Plant Pests & Diseases

Under plant health legislation, a number of plant pests and diseases are classified as quarantine organisms and are therefore subject to statutory control. Identification material are available on a number of these pests and diseases. A number of identification material and informative guides are available. See also Plant Clinic News, our topical monthly newsletter covering the latest pests and diseases identified in Fera's Plant Clinic.

Visit our What's new page to stay in touch with the latest findings and new developments to come from the Plant Health teams at Fera.

Consultation on Pest Risk Management

Growers and gardeners are invited to comment on the pest risk analyses (PRA), which are carried out on new threats to our crops, gardens and wild plants.

Every year a number of significant new pest or disease risks are identified, as a result of findings in other countries or interceptions on imported plants and produce. Comments are invited on the best risk management options: whether there should be any statutory controls and if so what those should be. The results of these consultations will be taken into account in the action against interceptions and outbreaks and in our requests to the EC's Standing Committee on Plant Health, and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) for any changes we think are needed to plant health rules across Europe. Defra's approach to Pest Risk Analysis is explained here.

Anyone who would like to be sent an e-mail when new pest risk analyses are loaded onto the website, should send their e-mail address to