UK: New regulations incoming for cut rosa flowers

In 2024, the GB Plant Health Service introduced legislation (see here) to enhance biosecurity by updating the existing measures within Annex 7 of the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation against the pests the non-European isolates of Phytophthora ramorum (adding new host plants from Canada and Vietnam), and Thaumatotibia leucotreta (False Codling Moth) (extending hosts to include cut flowers of Rosa from any country of the African continent, Cape Verde, Saint Helena, Madagascar, La Reunion, Mauritius, and Israel).

These provisions will come into force from 26 April 2025. Risk assessments are a dynamic process, so all commodities remain under continuous review

These new regulations require a written advanced declaration of phytosanitary status of the pest in the exporting country to be sent to the UK NPPO prior to trade and apply to all African countries.

In the attached information, there are a range of options available to exporters depending on the Import Requirement Options.

Depending on the option chosen by the country, the UK NPPO may also require a list of place of production free from the pest and/or a systems approach description from the exporting country's NPPO. The latter option may take a few days for DEFRA technical experts to review.

If this information is not provided well in advance of trade it may lead to the consignments being held on arrival until it's provided. Please also note that the phytosanitary certificates will need to contain a new additional declaration regarding this new regulation, depending on the option chosen.

FPC have asked for clarification on the following points: Have exporting NPPOs confirmed adoption, or should the list be published until "go live" to prevent border issues? Since Rosa sp is "free in circulation" after clearing the EU border, does it require a phyto or any additional action?