Plant Health Fee Increase Consultation Update

FPC continues to apply pressure for a decision regarding proposed Plant Health Fee increases following a consultation earlier in the year. The following response was received by the HTA today from Baroness Hayman.

"Thank you for your joint letters of 14 March and 16 April with Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, and Gerard Croft, Secretary of the British Potato Trade Association, about the proposals to increase Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) fees for provision of plant health services. I apologise for the delay in responding We received 18 responses to the consultation on proposed changes to plant health fees, which took place from 27 Jan - 21 March.

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback directly to that consultation. DEFRA is continuing to work through and carefully consider the responses ahead of reaching a decision on the proposals within the consultation. The outcome of the consultation and next steps will be published in due course."

As yet, we have had no indication of any decision but continue to work with APHA to communicate the significant impact these increased charges would have on the industry.