BGTA Press Release – Seed Import Delays

Tomato seed import delays impact

The British tomato industry is experiencing ongoing delays with seed imports at the border due to lengthy testing and release protocols. These delays are having serious economic impacts on businesses, resulting in a delay in sowing and subsequent delivery of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants to growers. Whilst as an industry we are working with partners such as the NFU, Defra, APHA to resolve these issues, we need our UK retail customers to support us with the timing of contract agreements to help us plan around these delays. This means for British Tomato Season 2025 we urgently need retailer programmes/contracts to be agreed with our growers by the end of September 2024.

Key concerns:

• Changes to import regulations following Brexit and the need for additional processes including seed testing, are resulting in significant delays in the release of tomato seed for sowing at British propagators.
• Growers have experienced delivery delays up to 6 weeks, primarily caused by the turnround times for pathogen testing, which makes crop programming and planning extremely difficult. This can cause significant economic impact as it is not possible to extend the lead time following the ordering of specific cultivars because of historical late contract placements by UK retail customers.
• Seed of European origin is already tested and certified as disease free before dispatched to GB. We therefore believe that a reciprocal phytosanitary agreement with the EU would mitigate many of the delays experienced at present.
• There is growing concern that due to these delays and difficulties getting seed through border controls, European seed suppliers may be less inclined to dispatch to the UK, especially in relation to smaller batches for variety trials, (where the availability of seed is limited) as a significant number of seeds are destructively tested for pathogens before being released by UK Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI).
• Growers are already working to tight timelines and narrow margins, so this issue is increasing economic pressures on a system that is already challenging.

What are we doing to find a resolution

• Assessing impact – collating information on the experiences of growers. Where are the perceived delays in the system? Who is impacted by this and how severely?
• Engaging with Fera Science Ltd re: seed testing to resolve delays
• Flagging the issue to the NFU as this is clearly a wider issue than just tomato seed.
• Work with Defra/PHSI/APHA and flag as a major economic concern for businesses
• Forming a forum for all protected edible growers to join, to gather evidence of issues being seen at the BCP’s, this forum will include NFU representatives, with a view to make representation to Defra of the data gathered.

What we need to happen

• Defra, PHSI and APHA to work with growers to resolve these current issues – delays currently experienced are causing significant financial, management and crop scheduling issues. We need an assured fast track process for Tomato seed
• Support from Defra/APHA to reform the process to make it more sustainable, streamlined, minimise delays and ensure any delays are pre-planned and predictable
• Reform protocols to better meet the needs of growers whilst also providing

1. High levels of biosecurity assurance
2. Clarity on seed testing numbers
3. Clarity on length of time delays
4. Increased focus on resource if this is found to be a significant factor in delays experienced.
5. Improvement to efficiency of protocols.

• Retailer customers agree programmes for 2025 by end of September 2024