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<p><em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> is currently not present in the UK but we are taking
a lead in the EU to tighten import and movement controls to protect the country against
its introduction.</p><p>We supplement EU measures with national legislation requiring
notification of certain imports, allowing the Animal and Plant Health Agency to build
intelligence about such trades and carry out targeted inspections. The notification
requirements were strengthened in 2018 through the inclusion of olive trees, following
an interception in Belgium of <em>Xylella</em> on olive trees imported from Spain.</p><p>We
have also successfully pressed the case for stronger requirements at an EU level against
certain high risk hosts for this disease, with supplementary measures also now in
place against <em>Polygala myrtifolia</em>. Under the leadership of Defra’s Chief
Plant Health Officer, Nicola Spence, we are continuously reviewing new developments
to determine whether additional measures are required.</p><p>We have a surveillance
programme in place targeting imports and businesses trading in hosts from within the
EU, as well as inspections in the wider environment.</p><p>We are also taking action
with UK industry to raise awareness, resulting in nurseries and garden centres committing
not to bring <em>Xylella</em> host plants into the UK from EU regions where the disease
is present, and employing careful sourcing, traceability and good hygiene measures.</p>
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