Great Britain’s Plant Health Service propose to introduce new pest measures to come into force from 30 November 2025.

We propose to introduce legislative changes to enhance our biosecurity. 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.  

We also have several trade-facilitating changes proposed. These include:

• Deregulating Helicoverpa armigera (known as the cotton bollworm) and withdrawing its specific import requirements. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing (please see here).
• Deregulating bark beetles, Dendroctonus micans (Great spruce bark beetle) and Ips cembrae (Large larch bark beetle), currently regulated as Pest Free Area quarantine pests.
• Carrying out a technical update to a pest name (from Ennomos subsignarius to Ennomos subsignaria) in the legislation.

Finally, the Plant Health Service propose to clarify an import requirement for the medium-risk host plants of Xylella fastidiosa (Xylella). This single measure would come into force from 6 May 2026.

Please see a Q&A document as well as a summary of the main legislative changes proposed for more information.

The WTO will be notified shortly of the proposals. If you have any comments or questions, please email planthealth@defra.gov.uk.