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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2017 to Question 108716, on trees: imports, what powers the UK Plant Health Authority has to ban imports of trees carrying harmful organisms.

The Plant Health (England) Order 2015 and the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 provide the statutory framework for preventing the introduction of pests and control action in the event of outbreaks and cover many harmful organisms affecting tree health. Similar legislation is in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Under the Orders the import of harmful organisms, plants and plant products that pose a serious plant health risk is prohibited. They also provide for additional measures to be introduced, including a ban on import, where new specific threats are identified or where existing measures have proved deficient.