Where my rosemary goes

The eu committee on plants has agreed to increase protection against the disease Xylella fastidiosa, which has had a devastating impact on plants such as olive trees in europe. The news follows a threat from Defra Minister Michael Gove that, if europe doesn’t tighten up security, imports of any plants potentially carrying the disease—which include rosemary, lavender, olives, oleander and almonds—could be banned. experts say the disease could put Britain’s historic oak trees at risk, as well as its wych elms and planes. The eu’s enhanced protection will come into effect at the end of November. According to Defra, ‘that will include strengthened movement requirements on high-risk plants and require quicker responses to potential findings of the disease’. ‘These increased protections will add to our own efforts to protect our horticulture sector and our famous ancient oaks, which have stood tall and proud for centuries as a national symbol of strength and survival,’ says Mr Gove. ‘While the measures we pressed for will come into force, we will keep the risk level under continuous review to determine if further measures are needed to keep the disease out of the UK.’ Graham Mole