Import bans on either poinsettia or Christmas cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum) are not on the cards although some consignments from the Netherlands were temporarily blocked from entering the UK at the end of the first week of November.
Both crops are hosts of the whitefly pest Bemisia tabaci which is of particular concern to UK tomato growers because of the viruses it can carry. It is a UK ‘zero tolerance’ quarantine pest though is widespread in the European glasshouse industry.
The Dutch body responsible for plant health, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), says it was told the number of B. tabaci interceptions on the two pot plant species arriving from the Netherlands was ‘too high’ and that the UK would consider further measures ‘if improvements are not forthcoming’. Since mid-October NVWA has stepped up inspections on both crops destined for the UK and admitted that interceptions had ‘increased sharply in recent weeks’.
Defra said some poinsettia plants had been held after they arrived without the necessary biosecurity declarations, as is standard practice for plant imports, but that those found free from harmful pests after official inspection would be released.
“We are in regular contact with Dutch officials and are issuing further guidance to ensure future consignments are compliant and trade can resume as normal in the run-up to Christmas,” it added.
The HTA said it understood the consignments were held temporarily because of incorrect ‘additional declarations’ on phytosanitary certificates.
Read more news and features from the protected crop industry in our monthly publication The Commercial Greenhouse Grower.