Department Announces New Plant Health Controls for Sudden Oak Death
Please Note:
The information contained in this Press Release may no longer be valid. The information is maintained on this website for reference purposes only.
16 August 2002
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development today announced new control measures to protect trees and shrubs from a potential new disease.
Phytophthora ramorum is the fungus causing sudden death of oak trees in California and dieback of viburnum and rhododendron plants in several European countries. The pest is not established in the UK and it is not known to what extent it could affect trees and plants here. In order to reduce the risk of infestation, new legislation has been made to regulate the importation and movement of plant material identified as susceptible to the pest.
Under the new arrangements a number of plant genera including Rhododendron and Viburnum can only be imported directly from the USA (whether for private or commercial use) if the material is accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which confirms the material originates from an area that is officially free from the pest.
Commercial movements of susceptible material into Northern Ireland, whether from elsewhere in the UK or European Community, must be notified to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by the occupier of any premises within three days of taking delivery. The legislation requires disclosure of details of the origin of the material, date and means of delivery, and other facts relevant to the production, quantity, and location of the material.
Sudden Oak Death is a notifiable disease and anyone who suspects the presence of the fungus on their premises must notify the Department immediately. The contact point for these notifications is:
Quality Assurance Division
Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Room 115
Magnet House
81-93 York Street
Belfast BT15 1AB
Telephone: 028 9054 7106
Fax: 028 9054 7204
E-mail: j.mcintrye@dardni.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
1. The new legislation is entitled The Plant Health (Phytophthora ramorum) Order (NI) 2002; Statutory Rule 2002 No.269 and is similar to protective measures introduced recently in other parts of the UK.
2. The Phytophthora ramorum fungus has been found infecting Rhododendron and Viburnum in the Netherlands and Germany and the UK government has urged the Commission to carry out surveys of potential host material and report on the findings.
3. Susceptible material includes all species of the genera:
Acer
Aesculus
Arbutus
Arctostaphylos
Heteromeles
Lonicera
Rhamnus
Rhododendron
Umbellularia
Vaccinium
Viburnum
4. Under the legislation offences are created in respect of the contravention of, or failure to comply with, notification requirements.
