Ms Lockhart was speaking at this week’s Westminster Hall debate on ‘Horticulture Trade Between GB and NI’ - a motion moved by DUP party colleague Gregory Campbell MP.

“Northern Ireland’s horticultural industry is a key economic player, with a total output value of over £70m in 2023; and around £46m of that attributed to the export of mushrooms and vegetables.

“The movement of goods between GB and NI, and vice versa, is vital for businesses, consumers, food security and economic stability. While NI has unfettered access to internal GB markets, there are huge issues for goods originating in GB which are destined for NI.”

The DUP’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: “The Protocol, and more laterally the Windsor Framework, are causing substantial issues for a wide variety of businesses on a daily basis. Northern Ireland has been left outside the UK’s plant health area, which means local businesses have to comply with EU rules over British ones.

“I have addressed these issues on numerous occasions in the House of Commons. The movement of farm livestock, second-hand machinery and veterinary medicines are also impacted by the regulations.

“Whilst small improvements have been made, but it is time for a long-awaited ‘common sense’ approach. I’m assured that engagement within the horticultural working group is ongoing, but satisfactory solutions seem to be a long way off.”

Carla Lockhart continued: “Northern Ireland aligns with EU single market rules, leading to cumbersome paperwork, customs checks and SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) requirements on goods arriving from GB. The complexity of the regulations has created significant logistical hurdles and expense for the importation of goods such as plants, trees, seed and ware potatoes.

“Decades-old trading agreements have been significantly undermined by this post-Brexit bureaucracy and nonsensical red tape. The current regime is failing the horticultural and the agricultural sectors, and we need the government to intervene as a matter of urgency. The regulations are deterring GB businesses from trading with customers in Northern Ireland.”

The MP added: “Many of our native tree species are not currently available in Northern Ireland, and the Woodland Trust’s Free Tree packs have not been accessible to local schools and community groups for this very reason. In recent times, just two species have been added to the list of trees permitted to enter NI from GB.

“Trees lock up carbon, reduce pollution and flooding, while supporting people, wildlife and farming in adapting to climate change.

“An unprecedented number of trees, including a few at the iconic and world-famous Dark Hedges in North Antrim, succumbed to the extreme force of Storm Eowyn at the end of January. Current access to replacement saplings is very limited.”

During the Westminster debate, Labour’s NI Minister Fleur Anderson MP, accepted that a number of challenges still need to be addressed. Ms Anderson cited that the NI Plant Health Label (NIPHL) has removed the requirement for burdensome and costly phytosanitary certificates, allowing more than 600 authorised businesses to use free self-printed labels.

Minister Anderson also said: “NIPHL has ensured that seed potatoes can now move freely between GB and NI”. This remark was challenged by Carla Lockhart MP, who added: “Those words ring hollow with businesses in Northern Ireland who are still experiencing difficulties on a daily basis.

“I have issued an invitation to the Secretary of State to visit a large potato processing enterprise in my constituency, but perhaps the Minister would like to take up that invitation to come and hear first-hand about ongoing issues facing businesses in Northern Ireland.”