Coronavirus liveblog stay up-to-date
12 June 2020
Via this live blog, Royal FloraHolland will keep you constantly informed about the latest developments regarding the coronavirus.
Market updates
In the market updates we inform you about the impact of the corona virus on the Dutch and international floriculture market.
Veiling Rhein-Maas updates
Veiling Rhein-Maas is in close contact with both parent organisations Landgard and Royal FloraHolland in order to protect the health of all our employees, customers and suppliers. Follow the latest news from Veiling Rhein-Maas.
News about the coronavirus
12 June 2020:
Introducing the Crisis
Recovery Coordination Team (CRCT)
The Crisis Management Team (CMT) has been meeting almost every day
in order to be able to react quickly to acute developments. Now
that the market is somewhat recovering, at the beginning of this
month the CMT was transformed into the Crisis Recovery Coordination
Team (CRCT).
26 May 2020:
Extra campaign for
flowers and plants under development
The Flower Council of Holland is developing a new campaign to
create an extra turnover boost for flowers and plants. The launch
is currently planned for the months after the summer holidays, when
the most stringent corona-related restrictions will have been
lifted.
20 May 2020:
Together for good
service in a safe marketplace
At Royal FloraHolland, we work hard every day to improve our
logistical services. Over the past period, we have adapted our
logistics processes to comply with RIVM guidelines.
20 May 2020:
Which corona-related
measures have been taken at the auction? The auctioneer will tell
you!
In this episode, our auctioneers and the team tell you which
measures have been taken in response to the corona crisis.
15 may 2020:
Only together will we
get Corona under control
As in the rest of the Netherlands, we count on you and your
employees to take their own responsibility and actively adhere to
the RIVM guidelines in the marketplaces of Royal FloraHolland. Only
in this way can we together create a safe and healthy marketplace
for our employees and your employees.
30 april 2020:
Video message Jack
Goossens, chairman of the Supervisory Board, about the corona
crisis
Jack Goossens, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal
FloraHolland, talks in a video message about the crisis affecting
our sector and the questions that concern us.
23 april 2020:
Supply regulation to
be phased out as from Wednesday 29 April 2020
Based on current insights, we have concluded that Royal
FloraHolland will start phasing out the supply regulation as of
next week. We introduced the supply regulation for the clock last
month as an emergency measure, to be able to continue our business
operations and limit the flow on the clock.
22 april 2020:
How is Royal
FloraHolland managing the crisis?
Royal FloraHolland's Crisis Management Team (CMT) was already
working hard before the corona crisis hit the Netherlands. The team
focuses on the acute problems in the short term.
20 april 2020:
Background message
about phasing out emergency measures
Last Friday in our market update and some product updates, we
posted a message about the phasing out of the emergency measures
taken by Royal FloraHolland as a result of the corona crisis. There
is a lack of understanding about this message. We realise that we
have been unclear. As a result, we have placed an extra news item
on our website that discusses the process in depth which includes
the background and the next steps in phasing out the emergency
measures.
17 april 2020:
Dismantling of
emergency measures: supply regulation and minimum
price
Forced by the sudden drop in demand due to the corona crisis,
Royal FloraHolland took a number of emergency measures a month
ago.
16 april 2020:
The Emergency Fund for
ornamental horticulture can soon get off to a flying
start
Royal FloraHolland is delighted with the government's support in
the form of an Emergency Fund. The Emergency fund sized at 600
million euros, will make it possible to cover part of the damage in
the ornamental horticulture sector during the period of March to
May. Because growers and exporters can continue to work, a flying
start is possible if international demand increases in the coming
period. This is crucial for the recovery of this important export
sector.
Trade Fairs during
Corona
In organising the Trade Fairs, Royal FloraHolland closely monitors
the state of affairs regarding the coronavirus and follows the
guidelines given by the government, RIVM and GGDs.
3 April 2020:
Prevent trench warfare
in case of cancellation of orders in direct trading
At the moment, many orders are being cancelled in floriculture due
to measures being taken all over the world to prevent the spread of
the corona virus. As a result, consumers are fewer in the shops or
governments sometimes prohibit the sale of flowers and plants. This
means that worldwide our sales chain is suffering serious damage
because floriculture products are made but not sold.
31 March 2020:
Corona crisis: country
updates
Royal FloraHolland keeps a close eye on developments related to
the Coronavirus in order to keep our (member) suppliers, buyers,
employees and visitors to our locations safe and healthy. In
addition, we inform you about the consequences of the corona virus
on the Dutch and international horticultural market. This has been
supplemented with news from our own sources, colleagues of Royal
FloraHolland.
Frequently asked
questions about the new supply regulation
This Q&A is for growers, buyers and relations of Royal
FloraHolland and is revised daily in response to new
information.
30 March 2020:
Select delivery: buy
without stock risk and get super-fast delivery
Do you need to buy flowers very quickly without running a stock
risk? It's possible with Select delivery; part of Royal
FloraHolland Fulfilment.
27 March 2020:
Flower Council
launches 'Let hope bloom'
COVID-19 is having a major impact on the floriculture sector. The
Flower Council of Holland is working hard to find a way to maintain
consumers' interest in flowers in a positive and appropriate way.
That is why the consumer campaign 'Let hope bloom' will be launched
on Friday 27 March. The campaign will run in Germany, France, the
Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and will be boosted through
advertisements in daily newspapers and via online and social
media.
26 March 2020:
Auction Rhein-Maas
will auction for three weekdays from 30th March 2020, clock service
remains open from Monday to Friday!
The Rhein-Maas Auction closely monitors current
developments and, after consultation with suppliers and customers,
will adjust the auction process to current market conditions in the
short term. From Monday 30th March 2020 onwards, the auction will
therefore be held in Straelen-Herongen on three weekdays - Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday - until further notice, in order to offer
the customers and suppliers of the marketplace better planning and
sales security. In the purchase and sales channels clock service
and webshop nothing will change for the customers and suppliers.
Clock service is then still available from Monday to Friday and the
webshop available on all seven weekdays. The delivery (Zustellung)
of the purchased products takes place as usual.
Advice and mediation
in disputes regarding direct trade
At the moment we unfortunately see that orders in direct trading
do not always go through. It sometimes happens that the two trading
parties do not have the same picture of the agreement made. What
should I deliver? or what should I take?
25 March 2020:
Continuation of
National Auctioning and 100% Digital programmes
Royal FloraHolland has decided to continue the strategic projects
'National Auction' and '100% Digital' for this year.
24 March 2020:
Supply control Tuesday
24th March 2020 and frequently asked questions
Here is an extra newsitem in connection with the many questions
regarding the tightened supply regulation: a short update on
today's pricing, developments in Floriday and answers to the 5 most
frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the tightened supply
regulation.
23 March 2020:
Enforcement of Plant
passport postponed from pot size 10
As of Saturday 14 December 2019, a plant passport has been
required to be able to trade plants. The plant passport at pot
level for pot size 10 and larger would have come into force from 1
July 2020. Due to the current circumstances, we have decided to
postpone this enforcement rule until further notice.
Update: mine rooms
available until further notice
Tonight, the Cabinet has taken additional measures to deal with
the coronavirus. As a result of these measures, Royal FloraHolland
has decided to keep the mine-rooms available until further notice.
There will simply be an auction. The measures taken earlier remain
in force.
Keep an eye on this live blog for the latest updates.
20 March 2020:
New supply regulation
in force from Tuesday 24th March
From Tuesday 24th March a new supply regulation will be in
force for the clock supply. Based on the volumes for 2019, this
regulation provides clarity about the maximum daily volume that may
be supplied to the clock. For the clock supply before Monday 23rd
March, last week's supply regulation will still be in force.
19 March 2020:
Royal FloraHolland
maintains emergency fund for the floriculture sector
Royal FloraHolland is positive about the package of support
measures announced by the cabinet last Tuesday. This package is not
sufficient to help growers and trading companies through the
crisis. That is why Royal FloraHolland is pleading for the
establishment of an emergency fund for the floriculture industry.
This emergency fund is necessary to safeguard the more than 6
billion euros in floriculture exports.
Direct trade
cancellations: who's to blame?
We get a lot of questions about cancelled orders in direct
trading. Who pays for the costs in this situation? Buyers invoke
force majeure. When does force majeure occur? Find out what you
need to take into account.
Supply regulations
continue and new regulations in preparation
The emergency measures announced earlier this week as a result of
the corona crisis and the large percentage of non-sold product
(thus destroyed) continuing on the auction clocks. The following is
stipulated for tomorrow's auctionday (Friday 20 March):
- Tomorrow, a maximum of 30% of last Friday's supply volume can be supplied for flowers and houseplants.
- For garden plants this percentage is set at a maximum of 75%.
- In addition, A2 and B quality flowers and plants may no longer be supplied.
- Products will no longer be re-auctioned
- It is allowed to sell up to a maximum of 75% of your clock supply via Clock Presale (in Floriday)
18 March 2020:
Supply regulation
continues and clock presales up to 75%
On Monday 16 March, Royal FloraHolland announced an emergency
measure in connection with corona as a result of the high
throughput percentages on the auction clocks in recent days. This
measure was implemented yesterday and will also be continued for
tomorrow's auction (Thursday 19 March).
17 March 2020:
Emergency measure:
Supply regulation tightened
Royal FloraHolland announced an emergency measure yesterday
as a result of the high throughput percentages and the poor price
formation on the clocks in recent days. This measure meant that for
today, Tuesday 17 March, a maximum of 30% of the volume supplied
last Tuesday could be supplied. This percentage has been set at 50%
for houseplants and 75% for garden plants. In addition, A2 and B
quality flowers and plants may no longer be supplied and products
will no longer be auctioned off.
16 March 2020:
Update from the
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV)
In this article you will find an update from the Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), who are involved in the
crisis measures surrounding the Coronavirus and informs Royal
FloraHolland about the impact of the virus on the export
market.
Emergency measure
suppliers
Last Friday 13 March 2020, twenty percent of the supply had to be
destroyed because there weren't any buyers for it. As an emergency
measure, Royal FloraHolland is asking growers to temporarily supply
fewer products.
15 March 2020:
Royal FloraHolland
auctions at all locations on Monday 16 March 2020
We were asked whether there will be an auction tomorrow (16 March
2020) because of the corona crisis. Royal FloraHolland will auction
tomorrow at all locations.
Dutch floriculture
sector has been hit unprecedentedly hard
The Dutch floriculture sector has been hit unprecedentedly hard by
the corona crisis. Without emergency loans from the government and
banks, many companies will go bankrupt within a few
weeks.
Update from the
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV)
In this article you will find an update from the Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), who are involved in the
crisis measures surrounding the Coronavirus and informs Royal
FloraHolland about the impact of the virus on the export
market.
12 March 2020:
Member sessions are
being rescheduled
Member sessions scheduled for March will be moved to a later date.
We would like as many members as possible to be able to attend the
sessions, there is no great urgency in allowing these to proceed
and there is also the chance that nationwide measures will be
further tightened in the coming days. It is not yet clear when the
member sessions can continue.
Customers: please
use Remote Buying (KOA)
This afternoon it has been announced that events with more than
100 people are being/must be cancelled. For this reason and in
anticipation of a possible situation where we may have to close the
auction room workplaces, we request customers to make use of Remote
Buying (KOA) in the coming days. In addition, we request all Remote
Buying (KOA) users to avoid the auction room workplaces at Royal
FloraHolland locations.
Do you not yet have a Remote Buying (KOA) connection? Please contact the Remote Buying (KOA) Helpdesk to set this up, via +31 (0) 88 -789 89 89 (option 2). In the coming days, extra capacity will be deployed for this purpose at the KOA Helpdesk. Requests may also be submitted this weekend.
Other
measures
We have also decided to temporarily close the visitor centre in
Aalsmeer. Employees who are not attached to a particular location
are requested to work from home as much as possible.
12 March 2020:
This afternoon, Prime Minister Rutte gave a press conference
clarifying the coronavirus situation after a crisis meeting of the
cabinet. If Royal FloraHolland takes measures as a result of the
stricter measures and advice regarding the development of the
coronavirus relating to our activities, we will keep you informed
via our live blog.
11 March 2020:
We cannot compel customers and members from Noord-Brabant not to
visit our locations. We are, however, asking them to consider the
above with regard to minimising social contact. If they have any
symptoms, we ask them to stay away.
10 March 2020:
At the moment, Royal FloraHolland is regularly receiving queries
about the possibilities of Remote Buying (KOA), partly as a result
of the developments surrounding the coronavirus and the possibility
of purchasing from a separate location.
10 March 2020:
Royal FloraHolland is following the instructions of the
authorities and also the advice of experts, including RIVM
(National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and the
GGD (Municipal Health Services). At present, there is no
recommendation to cancel events as a preventative measure. The
Trade Fair in Naaldwijk will therefore continue as usual.
Royal FloraHolland is keeping a close eye on developments regarding the coronavirus to keep our employees and visitors to our locations safe and healthy.
We are following the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO), European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ).
If you or any of your employees have been infected and have visited one of our locations, kindly inform us immediately.
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