Farmers are facing dramatic increases in costs for plant health services, with some fees set to rise by more than 200% from April, Farmers Weekly has learned.

The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) has announced plans to phase in the new regulatory costs for plant health services over a three-year period from 6 April 2012.

FERA, an executive agency of DEFRA, provides plant health regulatory services for England and Wales. The services are aimed at facilitating trade and preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases across the UK and EU.

It said the fees charged by the government for plant health services have not been reviewed for many years and the current fees did not reflect the true cost to government of providing the services.

Under the new proposals for fees, growers of imported potato crops could see significant rises in their costs.

For example, FERA is proposing a 51% increase for the inspection of growing crops and provision of labels and seals in respect of an application for certified seed potatoes. Costs could rise from £35 to £52.96 for an inspection of 0.5ha.

A 134% increase in import inspections for potatoes imported from Egypt has been suggested. Tests for brown rot would increase from £37.50 to £87.80.

The cost of grain imports is also likely to rise dramatically. For example, the maximum fee for grain imports during non-daytime hours could rise from £856.80 to £2,818.78 – a 229% increase.

Plant scientists and research organisations could also be subject to substantial increases in fees.

For example, an application for a plant health licence could rise from £305 to £781.27 – a 156% increase.

FERA announced on Monday that a new Plant Health Taskforce has been launched which aims to “drive efficiencies in regulatory services”.

The taskforce will bring together DEFRA ministers and plant health industry representatives for an inaugural meeting on 18 April.

The first meeting will discuss the government’s announcement of a phased increase in the fees charged for the provision of plant health regulatory services, to take effect from 6 April 2012.

FERA recently completed a consultation on proposed changes to the fees for five separate regulatory schemes as part of a bigger review of all its plant health and seeds statutory activities.

Statutory services covered in the consultation included plant health, potato and potato seed regulations.

A wide range of interested trade organisations were invited to respond, together with almost 2,500 individual business registered to use plant health services, and the general public.

General preference among the industry was for no increase in fees at all. However, the recommended option for any fee increase was for a phased increase over a three-year period.

Following the consultation, FERA said a phased increase in fees would be rolled out over three years, with 50% of the gap between current statutory income and the full cost of service provision being closed in 2012 and the remainder by 2014.

Martin Ward, FERA’s head of plant health policy, said: “We welcome the opportunity to engage with industry representatives at focused taskforce meetings, following this and future consultations.

“This collaborative approach has been broadly welcomed by the industry as we share the aim of developing more efficient services with simple and transparent charges.”

Lord Taylor, DEFRA minister for plant health, said: “We are keen to ensure these costs are kept to an absolute minimum. The setting up of these taskforces provides an excellent opportunity for industry and government to share ideas on how to make the services more efficient.

“I look forward to discussing options with representatives from trade associations and other organisations from the sectors involved.”

Further consultations to be announced by FERA over the next two months will include export certification services, English and Welsh seeds marketing regulations and UK national listing and plant breeders’ rights.