges too with the introduction of parcel arrangements from May."
However he said the new deal was "hugely positive news" on the face of it.However he said the new deal was "hugely positive news" on the face of it.
He added that businesses in Northern Ireland had "carried a significant amount of the burden in getting us to today".He added that businesses in Northern Ireland had "carried a significant amount of the burden in getting us to today".
What's in the new UK/EU deal?What's in the new UK/EU deal?
If a full agri-food deal follows, potentially later this year, that will reduce the need for checks and controls on products being sent from GB to Northern IrelandIf a full agri-food deal follows, potentially later this year, that will reduce the need for checks and controls on products being sent from GB to Northern Ireland
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the wide-ranging agreement affecting food, fishing and security after hosting EU leaders at a summit in London.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the wide-ranging agreement affecting food, fishing and security after hosting EU leaders at a summit in London.
It includes a new SPS agreement - which stands for sanitary and phytosanitary and refers to rules about animals and food.It includes a new SPS agreement - which stands for sanitary and phytosanitary and refers to rules about animals and food.
The government said this would reduce red tape for businesses, simplify food exports and imports, and help cut lorry queues at borders.The government said this would reduce red tape for businesses, simplify food exports and imports, and help cut lorry queues at borders.
The deal also includes a new security and defence partnership between the UK and EU, and new arrangements for passport checks.The deal also includes a new security and defence partnership between the UK and EU, and new arrangements for passport checks.
British holidaymakers will soon be able to use more eGates in Europe, which the government said would "end the dreaded queues" at border control.British holidaymakers will soon be able to use more eGates in Europe, which the government said would "end the dreaded queues" at border control.
Sir Keir said the deal would be "good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders".Sir Keir said the deal would be "good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders".
However, critics accused the Labour government of betraying Brexit voters as the UK will have to follow EU agri-food rules without having a say in how those rules are made.However, critics accused the Labour government of betraying Brexit voters as the UK will have to follow EU agri-food rules without having a say in how those rules are made.
There are also concerns about a 12-year fishing deal granting the EU access to UK waters, which is included as part of the overall agreement.There are also concerns about a 12-year fishing deal granting the EU access to UK waters, which is included as part of the overall agreement.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK was "becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again".Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK was "becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again".
But the Labour government said it was time to "reset" relations with the EU which is the UK's biggest market.But the Labour government said it was time to "reset" relations with the EU which is the UK's biggest market.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK's agricultural food exports were down by a fifth, and the new deal would reduce trade friction and costs.Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK's agricultural food exports were down by a fifth, and the new deal would reduce trade friction and costs.