"Hopefully we can now talk about practical matters after Brexit"

The negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU on the first phase of Brexit have finished. Director Gert Mulder of GroentenFruit Huis is relieved that this phase is over. "These negotiations were blocking any conversation on what our trade flows will look like after Brexit. Hopefully the communication lines will now open to solve practical matters."

"We expect the need for our products from the United Kingdom to continue to exist. That export, particularly of greenhouse vegetables and onions, has only grown in the last year. The United Kingdom has a low self sufficiency and has to import around 60% of the volume needed. The Netherlands and Spain are the main fruit and vegetable suppliers," says Gert.

His concerns are primarily administrative and logistic. "The United Kingdom will become a third country after Brexit. By definition it won't differ much from a country like Indonesia. A number of guarantee have to be given by governments. The KCB for instance, calculated that we will need a number of extra inspectors. Those are costs that are being made now, while we don't know what norms we will have to meet. There also aren't checking locations in the British ports. We will also have to come up with solutions for this," determines the director of GroentenFruit Huis.

"We will undoubtedly get this flow of trade into the country, but we have to see what costs and inconveniences we will run into. We also have to think about the possibility of a food safety problem or contamination. These issues haven't been a problem for the last 25 years, but will now play a role. On the other hand, it provides opportunities for companies. I am happy the first round of negotiations is over, as we can now talk."

For more information:
Gert Mulder
GroentenFruit Huis
T + 31 79 368 11 00
mulder@groentenfruithuis.nl
www.groentenfruithuis.nl