The KCB (Quality Control Centre) started recruiting the first group of ten new inspectors last week. This was done via the Dutch employment agency, AB Zuid-Holland. Brexit could have far-reaching consequences for the KCB's inspection capacity. This is because of the extensive export of fruit, vegetables and floricultural products from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. According to their own calculations, the KCB expects to need about 30 extra FTE inspectors. This is in the case of a 'hard' Brexit. The actual need for extra capacity is strongly dependent on what the UK's eventual phytosanitary demands will be. There is a possibility of a transition phase for Brexit. This will have an influence on the time frame when these extra people will be needed. It could change from March 2019 to January 2021. This will affect the size and planning of the required increase in manpower.
The KCB held a board meeting on 15 May 2018. Here, it was decided to recruit ten inspectors at a time. The goal is to retain maximum flexibility during the EU-UK negotiation process. On the basis of interim insights, there could be changes in the plan. A 'hard' Brexit must, however, still be kept in mind.
Training of this first group of new inspectors begins on 1 September 2018. Decisions about how many, and when, the next groups of inspectors will be employed, will follow. These determinations will be made at the end of October and again in December 2018. With this step-by-step approach, the KCB is fully anticipating any developments. They are also keeping the maximum number of inspectors that might have to be trained in mind.
Source: KCB