Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028), published on 9 January 2023, what progress his Department has made on exploring new biosecurity measures for high-risk tree imports.

Plant health import controls already include a ban on the highest risk trees (over 30 species are prohibited for import from outside Europe including many native species), and the phytosanitary certification of trees which are permitted for import.

In 2022 Defra concluded a consultation seeking views on additional biosecurity measures for high-risk trees. An analysis of responses indicates broad support from stakeholders for further action in this area.

We are currently exploring opportunities to strengthen controls through further prohibitions and enforced holding in isolation for prescribed periods of time post import, while continuing to take a risk-based approach. This work includes examining the effectiveness, practicality and operational costs to industry and government of a variety of measures, to identify those which provide suitable biosecurity benefits. More rigorous consultation with industry will be undertaken prior to the implementation of any measures.