WIREDGOV

Lincolnshire cabbages can now be enjoyed by Malaysian consumers. This follows an intervention by the Department for International Trade (DIT) which could benefit vegetable producers throughout the whole of the UK.

DIT has worked with Naylor Farms to release around 25,000 round cabbages from the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services.

Naylor Farms have been growing vegetables near Spalding, Lincolnshire, since 1909 and recently secured a three year contract to export 10,800 tonnes of round cabbage to Malaysia.

Four shipments of fresh cabbages had been held up at the border because of a gap in regulations.

The Department for International Trade worked with Naylor Farms to get temporary approval for their cabbages to be imported into Malaysia.

The Malaysian government has also formed a committee to review their food import regulations, including those that apply to vegetables.

Trade Policy Minister Conor Burns recently said:

By getting rid of red tape, we can open up markets and create new opportunities for British businesses to sell their produce around the world.

This is good news and I look forward to working with the Malaysian government to find a permanent solution so that Malaysian people can continue to enjoy great British vegetables.

Simon Naylor of Naylor Farms recently said:

This has been a massive step forward for Naylors. I wish to thank the Department for International Trade for their assistance in working our way through the process of importing our products to Malaysia. This has not only been a step forward for us but also for other companies wishing to import their goods to Malaysia so it has been a win-win situation for everyone.

This is part of DIT’s work to lower market access barriers in key economies around the world to make it easier for British businesses to trade internationally.

Market access barriers make British exports less competitive than locally produced goods and services. In some cases, they can prohibit imports entirely.

A study by the OECD suggests all G20 economies could see increased exports by more than 20% in the long term, if trade barriers were halved globally.

British businesses can directly report barriers preventing them from trading online here. The tool ensures British businesses can flag these issues and the government’s trade experts can work with countries around the world to resolve them.