FPC Members meet Defra to address plant health fee concerns

The meeting aimed to help FPC members understand the financial and operational implications of the fee increases, while providing a direct platform for them to raise concerns face to face with policymakers.

The event offered a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to stay ahead of potential changes and ensure their voices are heard. 

Attendees included FPC Members Tom Brown Wholesale, Morgan Cargo, Jane Adam’s Flowers and PML Seafrigo.

Speaking on behalf of the FPC, Chief Executive Nigel Jenney said: “The planned cost increases are substantial which raises considerable concern to industry and consumers.

“The increases are simply unaffordable especially when it’s clear the service consistently fails to offer an efficient and customer focussed service.

“A fundamental concern remains is the lack of proactive government challenge to secure widespread performance improvement yet the costs continue to spiral out of control.

“The expectation is full cost recovery without any consideration of least total cost approach or any published performance indicators.

“Whilst the consultation closes in a few weeks the lack of comprehensive information to inform detailed responses is a major concern.”

“We remain committed to assist Defra to secure effective solutions urgently. However it’s time for radicle change as the historical approach is unaffordable and simply penalises responsible companies who diligently follow the rules at unaffordable cost,” Jenney continued.

During the session, attendees expressed support for a number of potential solutions to manage costs more effectively. Specifically, the industry advocated:

• The rapid adoption of control points and an adequate out-of-hours inspection service by officials, which is considered essential prior to the introduction of go-live border inspections later this year.

• The swift approval of authorised operator status by Ministers, allowing responsible businesses to conduct their own inspections.

The FPC emphasised that effective solutions are already available to “radically change the inspection approach” in ways that can improve biosecurity and significantly reduce costs for both the industry and consumers. Jenney underscored the seriousness of the matter:

“Make no mistake we are wasting millions annually,”

He also called on government to seize the opportunity presented by proposed civil service improvements:

“The government’s announcement to improve civil service performance is a perfect opportunity to adopt a new collaborative approach to official inspections.”

The FPC has pledged to continue working closely with Defra to help secure practical and urgently needed solutions. However, Jenney made clear that without radical change and a commitment to greater efficiency, the planned cost increases will remain a significant burden on businesses and consumers alike.

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