Provender Nurseries has become the first trade supplier to have a Control Point after a change in import rules earlier this year.

This means a faster, smoother transition of plant imports, reduced costs and therefore cost saving for customers at Provender, says Stuart Tickner, head of nursery, biosecurity and production.

It has spent the last three years working towards gaining its status as a Control Point. This comes after the government announced that it would be switching to a new system for importing plants post-Brexit. Since the end of April, all imports need to go through a Border Control Post or an inland Control Point, which the industry has been concerned could cause delays and price increases.

The new Control Point at Provender Nurseries is a there a “huge asset”, says Tickner. ‘We can unload our own stock, bypassing the Border Control points at ports ensuring all plants are unloaded here at Provender with our own experienced, trained staff that know how to handle plants correctly and can recognise pests and diseases.”

For the first six months to a year, the Kent-based nursery will solely handle its own plant imports to develop its onsite operations, says managing director Richard McKenna. It will then look to open its Control Point to offer import suppliers and hauliers. Two employees are undertaking the Authorised Operators Status pilot scheme.

“This is a monumental achievement and cements our ethos for doing everything we can to be plant healthy and continue to uphold the highest practices for biosecurity at Provender Nurseries,” says McKenna.