Plant health: regulatory developments and ministerial evidence

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has updated stakeholders on its work around two emerging pests.

Firstly, officials will not take statutory action against Pochazia shantungensis (Brown winged cicada), despite some concerns being raised through a public consultation.

Secondly, the department has opened a consultation on its risk analysis for Xylosandrus compactus (black coffee twig borer), with comments welcome until 20 August 2025.

Plant health inquiry

Meanwhile, a government minister has given oral evidence to the select committee animal and plant health inquiry, following contributions from industry experts in March.

The industry had expressed concerns around the extra admin and cost associated with the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) – the government’s new approach to import controls.

When questioned, Baroness Hayman of Ullock – a junior minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – acknowledged there are some challenges,

The minister said businesses must be able to manage the costs of getting ready for new systems and the government had delayed the introduction of some measures to help.

UK-EU summit

Since the inquiry session, UK and EU leaders have agreed to ‘work towards’ a so-called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, which may help mitigate the BTOM issues.

Such an agreement promises to remove certificates and controls for the vast majority of plant and plant product trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the EU.