Eradication and containment measures required against findings of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae

The following eradication and containment action will be required under official notice against all findings of Phytophthora ramorum. Similar measures will also be required against all findings of Phytophthora kernoviae.

Nurseries and retail premises

• Destruction by burning or deep burial (infected plants, susceptible plants within a 2m radius of infected plants and associated plant debris).
• Disinfection of surfaces.
• Disinfection of pots.
• Prohibition on movement of susceptible plants within a 10 m radius of infected plants and remaining plants in infected lot for at least 3 months.
• Prohibition on use of Phytophthora fungicides during the holding period.
• Advise the cessation of overhead irrigation.
• Trace-back and trace-forward of related plant material.
• An intensive inspection regime involving fortnightly visual inspections, quarterly random sampling of susceptible hosts and quaterly water baiting.

Parks, gardens and uncultivated land

• Prohibition on movement of the infected plant and parts of the plant (e.g. must not be used for propagation purposes or foliage purposes).
• Destruction by burning or deep burial (infected plants, susceptible plants within an appropriate cordon sanitaire and associated plant debris). No planting of susceptible hosts within 4m for 3 years.
• Prevention of regrowth.
• For infected trees, felling or pruning will be required depending on the part of the tree infected and the extent of infection.
• Measures must be taken to prevent re-infection at the site (e.g. prohibition on planting susceptible plants in contaminated soil, removal or sterilisation of contaminated soil).
• A protocol of biodiversity measures specific to each site.
• A regular programme of surveillance.

Division of responsibilities

Fera, on behalf of Defra, has overall policy and legislative responsibility for Phytophthora ramorum relating to plants and plant produce in GB; liaison with direct stakeholders and interested parties at national level and for coordination of action across Defra. Fera Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors (PHSI) are responsible for enforcing all aspects of the policy; carrying out inspections, surveys, eradication campaigns and liaison with local Government and stakeholders. The Fera laboratory provides scientific and technical advice/support and carries out research and provides diagnostic services.

The Forestry Commission's Plant Health Service has overall policy and legislative responsibility for all aspects of P. ramorum relating to forest trees and wood. Forest Research (an agency of FC) is responsible for research, scientific advice and diagnosis of P. ramorum on trees Its Technical Support Unit carries out woodland surveys. For information on the measures undertaken by the Forestry Commission and further guidance on the symptoms of the pathogen in trees please refer to the Forestry Commission website.

In February 2003 an interdepartmental Phytophthora ramorum Programme Board was formed with representatives from Defra, the Forestry Commission and the then Scottish Executive, together with their scientific support agencies. The renamed Phytophthora Programme Board is responsible for co-ordinating action against P. ramorum and P. kernoviae and commissioning associated research. It is advised by a number of sub committees, including an Industry Liaison Group.