Managing Invasive Species: UK's Biological Security Strategy

Earlier this month the UK Biological Security Strategy was launched.  The strategy aims to ensure that, by 2030, the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats.  This will be accomplished by implementing a UK-wide approach to biosecurity.  

The Strategy describes the four pillars of response to biological risks:

• Understand the biological risks we face today and could face in the future
• Prevent biological risks from emerging (where possible) or from threatening the UK and UK interests
• Detect, characterise and report biological risks when they do emerge as early and reliably as possible
• Respond to biological risks that have reached the UK or UK interests to lessen their impact and to enable a rapid return to business as usual.

Targeting animal and plant diseases represents an integral part of the strategy.  Invasive non-native species are cited as one of the biggest threats to global biodiversity, which cost the Great Britain economy nearly £1.9 billion per annum in direct costs.  

The strategy refers to measures which will protect plant health and, in particular, new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures which will be introduced at the border.  Goods subject to SOS measures will be segmented across three categories of risk, each with a proportionate level of controls.

The Association will update members with details as they are revealed.

Further reading
Policy paper: UK Biological Security Strategy