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  2. The Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

The Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025

Published: Fri 7th Nov 25

These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Welsh and Scottish Ministers under powers derived from EU Regulation 2016/2031, amend the existing UK Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (EU 2019/2072) by modifying several annexes concerning quarantine pests and import controls.

The primary effect is the addition of new fungi and insects to the GB quarantine pest lists, the removal of others, the clarification of special requirements for importing certain plants from third countries (notably concerning *Toumeyella parvicornis* and *Xylella fastidiosa*), and the addition of a plant species requiring a UK plant passport for internal movement.

Arguments For

  • Supports national biosecurity by updating the list of pests considered quarantine risks for Great Britain, adding new threats like Heterobasidion occidentale, Agrilus horni, and Toumeyella parvicornis.

  • Clarifies and updates specific import requirements (special requirements and phytosanitary certificates) for certain plants and plant products originating from third countries, specifically concerning pests like Helicoverpa armigera and Xylella fastidiosa.

  • Improves administrative clarity by correcting nomenclature (e.g., Ennomos subsignarius to Ennomos subsignaria) and aligning regulatory lists, ensuring consistent application across Great Britain.

  • Extends protective measures within Great Britain by adding Solanum sisymbriifolium seed to the list requiring a UK plant passport for internal movement.

Arguments Against

  • Changes to quarantine pest lists may disrupt existing trade flows or supply chains for specific plant materials that previously did not require heightened scrutiny but are now affected by the addition or removal of pests.

  • The delayed commencement date for the amendment regarding Xylella fastidiosa (May 6, 2026) may create a temporary misalignment in import requirements between the main commencement and the specific provision adjustment.

  • Removing certain pests, such as Helicoverpa armigera or Dendroctonus micans and Ips cembrae from quarantine lists might be perceived as lowering protection against known threats if the underlying pest status outside Great Britain has not sufficiently changed.

  • The minor nature of the changes suggests ongoing administrative adjustment rather than a major update, potentially increasing regulatory burden without commensurate immediate biosecurity gain.

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 5(3), 30(1), 32(3), 41(3), 72(3) and 105(6) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants1 (“the Plant Health Regulation”).

In accordance with Article 2a(2) of the Plant Health Regulation, the Secretary of State makes these Regulations with the consent of the Welsh Ministers and the Scottish Ministers.

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

(2)

They come into force on 30th November 2025, subject to paragraph (3).

(3)

Paragraph (5)(b) of regulation 2 comes into force on 6th May 2026.

(4)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

(5)

In these Regulations, “the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants2.

Amendments to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation2.

(1)

The Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation is amended as follows.

(2)

In Annex 2 (list of GB quarantine pests)3, in Part A (pests not known to occur in Great Britain)—

(a)

under the heading “B. Fungi and oomycetes”, after entry 21A, insert—

“21B.

Heterobasidion occidentale Otrosina & Garbelotto [HETEOC] ”;

(b)

under the heading “C. Insects and mites”—

(i)

after entry 11B, insert—

“11C.

Agrilus horni Kerremans [AGRLHO] ”;

(ii)

omit entry 63;

(iii)

after entry 124, insert—

“124A.

Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) [TOUMPA] ”.

(3)

In Annex 2A (list of provisional GB quarantine pests)4—

(a)

under the heading “A. Fungi and oomycetes”, omit entry 2A;

(b)

under the heading “B. Insects and mites”—

(i)

omit entry 1A;

(ii)

in entry 4E, for “Ennomossubsignarius [ENNOSU]” substitute “Ennomossubsignaria (Hübner) [ENNOSU]”;

(iii)

after entry 5ZA, insert—

“5ZAA.

Homona magnanima Dyakonov [HOMOMA] ”;

(iv)

omit entry 15.

(4)

In Annex 3 (list of PFA quarantine pests and GB pest-free areas)5, omit entries 1 and 2.

(5)

In Annex 7 (list of plants, plant products and other objects originating from third countries and the corresponding special requirements for their introduction into Great Britain)6—

(a)

in Part A (plants, plant products and other objects originating in third countries which may only be introduced into Great Britain if special requirements are met), in the table—

(i)

in entry 38, in the third column—

(aa)

in point (a), omit “Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and”;

(bb)

in point (b), omit “Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) or”;

(cc)

in point (c), for “those pests” substitute “this pest”;

(ii)

after entry 58, insert—

“58A.

Plants, other than seeds, pollen and plants in tissue culture, of Pinus spp.

Any third country

The plants must be accompanied by:

(a) an official statement that they have been grown throughout their life in a country where Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) is known not to occur,

(b) an official statement that:

(i) they have been grown throughout their life in an area* established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM4 as an area that is free from Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell), and

(ii) immediately prior to export, the plants have been inspected and found free from Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell), or

(c) an official statement that:

(i) they have been grown during a period of at least one year prior to export, or, in the case of plants younger than one year, throughout their life, in a place of production:

(aa) which has been established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM10 as a place of production that is free from Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell),

(bb) which is registered and supervised by the national plant protection organisation in the country of origin,

(cc) which has been subjected annually to two official inspections for any signs of Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) carried out at appropriate times, and

(dd) within which they have been grown in a site with complete physical protection against the introduction of Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell), and

(ii) immediately prior to export, the plants have been subjected to a meticulous inspection for the presence of Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell).

*The name(s) of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”.”;

(iii)

in each of the entries 109, 110 and 111, in the second column, at the beginning insert “Armenia,”;

(iv)

in entry 115, in the second column, omit “Armenia,”.

(b)

in Part B (plants, plant products and other objects originating in third countries which are subject to emergency measures and may only be introduced into Great Britain if special requirements are met), in the table, in entry 2, in the third column—

(i)

in point (b), after “area” the first time it occurs, insert *;

(ii)

in point (c), after “area” omit “*”.

(6)

In Annex 11 (list of plants, plant products and other objects and the respective third countries of origin or dispatch in respect of which phytosanitary certificates are required)7, in Part A (list of plants, plant products and other objects and the respective third countries of origin or dispatch, which may not be introduced into Great Britain unless they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, as referred to in Article 72(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031), in the table, in each of the entries 45 and 45A, in the third column, omit “Armenia,”.

(7)

In Annex 13 (list of plants, plant products and other objects for which a UK plant passport is required for their movement within Great Britain or for their introduction into Great Britain from a CD territory)8, in entry 3, after point (d), insert—

(e)

Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam.”.

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