Windsor Framework: Horticultural Trade Association (HTA) does not expect a resumption of GB to NI trade and says little improvement since it wrote to Rishi Sunak six months ago

Ms Barnes said in March that her members had seen "an almost complete cessation of trade in their products with Northern Ireland," since the NI Protocol.

She noted Mr Sunak promised in February that under its replacement, the WF - British trees, plants and seed potatoes “will once again be available in Northern Ireland garden centres".

But she countered that this statement "does not reflect the reality our members will experience".

Now, some six months after the letter was published, the HTA said that little has changed.

"Everything we put in the letter to the Prime Minister that you have seen is still valid in the absence of a plant health agreement," an HTA spokeswoman told the News Letter.

The only difference is it has been involved in a Roundtable discussion forum with producers and retailers on the application of the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) scheme, which eases movement of plants, seeds and used equipment from GB.

The HTA lamented: "GB businesses/HTA members have lost a lot of business because of this situation, and at this very late stage, there is still a lot of uncertainty."

Last week the Foreign Office told the News Letter progress had been made.

"The new arrangements under the Windsor Framework are not yet in force," it said. "But we have already seen bans lifted on a range of plant species - priority cases identified by industry itself," the government said. Once the Windsor Framework takes effect, products like seed potatoes will once again be able to move within the UK, and products able to move without the need for expensive health certificates, ending restrictions that hampered consumer choice and damaged business."

The government said it is working with businesses and the EU to support trade for horticulture businesses and garden centres under the WF, and to ensure they are able to take advantage of the benefits of the new arrangements when they take effect in October.

However the HTA challenged the government claims. The spokeswoman noted that;-

• The previous labelling system for plants was free, but the new scheme will be complex and require a charge.

• NI businesses might also still see GB plants inspected in NI.

• GB growers are not minded to increase their business back to NI as High-Risk Plant bans are still in place, and due to the new red tape.

• In contrast, EU suppliers can still easily sell direct to NI – so why would NI buyers change back to GB?

• High Risk Plant bans are only partially lifted.

• GB consumers will still not be able to buy mail order plants from GB

The HTA spokeswoman added: "Lastly, time is extremely tight to implement any new system – we haven’t even got any firm guidance yet from Governments – DEFRA or DAERA."

The Northern Ireland Office and Foreign Office declined to offer further comment.