SPS agreement and plant health among top topics for HTA and European counterparts at meeting in Dublin

Members of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) attended this year’s European Nurserystock Association (ENA) summer meeting in the Republic of Ireland, where conversations on future changes to trade agreements between the UK and EU, and plant health were on the agenda.

Sally Cullimore, the HTA’s Technical and Trade Policy Manager, and Guy Massey from Joseph Rochford Gardens, the HTA’s representative for ENA, joined delegates from 21 other European professional member organisations for a programme of meetings and visits in Dublin during the last week of June.

They discussed with their European counterparts their optimism about the upcoming UK-EU reset and their disappointment at the postponement of the Leaders’ Summit, originally scheduled for 22 July, with many details still unknown, impacting the trade of plants and plant products.

© Horticultural Trades Association

The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association (IHNSA) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) hosted this year’s ENA summer meeting, which also covered key areas of interest to European supply chains such as sustainability, communications, digitisation and plant health.

Sally Cullimore, Technical and Trade Policy Manager at the HTA, said: “The ENA annual summer meeting is an excellent opportunity for the HTA to represent UK horticultural growers and connect with sister organisations across Europe. We discuss common topics such as trade, skills, and sustainability, learn from others, and build meaningful, beneficial relationships.

“We were hoping to share positive news with our friends in Europe after receiving a confirmed date for the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit, but events in British politics mean we’ll have to wait a little longer for the details of the reset, and we are as such still calling for pragmatic and urgent easements at the border.

“Whilst we wait for a new date to be set and for details to be given to help businesses rebuild supply chains, I hope the HTA and other European member organisations are able to continue building strong friendships for the future.”

Guy Massey, Production Manager at Joseph Rochford Gardens, added: “It is a pleasure to represent the HTA and UK environmental horticulture at the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) summer meeting, sharing best practice, learning from international colleagues, and attending a dynamic and engaging programme of meetings and events.

“After a complex few years for UK imports and exports, an SPS trade agreement between the UK and the EU is just around the corner. Working with ENA, we hope to continue communicating with our European counterparts to clarify what that new agreement will look like in 2027 and how it will operate between both parties.

“I remain committed to enhancing our collaborative efforts across Europe, particularly in key areas such as the role of peat in horticulture, attracting and retaining skilled workforces, particularly now that the UK has the opportunity to take part in Erasmus+ projects inspiring the next generation, and developing digital workflows. These are shared priorities across all member countries.”