Seeds: Imports
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
David Drew (Stroud, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which countries his Department permits the import of ash seedlings and transplants.
Huw Irranca-Davies (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine and Natural Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ogmore, Labour)
Seedlings and transplants of the genus Fraxinus L (Ash) may be imported into the UK from any country provided that they meet the requirements of the EC Plant Health Directive (2000/29/EC). The directive requires that ash seedlings and transplants imported from a third country must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, to confirm that specific conditions have been met, such as freedom from certain pests and diseases, soil, plant debris, leaves, flowers and fruit. Plants are also checked at import by inspectors from the Food and Environment Research Agency (in England and Wales). When ash seedlings and transplants are introduced from another EU member state they must be from a place of production known to be free from certain pests and diseases.
If the ash seedlings and transplants are intended for forestry purposes, then the requirements of the Forest Reproductive Materials Directive 1999/105/EC would also apply. These are the responsibility of the Forestry Commission in Great Britain.