Plant Health in Scotland J. Chard Plant Biosecurity and Inspections Branch, SASA

Summary UK Plant Health Service Plant health in Scotland Official activities Working with stakeholders Research and evidence Centre of Expertise Some issues Anoplophora chinensis, Citrus longhorn beetle

UK Plant Health Service Makes up the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) Defra – leads for UK on international plant health issues, includes APHA and commissions scientific services from Fera Scottish Government - includes RPID, SASA and FCS Forestry Commission – includes FC Cross Border, FCS, FCE and FR Welsh Government – includes NRW DARDNI – includes AFBI.

Plant health is devolved Plant Health Act 1967 splits responsibility between England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Strong partnerships across the UK (the NPPO). Coordinated approach means we work more effectively and efficiently. Pests and diseases don’t respect boundaries. Devolved responsibilities allow distinctive priorities to be developed. The Scottish Parliament Photograph ©2006 Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

UK governance Strategic UK Plant Health Service Coordination Meetings Plant Health Evidence Group Operational / pest management Plant Health Risk Group Outbreak Management Teams Advisory UK Plant Health Advisory Forum GB and NI Tree Health Advisory Group

UK/GB actions Representing UK in Europe and internationally Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain Development of the UK Plant Health Risk Register Official actions – e.g. inspections, certification eradication, containment, control, exports Contingency planning

Plant Health in Scotland Policy - Policy - Evidence & Analysis Inspectorate - Import Inspections - Export Certification - Surveillance Scientific Support - Diagnostics - Research Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture Forest Research [CoE] Plant Health Policy Forestry Commission Scotland Forestry Commission Cross Border RESAS (Rural and Env. Science and Analytical Services) Horticulture & Marketing Unit Rural Payment & Inspections Forestry Inspectorates

Official activities Monthly UK Plant Health Risk Group meetings Developing the Scottish Plant Health Strategy Contingency planning – SG generic plan, specific plans for tree and other priority pests Official inspections – tree nurseries, wood imports, WPM Surveillance for quarantine pests and harmful organisms Eradication, containment, management of pests Research and evidence

Official activities cont. Stakeholder engagement and services Workshops, shows Scottish Tree Health Advisory Group (STHAG) Tree health diagnostic and advisory service, Observatree, Tree Alert Publications, web sites, communications

STHAG – working with stakeholders Action Plans Dothistroma needle blight Ramorum on larch Chalara action plan for Scotland Sub-groups Plant production Sustainable forest management Wood use and processing

Research and evidence Ensure all activity is underpinned by robust evidence, sharing evidence and knowledge. Research by official services (SASA and FR) e.g. via work programmes / EUPHRESCO projects. Underpinning research provided by the Strategic Research Programme and the Forest Research Programme. Specific research projects commissioned through LWEC, the Contract Research Fund and FCS. Scottish Centre of Expertise for Plant Health (proposed). Sources of evidence also includes work done by Scottish organisations such as JHI, SRUC, RBGE, SNH, universities and the public.

Centre of Expertise for Plant Health Initiated in September 2014 – identified a need for a whole systems approach. Experts Group set up with input from policy and research providers. Capability and capacity review during 2015 based on questionnaires to identify existing skills and facilities and policy needs. Business case under development. Aim for a tender to be issued in early 2016.

Draft Scottish Plant Health Strategy Key elements: Risk-based decision making Increased awareness and involvement The plant health continuum Pre-border measures Border measures Inland measures and intra-EU trade Evidence Capability and capacity Stakeholder workshop – 14th December Publication early 2016.

Some issues Taxonomy e.g. are pests indigenous? - Chalara, pine lappet moth Surveillance difficulty in inspecting large trees, asymptomatic plants (infection not currently visible), detecting unknowns vs. surveillance for listed pests Diagnostics cost, sensitivity, ease of use.