Biosecurity protocol and capital items
Updated 16 February 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-pilot-scheme-2023/biosecurity-protocol-and-capital-items
Within this document you will find biosecurity protocols to be followed on all sites and a list of biosecurity items associated with each pest or disease supported by the tree health pilot (THP) scheme.
Biosecurity is important when entering any land, or other premises where there is a risk of spreading harmful organisms such as:
- pests
- diseases
- parasites
- invasive non-native species
This includes all:
- forestry and agricultural land (including grassland and arable or horticultural crops)
- nurseries
- hill ground
- moorland
- farm steadings
- other woodland
Biosecurity protocols also extend to:
- parks
- gardens
- premises for the processing and storage of timber
Biosecurity protocol
This protocol is designed for personnel entering and leaving the sites already mentioned and must be adhered to, in order to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
The same principles of arriving on site clean and leaving site clean also applies to machinery and plant.
Arrive clean
Ensure all transportation, tools, and personal equipment, including boots and clothing, is clean, so it is visually free from any soil or organic material, and ideally, disinfected before arrival to each site.
Find a suitable parking location
This should ideally be on hard standing for 2 reasons:
- It provides you with a suitable surface to undertake your biosecurity measures.
- It keeps your vehicle clean and reduces the risk of it picking up any potentially infected material from the site you are visiting.
The parking location should also be at least 10 metres away from a water course so you can undertake your biosecurity measures without the risk of spreading water-borne diseases.
If you do need to use your vehicle to get around site, avoid driving off-track and remove build-up of soil and debris, including in cabs, footwells and the boot, before leaving the site, using washdown facilities, if available.
Make use of off-site washdown facilities often and always after you have driven into an area where a damaging tree disease is known to be present.
Leave clean
Ensure all footwear, personal equipment and tools which have come into contact with any soil, water or organic material are visibly clean before leaving each site using a brush, boot pick, and clean water supply. Ideally follow this by applying an appropriate disinfectant. Remember to clean hands using soap and water or hand sanitiser.
Specific biosecurity guidance relating to Phytophthora ramorum
You should:
- carry recommended biosecurity equipment when visiting infected woodland
- ensure that footwear, tools, equipment, plant and machinery are free from any soil and plant debris before leaving the site, by brushing off as much soil and plant debris as is reasonably practicable
This is already common practice when moving machinery from site to site via main roads, and we suggest it be extended to all movements of plant, machinery, tools and equipment within the forest.
In areas where either P. ramorum or P. kernovii infection is detected, a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) will impose additional measures including disinfection with an appropriate fungicide.
Read a more detailed protocol on Phytophthora control sites operational precautions.
Specific biosecurity guidance relating to sweet chestnut blight
You should:
- carry recommended biosecurity equipment when visiting infected woodland
- destroy infected plants as soon as possible after detection, preferably on site
- not move infected plants, bark or wood
- practise high standards of biosecurity, such as washing and disinfecting tools, vehicles, equipment, footwear, clothing after visiting or working at infected sites, and before visiting or working at new sites
In areas where sweet chestnut blight infection is detected, a SPHN will impose specific measures to ensure biosecurity.
Read a more detailed protocol on sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica).
Specific biosecurity guidance relating to Ips typographus
You should:
- carry recommended biosecurity equipment when visiting infested woodland
- ensure clothing, vehicles and machinery are cleaned and free of debris and vegetation before they leave the site, when working with spruce
Pests such as Ips typographus can be spread through infested bark and vegetation. To protect the country against this pest, under powers conferred by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019, the Forestry Commission has introduced a SPHN to demarcate an area around the confirmed outbreak sites restricting the movement and methods of forest operations.
Chipping to G50 (average chip size of 50 millimetres) or burning are suitable methods of destruction of susceptible spruce material. If this is not possible the wood can be:
- sawn
- dragged into a pile
- covered with a tarpaulin with the edges tucked in and weighed down
This will speed up the rotting process, rendering material unsuitable in time.
Where an infestation is found, a SPHN will impose operational requirements to ensure biosecurity.
Read further guidance on Ips typographus.
Specific biosecurity guidance relating to oak processionary moth (OPM)
To protect tree, public and animal health, owners of infested trees should engage tree or pest control professionals to survey and appropriately manage oak trees affected by oak processionary moth.
Read further guidance on OPM.
Biosecurity capital items
The THP scheme is looking for landowners and agents to actively engage with biosecurity measures on sites that are known to host a damaging tree pest or disease.
We recommend using this kit to uphold good biosecurity practices for a range of sites infected (diseases) or infested (insect pests) by:
- Phytophthora ramorum
- oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea; OPM)
- eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus)
- sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica)
Personal biosecurity kit items
A personal biosecurity kit is made up of basic cleaning equipment to be used on boots, clothing, tools, and other personal equipment when entering and leaving sites.
A personal biosecurity kit should be available on all site visits regardless of what pests or diseases are present.
The kit should contain:
- a container or bucket large enough to immerse a boot in such as a gorilla tub
- adequate water supply for your daily tasks (approximately 5 litres)
- long handled, stiff plastic bristled brush
- boot pick or a tool to remove debris from in between boot treads
- cleansing wipes for hands or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- disinfectant – Cleankill sanitising spray for boots or clothing and Propellar for metal tools
- vapour-proof container for Propellar disinfectant
- eye protection
- protective gloves
- portable pressure washers (battery powered or 12 volts)
Phytophthora ramorum - additional biosecurity items
You should also have:
- petrol-powered pressure washers and water bowsers for washing down vehicles and larger machinery
- static wheel washing stations for sites with high traffic volumes
- static boot washing stations for sites with high personnel volumes
- signage for path diversions, awareness raising and site biosecurity protocols
OPM - additional biosecurity items
To protect tree, public and animal health, owners of infested trees should engage tree or pest control professionals to survey and appropriately manage oak trees affected by oak processionary moth. As such, the THP scheme does not support the hire or purchase of biosecurity capital items for the management of OPM.
Ips typographus - additional biosecurity items
You should also have:
- petrol-powered pressure washers and water bowsers for washing down vehicles and larger machinery
- static wheel washing stations for sites with high traffic volumes
- static boot washing stations for sites with high personnel volumes
- signage for path diversions, awareness raising and biosecurity site instructions
- tarpaulin to cover small stacks of spruce that are susceptible to infestation or are known to be infested (tarpaulin will prevent any Ips typographus beetles from infesting the stack or emerging from it if it is already infested - covering stacks will also speed up the decay process, rendering material unsuitable for infestation in time)
- chipper capable of chipping to G50 or smaller
- mulcher - to be used to remove stumps (which can be susceptible to infestation) following felling activities
- stump grinder - as above but for smaller scale operations
- debarker - fully debarking spruce logs prevents Ips typographus from be able to infest them
- incinerator or fire bin - for the destruction of small amounts of susceptible or infested spruce
Sweet chestnut blight - additional biosecurity items
You should also have:
- petrol powered pressure washers and water bowsers for washing down vehicles and larger machinery
- static wheel washing stations for sites with high traffic volumes
- static boot washing stations for sites with high personnel volumes
- signage for path diversions, awareness raising and biosecurity site instructions
Return to the THP scheme 2023 guidance