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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.