Update on imports of Prunus laurocerasus
Last week BALI was asked by a member to investigate an issue which had arisen regarding imports of Prunus from the European Union destined for the UK. Reports suggested some imports were temporarily prohibited.
Defra have since issued a document which confirms an issue an arisen which temporarily affected imports of Prunus laurocerasus for planting.
Item 76 of The Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020) requires plants for planting (other than seeds) of Prunus l. to be accompanied by a statement which guarantees they are free from the bacterium ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ‘pruni’ (16SrIII-A) Davis, Zhao, Dally, Lee, Jomantiene & Douglas’. BALI is led to believe consignments of Prunus laurocerasus were prohibited from movement due to a lack of this official statement.
Defra have advised GB will now accept such plants which:
- originate in an area which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, is known to be free from Candidatus Phytoplasma ‘pruni’ (16SrIII-A) Davis, Zhao, Dally, Lee, Jomantiene & Douglas;
or
- that no symptoms of diseases caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma ‘pruni’ (16SrIII-A) Davis, Zhao, Dally, Lee, Jomantiene & Douglas have been observed on the plants at the place of production, or on susceptible plants in its immediate vicinity, since the beginning of the last three complete cycles of vegetation.