Guidance

Oak Processionary Moth management policy changes guide

Published 11 July 2024

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

This guide is for traders of large oak trees.

Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) has become a serious problem in London and the South East. It is threatening the health of oak trees and can be a hazard to human and animal health. To protect against it, there were changes to policy in 2023, and you need to know what they are.

New legislation came into force on 24 May 2023 enabling traders to move large oak trees within the Established Area and Buffer Zone, provided they comply with specific biosecurity requirements and movement restrictions.

Management zones

Currently there are 3 OPM management zones in place:

• the ‘established area’, which was expanded in March
• the ‘buffer zone’, an area of surveillance and control by the Forestry Commission, which was also expanded in March
• the ‘area free from the pest’, which makes up the rest of the UK

View the maps at Managing oak processionary moth in England.

If you trade oak trees within the buffer zone and established area you need to be aware of the movement restrictions for large oak trees in these areas.

Large oak trees are classified as having a girth at 1.2m above the root collar of at least 8cm - approx. 2.55cm diameter.

There are no restrictions on moving small oak trees (with a girth at 1.2m above the root collar of less than 8cm).

The policy changes

If you are a trader in the established area:

• you are not permitted to move large oak trees to the area free from the pest or the buffer zone

• you are permitted to move large oak trees within the established area, provided you meet the following biosecurity requirements:

Biosecurity competence
Official inspections

If you are a trader in the buffer zone:

• you are not permitted to move large oak trees to the area free from the pest
• you are permitted to move large oak trees into the established area, provided you meet the following biosecurity requirements:

Biosecurity competence
Official inspections

You are also permitted to move large oak trees within the buffer zone, provided you meet 2 additional requirements:

Chemical control regime
Post-planting inspections

However, you are not permitted to move large oak trees within 10km from the outer edge of the buffer zone.

In addition, all oak traders must:

• check oak trees are free from OPM prior to movement and report any findings of this pest to your Plant Health Inspector
• keep movement records of large oak trees for 3 years so that the Plant Health Inspectors can carry out essential surveillance

Biosecurity requirements

Biosecurity competence

You must demonstrate the biosecurity requirements set out in the Plant Health Management Standard. This can be done through membership of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme or provision of a Ready to Plant approval from Fera Science Ltd.

Risk-based post-planting inspections

You must keep accurate movement records of large oaks trees, for a minimum of 3 years to ensure traceability of movements.

A proportion of high-risk large oak movements within the buffer zone will be subject to post-planting inspections by Plant Health Inspectors.

Chemical control regime

You must demonstrate that a robust chemical control regime is in place with appropriate insecticide spraying of oaks, in line with Defra’s technical guidance.

Official inspections

You will be subject to Animal and Plant Health Agency conducted audits alongside plant passporting inspections, to ensure that the above requirements are being met.

Please adhere to these changes and together we can protect our industry from the risks of OPM.

For further information please read Managing oak processionary moth in England or speak to your Plant Health Inspector.