Defra has warned about the seasonal threat of the Phytophthora austrocedri disease of juniper and cypress (P. austrocedri) and Thousand Canker disease (Geosmithia morbida) of walnut.
Findings of P. austrocedri in trade and at traders authorised to issue plant passports, such as in nurseries or garden centres, must be reported to the relevant plant health authority, such as APHA. Thousand Canker disease should be reported to your Plant Health and Seeds Inspector.
The deadline for comments on the policy review of Helicoverpa armigera is approaching on 3 September and publication of a pest risk analysis (PRA) on the the deadline is on 4 September for comments on the Pest Risk Analysis for Fusarium foetens, details of which can be found here.
Defra also propose to introduce new pest measures to come into force from 30 November 2025.
The proposed changes include:
- Reclassifying Agrilus horni (known as the aspen root girdler) and the fungal pathogen Heterobasidion occidentale as quarantine pests.
- Reclassifying Toumeyella parvicornis (the pine tortoise scale) as a quarantine pest with specific import requirements. Stakeholder engagement on this measure will "commence shortly".
- Adding the pest Homona magnanima (oriental tea tortrix) to the provisional quarantine pest list.
- Expanding the import requirements for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (the pinewood nematode) to reflect its expanded geographical range.
Recent interceptions made on plants are at UKPhins Reports.
Most common interceptions are Bemisia tabaci (Tobacco whitefly), Liriomyza leafminers and Phytophthora ramorum.There have been 32 bemisia destructions on lisianthus from the Netherlands this year so far. Pochazia destructions have ended.
Meanwhile, Fera Science, Forest Research, the Yorkshire Arboretum and Defra say horticulture and landscape businesses have a "crucial role" in providing early warning of potential outbreaks of notifiable pests. But "research shows that developing cost-effective approaches for monitoring and detection is not easy".
The Strengthening Plant Pest Detection and Reporting Project is developing a new training programme to support businesses in the ornamental plant trade and APHA wants to hear from, to undertake interviews and consultations:
- Businesses and professionals trading in ornamental trees and plants (including growers, retailers, landscapers, garden designers)
- People with responsibility for monitoring plant health or managing pests and pathogens.
Contact: Forest Research Social Scientists Dr Bethan Stagg at: bethan.stagg@forestresearch.
The UK have now obtained derogations from prohibitions on exports for 33 High Risk Plant species, subject to certain phytosanitary conditions being met. These species are: Acer campestre, Acer palmatum, Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus cordata, Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fagus sylvatica, Ligustrum delavayanum, Ligustrum ovalifolium, Ligustrum vulgare, Malus domestica, Malus sylvestris, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Populus tremula, Prunus avium, Prunus canescens, Prunus cerasus, Prunus pseudocerasus, Prunus spinosa, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos.
Defra have also submitted the technical dossiers for 15 further species: Berberis thunbergia, Castanea sativa, Hamamelis mollis, Lonicera ligustrina var pileata, Lonicera ligustrina var yunnanensis, Lonicera peiclymenum, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus domestica, Prunus incisa, Prunus persica, Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, and Ulmus minor. The EU is reviewing these dossiers, and Defra anticipates that eventual derogations will be granted, subject to certain phytosanitary conditions being met.
However, "following the announcement of the intention to negotiate the SPS Agreement with the EU, the decision has been taken to stop submitting further dossiers. This decision was taken due to a combination of factors, including length of time taken from submission to obtaining the derogations and likely involvement of key EU/EFSA personnel in SPS agreement negotiations."
In other pests and diseases news. the Belgian Food Safety Agency (FASFC) is carrying out unannounced sampling at tomato companies as part of its annual monitoring programme for Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV).
