EU accused of ‘bullying’ over plant importation restrictions

BRUSSELS has been accused of “outrageous” bullying after ordering the UK to lift national restrictions aimed at stopping one of the world’s most harmful plant diseases entering the country from mainland Europe.

Failure to keep out the pest threatened to have a devastating impact on the nation’s trees and shrubs, peers heard at Westminster.

The Government said the action taken by the European Commission requiring the repeal of Britain’s strict import measures on certain high-risk host plants, including olive, lavender and rosemary, was “a mistake” and the EU should be concerned about the spread of Xylella fastidiosa.

While no longer a member of the EU following Brexit, the UK continues to be subject to the bloc’s rules during the transition period.

Surveillance, inspection and testing had been stepped up in response to the biosecurity threat, the House of Lords was told.

While the bacteria has so far been kept out of the UK, there have been major outbreaks in Europe and there are fears about the risk of its introduction through infected plants being imported into Britain.

Xylella infects a wide range of plants including many popular species grown in gardens, including cherry, lavender and rosemary.

It is transmitted between plants via insects that feed on plant sap.

Speaking at Westminster, biosecurity minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble said: “In April, Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) introduced national measures imposing stringent import requirements to protect the UK from Xylella fastidiosa. The (European) Commission reviewed the measures and in June published legislation requiring their revocation.

“We disagree with the EU’s conclusions. The biosecurity threat from Xylella remains and therefore the reason for introducing national measures has not changed.”

Tory peer and former Commons deputy speaker Lord Framlingham asked: “Does he agree with me that it is quite outrageous for the EU Commission to bully us in this way given the gravity of the situation? Xylella fastidiosa is now present in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal and has been traded on plants in Germany and Belgium.

“It will have a devastating effect on our trees and shrubs if we fail to keep it out.”

Lord King of Bridgwater said relaxing restrictions threatened to be “quite catastrophic”.