Since the year 2000, more than double the number of tree diseases have entered the UK than the whole of the past century. That we learnt recently from Louise Gray of the Telegraph, who is taking a break from extolling the virtues of making ourselves bankrupt over climate change.

Separately, the BBC tells us that a nursery forced to destroy 50,000 ash trees after dieback fungal disease was found is considering taking legal action against the government for failing to block imports sooner.

These two issues are, of course related in that we are no longer masters of our own domain – plant health and the trade in plants and plant products is entirely an EU competence and governed exclusively by EU law. We are no longer able to define our controls and rely entirely on systems agreed in Brussels.

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We do need a complete rethink.....and on more than just this issue, it certainly is a great example of why we should be doing this type of thing for ourselves ...again well done for highlighting this.

Edited by user 05 November 2012 17:10:32(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

More EU diktat and pure shi*e.

Britain into Europe - will not go.

Is there not, a copper sulphate based solution [which is known to be effective against horse chestnut bleeding canker] based cure-all ready to be tested on Ash trees?

And if it is [efficacious or some protection at least] - why aren't Defra breaking records to test the damn stuff and ultimately, even daubing it on trees untested - anything is better than the government [defra inspired] inertia of panic and which will lead to eventual overreaction and mass deforestation by government order.

In the end, why do we import Ash tree saplings?

I will never understand why the gardners fascination with imported species [OK I like Araucaria, Redwood and Scots Pine], bring with them the potential pest bearing trees.

Trees are prone to infection when they are weakened by environmental stresses and we've experienced droughts and very cold winters lately. I wondered if infected ash could be coppiced to remove affected wood and apply fungicide more easily to the stool but Hungarian research suggests that young growth is most susceptible to dieback. It looks as though the best treatment will be better weather and propagation from resistant stock.

The UK could leave the EU and rely on the IPPC 1997 which it enacted by The Plant Health (Forestry) Order in 2005 via an EU Directive of 2000. Plant material entering the UK can be inspected provided it originates outside of the EU, but intra EU imports rely on generation of plant passports by inspectors in the country of origin and of course our colleagues are all "up to scratch".

Edited by user 05 November 2012 20:59:47(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Australia's border control regime is as much about trade protection for Aussie producers as it is concern for keeping diseases out and is probably much more heavy-handed than it need be. I'm not convinced that it is at all necessary to fine visitors who have an uneaten orange in their hand luggage in order to keep the country safe from pests and diseases.