In January 2025, Great Britain’s Plant Health Services propose to introduce new pest measures to come into force from 30 January 2025.

We propose to introduce legislative changes to enhance our biosecurity. The proposed changes include:

• Regulating a new Quarantine Pest, Heterobasidion irregulare, that attacks a wide range of coniferous trees.
• Adding specific import requirements for an existing Quarantine Pest, Popillia japonica (known as the Japanese beetle).
• Providing requirements for certain imported plants for planting to have been grown on a nursery and subject to inspections prior to export.

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

• Providing an additional option for the import of certain plants of Capsicum (pepper) species.
• Carrying out technical updates to clarify or correct the legislation.

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, email planthealth@defra.gov.uk.