Importing plants that could host Xylella fastidiosa, canker stain of plane and elm yellows
Find out how to prevent Xylella fastidiosa, Ceratocystis platani and Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi entering the UK on plants and trees.
You must follow this guide if you’re bringing certain types of plants into the UK from EU member states and third countries.
The rules set out in this guide help prevent the diseases Xylella fastidiosa, Ceratocystis platani (canker stain or plane) and Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi (elm yellows) coming into the UK.
You must continue to follow the notification requirements for olive, plane and elm.
Olive and almond
Olive and almond plants that you import in to the UK from EU member states and third countries must meet certain place of production and inspection requirements.
On plants from the EU, the place of production and inspection details must accompany the plant passport attached to the plants.
For plants from a third country, the place of production and inspection details must be on a phytosanitary certificate.
Olive and almond plants must have a tamper proof label showing the details of the place of production. This label can be the plant passport or a label stuck to the container or pot. The label cannot be re-used and must be:
- readable
- undamaged
Label requirements
NPPOs (National Plant Protection Organizations) can show the place of production is authorised to meet all UK requirements by stating on the label ‘UK’ followed by the EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) code for Xylella fastidiosa, XYLEFA. An officially signed and stamped letter must accompany the label.
Place of production
You must only import olive and almond plants that come from registered places of production. See the list list of registered places provided by the NPPO or EU competent authority to the UK authorities.
Olive and almond plants must have grown for at least one year on these listed places of production before you import them.
Inspections
Official inspections and testing must show that the place of production and the surrounding 200m has been free from Xylella fastidiosa for one year before you import olive or almond trees. The NPPO official lab must test the plants while they are actively growing and when adult vectors are present.
Olive and almond plants at the registered places of production must have annual official inspections by the competent authority. For example, the UK competent authority is the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Sampling and testing must use a sampling scheme that identifies with 99% reliability the level of presence of infected plants of 1%.
Olive and almond plants must be officially inspected for Xylella fastidiosa just before they are moved from the registered place of production and as close as possible to the date of export. NPPO officials will decide if there are 1 or 2 inspections.The inspection time must take into account:
- when vectors are present and give best opportunity to see symptoms
- local conditions - in cooler places inspection could be in the month of despatch and in warmer places or summer, inspection must be closer to the time of movement
If the plants show symptoms, officials must test them for Xylella fastidiosa to agreed international standards. Olive and almond plants from areas where Xylella fastidiosa is known to occur must be grown under complete physical protection for:
- 4 years prior to export
- their entire life if between 1 and 4 years old
Lavender, Nerium oleander and rosemary
Plants of lavender, Nerium oleander and rosemary that you import in to the UK from EU member states and third countries must meet certain place of production and inspection requirements.
On plants from the EU, the place of production and inspection details must accompany the plant passport attached to the plants.
For plants from a third country, the place of production and inspection details must be on a phytosanitary certificate.
These requirements also apply to unrooted cuttings of lavender, Nerium oleander and rosemary.
Place of production
Lavender, Nerium oleander and Rosemary plants must come from registered places of production that are on a list provided by the NPPO or EU competent authority to the UK’s NPPO. This should include the business name and full address.
They must have grown for at least one year on these listed places of production.
Inspections
One year before export to the UK the listed places of production and the surrounding 200m must be known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa. They are known to be free based on official inspections and testing at appropriate times during active growth and when adult vectors are present.
The competent authority must annually inspect Lavender, Nerium oleander and Rosemary plants at the registered places of production. Sampling and testing must use a sampling scheme that identifies with 99% reliability the level of presence of infected plants of 5%.
Just prior to movement from the registered place of production and as close as possible to export, Lavender, Nerium oleander and Rosemary plants must be officially inspected for Xylella fastidiosa. If symptoms are seen the plants must be tested for Xylella fastidiosa to agreed international standards.
When vectors of Xylella fastidiosa are evident, treatments must suppress the disease.
Lavender, Nerium oleander and Rosemary plants from areas where Xylella fastidiosa is known to occur must be:
- grown under complete physical protection for their entire life
- given appropriate hygiene measures to ensure that Xylella fastidiosa is not transmitted by tools and equipment
Plane
Plane plants and trees can only enter the UK from EU member states and selected third countries (that is, Albania, Armenia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States of America) if they can meet certain requirements.
Plane plants must have been grown throughout their life in a pest-free area or any EU protected zone in place on the 13 December 2019 and move with a plant passport.
The consignment must show that this requirement is met on the:
- plant passport attached to the plants from an EU member state, including the EPPO code ‘CERAFP’
- phytosanitary certificate from a third country
Elm
Plants of elm can only enter the UK from EU member states and third countries if they have been grown at a place of production where no symptoms have been seen since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation.
The consignment must show that this requirement is met on the:
- plant passport attached to the plants from an EU member state, including the EPPO code ‘PHYPUL’
- phytosanitary certificate from a third country