The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has welcomed the European Commission's formal mandate to negotiate a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the United Kingdom, a significant step toward restoring smooth trade flows for plants and flowers between two of the world's most important horticultural markets.
This development, announced by the EU Council in November 2025 and based on the Common Understanding agreed in May 2025, addresses longstanding concerns raised by AIPH and its members about the severe disruptions to horticultural and floricultural supply chains since Brexit.
Disruptions Have Been Particularly Damaging for Horticultural Goods
When Brexit introduced comprehensive SPS checks at UK-EU borders, the trade of plants and cut flowers faced some challenges. Increased border delays, bureaucratic hurdles, and additional certification requirements created quite some cost implications and uncertainty for businesses operating across both markets. For horticulture and floriculture sectors, where perishable goods require fast, frictionless movement to maintain quality and market competitiveness, these disruptions have been particularly damaging.
AIPH has consistently advocated for pragmatic solutions to these challenges, working closely with its members and partner organizations to ensure that policymakers understand the unique needs of horticultural supply chains. The organization's efforts have helped bring industry concerns to the forefront of EU-UK trade discussions.
A United Industry Position
The negotiations have been strongly supported by key AIPH members and partners, including the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), which represents the UK garden industry, Union Fleurs, AIPH's long-standing partner in producing the International Statistics Flowers and Plants Yearbook, and the European Nurserystock Association (ENA).
Together, these organizations have articulated a shared position that reflects the concerns of growers, traders, and plant producers across Europe and internationally. This coordinated approach shows AIPH's key role in bringing together different stakeholders across the horticultural value chain to speak with one unified voice on critical trade issues.
Priorities for Successful Negotiations
Through its collaborative network, AIPH supports three essential priorities that it believes will guide the SPS deal negotiations to deliver effective results for the global horticultural community.
1. Comprehensive SPS Coverage for Horticulture and Floriculture
The agreement must fully address the specific needs of plant and flower supply chains, enabling reliable, high-quality cross-border movement while safeguarding biosecurity. As Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at AIPH member HTA, emphasizes, the industry has awaited this mandate as an important step toward lifting unnecessary burdens and border challenges that horticultural businesses currently face.
2. Direct Sector Association Involvement
AIPH stresses the importance of involving horticultural sector associations directly in the negotiation process. Technical expertise from specialist organizations like AIPH and its members will ensure the eventual deal offers workable, operational solutions rather than generic regulatory frameworks disconnected from practical realities. This approach is essential given the persistent challenges experienced since 2021.
Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General of Union Fleurs, AIPH's partner organization, notes that together with HTA, European associations, and national member organizations, the sector will continue advocating to EU and UK policymakers to ensure businesses on both sides can benefit from a concrete, comprehensive, and operational SPS Agreement as early as possible.
3. Urgent Pragmatic Measures for Immediate Relief
While negotiations progress, AIPH and its members call for interim UK government measures to alleviate current supply chain pressures. Specifically, inspections of high-risk plants should return to Places of Destination rather than borders, and inspections for medium-risk cut flowers should be halted. These steps would provide immediate, practical relief to businesses struggling with bureaucracy and delays.
Why This Development Matters for the Global Horticulture Industry
Horticulture depends on efficient international movement of plants, young material, and finished products. AIPH recognizes that although supply chains are highly sensitive to delays, they are also resilient and adaptable when provided with the right regulatory frameworks.
ENA President Tim Van Hulle highlights that climate change already places production under significant strain, and increasing trade bureaucracies only compound these challenges. A smoother transition enabled by an effective SPS Agreement would allow producers to focus on delivering the high standards consumers expect and that AIPH promotes globally.
The agreement promises benefits beyond immediate trade facilitation. By ensuring predictable and transparent rules, it encourages innovation and longer-term planning within horticultural supply chains. Businesses gain from reduced administrative costs and improved logistics reliability, while consumers benefit from better-quality products arriving faster and more consistently.
Advancing the Global Horticultural Industry’s Best Interests
This development points to why AIPH's work matters. As the international voice of horticultural producers, AIPH connects expertise from across the sector to influence policy decisions that affect millions of businesses and consumers worldwide. This development means horticultural interests are properly represented in crucial negotiations.
AIPH also calls on both EU and UK policymakers to engage constructively and urgently to finalize and implement the SPS Agreement as soon as possible. Delays only extend existing trade frictions that frustrate businesses and threaten the competitiveness of some of the most significant horticultural markets.
Feature image by @dummenorangeeu. Header image by @greenhousesustainability.
