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<p>GB plant health authorities have undertaken significant recruitment to increase
the number of plant health inspectors in order to service the demand for import and
export checks and certification. We will have sufficient resources to meet demand
from 1 January 2021 when checks of high-priority plants from the EU begin, and July
2021 when we will have arrived at our end-state regime, to ensure minimal disruption
to trade.</p><p>The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) delivers plant health services
in England and Wales where the majority of additional inspectors will be required.
APHA is well advanced in its recruitment of plant health inspectors, with nearly 200
new field and desk-based staff undergoing training in time for 1 January 2021.</p><p>Further
recruitment campaigns are being progressed which would enable adaptation of the number
plant health inspectors if volumes prove to be higher than anticipated. Additionally,
Defra officials also have well developed contingency plans in place, which involve
re-prioritisation of services and securing temporary resources to ensure no disruption
to trade.</p>
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