About the UK Plant Health Service
 York Defra building Plant Health HQ |
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Plant Health Division
Plant Health Division (PHD) is a part of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It has policy responsibility for for the
plant health aspects of import and export arrangements applicable to plants,
plant pests, plant produce and soil and growing medium in England and
Wales in conjunction as necessary with Welsh
Assembly Government. (Forest trees/wood/pests are the responsibility
of the Forestry Commission).
PHD is also responsible for the Seed Potato Classification
Scheme (SPCS) and Plant Health Propagation Scheme
(PHPS) and the marketing of ornamental, fruit
and vegetable propagating material.
PHD leads for the UK in international fora and is the 'Single Central
Authority' for plant health under EC legislation.
Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate
The Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI)
also a part of Defra, executes plant health policy in England and Wales.
PHSI carry out import, export, monitoring and survey inspections, issue
phytosanitary certificates and scientific licences for work on prohibited
pests and plants, and phytosanitary certificates for some plant products,
and oversee import controls, plant passporting arrangements and eradication
campaigns. PHSI inspect and certify crops in relation to statutory and
voluntary schemes. PHSI also carry out work on seed certification and
enforcement for Defra's Plant Variety and Seeds Division. The Chief Inspector
works directly to the head of Plant Health Division. There are about 40
local PHSI offices around the country and a headquarters at York. Click
here for details of the PHSI information pack. The PHSI has a Charter
Document and Code of Enforcement available to view online.
Central Science Laboratory
The Plant Health Group of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) provides
scientific support to PHD in the formulation of policy and to PHSI in
its execution. Its scientists assist UK representation in international
fora, carry out assessments of risks from particular pests and commodities,
identify pests on samples submitted by PHSI, and provide advice on interceptions
and outbreaks. CSL carries out a number of research and development projects
linked to the needs of the UK Plant Health Service. CSL is an Executive
Agency of Defra and is located at Sand Hutton, near York. Website: www.csl.gov.uk
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Executive Rural Directorate (SERD)
is responsible for plant health policy and plant and seed certification
within Scotland. SERD play a major part in UK representation on matters
relating to seed potato certification. Scientific support is provided
by the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA). SASA carries out
laboratory testing and pest identification as well as providing advice
on monitoring, interceptions and outbreaks. SASA issues licences for
scientific work on prohibited pests and plants in Scotland and operates
the Potato Quarantine Unit for the UK. The SERD HQ is in Edinburgh.
Website: www.scotland.gov.uk
and www.sasa.gov.uk
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
(Northern Ireland)
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland)
(DARDNI) is responsible for policy, technical and scientific matters relating
to plant health and plant certification within Northern Ireland, including
forestry matters. DARD is based in Belfast. Website: www.dardni.gov.uk
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National Assembly of Wales Agriculture Department
The National Assembly of Wales (NAW) is responsible for policy on the
implementation of plant health measures in Wales. The Agriculture Department
of NAW is in Cardiff. Website: Click
here
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission Plant Health Service is responsible within Great
Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for all matters related to forestry
pests, including inspections of imported forest products, surveys and
eradication and containment programmes. It issues licences for scientific
work on prohibited forest tree pests and plants and phytosanitary certificates
for wood products. Its Forest Research Agency, provides scientific advice
on the control of pests and diseases, represents forestry interests in
certain international fora, carries out pest risk assessments and provides
an identification service for pests and diseases intercepted at points
of entry or at forest survey sites. The Forest Research Agency is also
the official forest tree testing station for Great Britain. The Forestry
Commission HQ is in Edinburgh. Website: www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth
Responsibility for Related Areas of Work
- Pesticides
Policy responsibility for pesticide regulation in the UK is jointly shared
by a number of Government Departments, but the Pesticides Safety Directorate
(PSD) an Executive Agency of Defra takes the lead on agricultural pesticides.
PSD is based at York.
www.pesticides.gov.uk
- Plant variety rights and seed certification
Seed certification (except seed potatoes) in England and Wales and plant
variety rights for the whole of the UK are the responsibility of the Plant
Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division of Defra, which is based at Cambridge.
Technical support is provided by the National Institute of Agricultural
Botany under contract.
www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pvs/default.htm
- Horticultural marketing standards
Marketing standards for horticultural produce in England and Wales are
the responsibility of the Horticulture Division of Defra and the Rural
Payments Agency (RPA) Inspectorate. In Scotland the same responsibility
lies with the Horticulture Division of SEERAD and their Horticultural
Marketing Unit based in Edinburgh. In Northern Ireland the responsibility
lies with DARDNI.
www.rpa.gov.uk
Page last modified:
12 Jul 2007
Page published: 1 Sep 2003