DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (405/07) issued by
The Government News Network on 5 November 2007
Defra and the
horticultural and agricultural industries have today published a
new study into plant health threats to the UK, which will provide
an evidence base against which future policy can be considered.
The study, conducted by Imperial College, London, was jointly
funded by the Government and industry. It looks at responsibility
and cost sharing options for dealing with plant health threats.
The report also looks to the future and identifies that the risk
of new plant pests and diseases being introduced to the country is
likely to increase with the impacts of climate change,
globalisation of trade and travel, and the evolution of new diseases.
Commenting on the study Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable
Food and Farming and Animal Health, said:
"The need to deal effectively with threats to horticulture,
agriculture and the wider environment from plant pests and
diseases is an ongoing challenge. I therefore welcome this joint
study which sets out a range of issues to be addressed in
developing future policy.
"This study recognises the good work and co-operation that
already exists between Government and the industry but underlines
the need for increased partnership working to address these
threats. We will therefore need to continue working with the
industry to take this agenda forward."
Speaking on behalf of the industry partners, NFU Vice President
Paul Temple said:
"This report is hugely important for the industry and a
positive step forward. The prospects of UK growers being affected
by plant health outbreaks is becoming more of a question of
'when' not 'if' so it's vitally important
the industry and Government work together to tackle these issues.
"The report makes it clear there is no 'one size fits
all' solution because of the diversity of the industry and
the threats it faces. We welcome the call for greater cooperation
between Government and industry on this issue and look forward to
developing relationships to allow genuine sharing in the delivery
of future quarantine plant health solutions."
The study can be seen on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/share.htm
and is also available from the industry partners.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Imperial Consulting Ltd were commissioned to undertake a study
to develop and evaluate options for sharing responsibilities and
costs of plant health threats to the UK by:
* Defra;
* the
Scottish Government;
* the Welsh Assembly Government;
*
the National Farmers' Union;
* the National Farmers'
Union Scotland;
* the Horticultural Trades Association;
*
the Horticultural Development Council;
* the Home Grown
Cereals Authority;
* the Royal Horticultural Society;
and
* the British Potato Council
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
To subscribe
or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to: http://www.gnn.gov.uk/
Once on the GNN website see Sign up
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website
http://www.defra.gov.uk