Written questions, answers and statements

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

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Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 51109, tabled on 9 May 2025

Question

Mr Gregory Campbell
Democratic Unionist Party
East Londonderry
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many species of plant that previously could not be traded between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been made available following discussions with the EU on horticultural issues in the last six months.

Answer

Daniel Zeichner
Labour
Cambridge
Commons

Answered on

21 May 2025

The prohibition has been lifted on 20 key species of plants since EU Exit. The full list for the last 6 months is: four different kinds of cherry (Prunus avium, Prunus canescens, Prunus cerasus, and Prunus pseudocerasus), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

We continue to work closely with the horticultural sector, including through a Horticulture Working Group which meets regularly, in order to maximise opportunities for trade in plants and plant products within the United Kingdom. We are in active dialogue with the EU Commission on a number of other species which industry has prioritised.

Answered by

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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