Currently, post-Brexit arrangements in place to access both parallel imports and seed treatments are due to end this year.
91仓库is working with Defra, Farming Minister Mark Spencer and industry to address two crucial issues simultaneously; the loss of access to certain seed treatments and the withdrawal of permits for the import of parallel PPP products.
Along with a number of industry organisations, the NFU has been calling for access to continue and has evidenced the impact the loss of availability and choice of plant protection products would have on cropping and production across a range of farming sectors.
In September, the Farming Minister confirmed through a letter to the NFU, and separately in response to a question in the House of Commons, that they are 鈥減reparing to lay secondary legislation in autumn鈥� to 鈥渆xtend transitional arrangements for the import of treated seeds from the EU and EEA and will also include provisions to address the important issue of parallel imports鈥�.
鈥楴ot a permanent solution鈥�
In his letter, the Minister added that the proposal 鈥渋s not a permanent solution, but it should provide an immediate response to some of the economic pressures that we know growers are facing鈥�.
For parallel trade, it is expected the proposed arrangements would allow those holding valid parallel trade permits at the end of the transition period to apply for them to be reinstated on a temporary basis.
As it stands, only seed treatments specifically approved for use in Great Britain will be able to be imported, marketed or used after the cut-off. This has left some sectors facing a cliff edge.
For example, there are currently no bird-repellent, fungicide or insecticide seed treatments licensed for application on maize in the UK, and only an insecticide treatment available for fodder beet.
Early resolution needed to restore confidence
At an industry roundtable in July 2023 attended by representatives from across the industry, alongside NFU President Minette Batters, NFU National Crops Board Chair Matt Culley and the NFU plant health team, Mr Spencer and high-ranking Defra officials outlined options to allow continued access to seed treated in the EU when post-Brexit arrangements end on 1 January 2024.
In a letter afterwards, the Minister wrote: 鈥淚 am personally committed to finding both long-term and short-term solutions to these problems. This includes exploring the use of legislative powers available to Ministers to ensure the availability of products. To be clear, it is my firm intention to have a solution in place for the next growing season.鈥�
An NFU reply highlighted the importance of an early resolution that allows farmers and growers to have the confidence to invest in next year鈥檚 cropping.
It had rallied the industry, convening a working group including the Maize Growers Association, NIAB, seed companies and the AIC to raise awareness of the potential impacts of losing access to key seed treatments, including knock-ons for the animal feed and anaerobic digestion sectors, should maize crops be affected.
A number of vegetable crops and a small number of cereals would also be impacted. In a letter to the Minister prior to the roundtable, the group highlighted, among other issues, the findings of a NIAB survey suggesting 60% of farmers would grow less maize in the absence of seed treatments, with nearly 20% potentially stopping completely.
91仓库will be holding the Farming Minister to this latest commitment and will continue to push for a long term solution to the issue.