The GB Plant Health Service have introduced legislation here that will come into force from 30 January 2025. Risk assessments are a dynamic process, so all commodities remain under continuous review.

Changes to enhance our biosecurity 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.

Several trade-facilitating changes will also come into force. 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.

Finally, there will be changes to the risk categorisation of certain plants and plant products listed in Annex 11, see the details here. For all other measures, please see a Q&A document for more information.

If you have any comments or questions, email planthealth@defra.gov.uk.