Assurance, Compliance & Plant Health

Your safety net

We're here to offer HTA members with a reference point for legal and other compliance and assurance issues that affect horticulture.

We liaise with a range of external stakeholders including APHA, AHDB, PHSI and Defra, as well as other central government departments, to provide or signpost accurate and up to date information. We also work with specialist consultants to provide you with expert knowledge.

Advice on specialist legal or technical areas relevant to your business can be found via our Advice Lines, while we also offer industry-specific Business Insurance via our partner Towergate Insurance.

With regard to Plant Health specifically, we provide background information on relevant issues and initiatives, and more information can be found below.

If you would like more information, or have any queries regarding assurance, compliance and / or plant health, please contact the HTA via email or telephone.

Buying Responsibly with Pippa Greenwood

Plant Health

Oak Processionary Moth

OPM is a species of moth whose larvae (caterpillars) feed and live on Oak trees. As the caterpillars move down the tree from the nest they strip the leaves and weaken the Oak. The caterpillars are covered in hairs which can also pose a threat to human health. Therefore, we remind members to use constant vigilance when moving and planting oaks to ensure they are OPM free.

Oak Processionary Moth (OPM)

Plant Health

Plant Healthy

If you are a grower, garden retailer or landscaper you can visit the Plant Healthy website (planthealthy.org.uk) to find useful information about plant health and a self-assessment tool to help you assess how 'Plant Healthy' your business is. There are pointers on how your business can improve based on the Plant Health Management Standard - a set of practical requirements for businesses to help protect the horticultural supply chain.

Plant Healthy

Plant Health

Plant Health Certification Scheme (PHCS)

In response to the critical threat posed by Xylella fastidiosa and other plant health risks, HTA and our partners are developing the PHCS. It is being designed to mitigate, protect, and potentially compensate horticulture businesses from the risks posed by a serious plant health incident.

Plant Health

Pine Processionary Moth

Pine Processionary Moth (PPM) larvae, (i.e. caterpillars) are a serious pest in Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East, and have been breeding as far north as Paris. As PPM has been intercepted in the UK in recent times (early 2022) on imported trees it’s essential to remain vigilant especially if you import or plant mature pine trees.

Pine Processionary Moth (PPM)

Plant Health

Plant Passporting

Every plant traded into and around the UK needs to travel with a plant passport. Businesses involved in selling to other businesses, partnerships or sole traders need to be authorised to issue plant passports and need to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to enable them to do so.

Plant Passporting

Plant Health

Xylella Fastidiosa

Xylella Fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant diseases in the world. It can cause severe losses in a wide range of hosts and there would be a massive impact on the plant trade across all business sectors in the event of an outbreak in the UK.

Xylella fastidiosa