Plant Health Alliance Five-Year Plan

We were pleased to announce on the 9th January 2023 the launch of the Plant Health Alliance's Five-Year Plan in the same week that the new Plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028) is published. The publication of this five-year plan is in unison with the new GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy as both initiatives are based on the principle of shared responsibility and have the same overarching aim. Please see the link below to the new GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy:

Plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028)

Firstly, well done to all who have been involved in the production of the new Plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain, it is another important step forward in the drive to protect our native and cultivated flora and it demonstrates the considerable progress that has taken place since the publication of the first strategy in 2014.

Proposed in the 2014 strategy was the development of a new Standard for plant biosecurity and a certification scheme with a mark (i.e. Plant Healthy logo) to demonstrate responsible sourcing practices. As such the Plant Heath Alliance's Five-Year Plan aligns with the new strategy, as the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme was launched based on recommendations in the 2014 strategy.

In the new strategy there is a Plant Healthy Certification Scheme case study that describes a Plant Healthy certified member's experience of becoming certified and the added assurances that adopting all of the requirements of the Plant Health Management Standard provides. Additionally, the Alliance's Five-Year Plan sets out the Alliance's commitment to continually improving the requirements of the Plant Health Management Standard through 'standard setting', a process that is detailed on the Plant Healthy website. This continual development to improve the freely available Plant Health Management Standard is vital area of focus. This work will ensure that a phased roll-out of a biosecure requirement across government grants and contracts will be based on state-of-the-art biosecurity requirements that are designed to align with and extend beyond regulatory measures and in doing so further minimise the risk from notifiable plant pests.

Thank you again to all Plant Health Alliance Steering Group members and to all scheme members, applicants and other stakeholders who have engaged in the design, development and delivery of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme.