Provender Nurseries Biosecurity and Plant Health Policy

This document outlines Provender Nurseries policy on biosecurity and plant health.  We take all aspects of bio-security and plant health very seriously.  This document will be reviewed on an annual basis, or if there are significant changes to plant health legislations.

Objective

At Provender Nurseries, the Nursery, Production and Biosecurity Manager is the dedicated person responsible for the biosecurity, plant health, and is APHA’s direct contact within the business. They keep up to date with all the latest legislations and changes for importing stock from European and non-European countries to reduce the risk of bringing in and spreading any regulated pest and diseases. Provender Nurseries has a wide range of plant suppliers and carries out yearly visits to hand pick the stock to bring it in.

As an importer, we are required by law to notify APHA (part of DEFRA organization) when importing certain stock lines. Our plant labels contain the SRSF plant passport label box, plant passport number, required PFA (Pest Free Area’s) codes, and the supplier countries code. Our plants can be traced forward to all of our customers and traced back to the supplier / country. All stock is checked internally by our nursery manager on arrival and before the delivery takes place. Due to changing government legislation and the increased buffer zone for the Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) outbreak, Provender Nurseries will review each sale of Oak trees on a sale-by-sale basis and may refuse sale of Oak trees to ensure compliance with guidelines and protect customers and the environment.

Plants for customer orders are held on site for 3 working days prior to release for delivery/collection to allow the plant health inspector to inspect the plants.

Training and Education

Provender Nurseries conducts staff training regularly throughout the year, either internally or with our APHA inspector, to ensure awareness of biosecurity and plant health. We also educate customers about the efforts involved in biosecurity and plant health and explain any potential delays in stock deliveries.

How Provender Nurseries Plan on Achieving its Biosecurity and Plant Health Policy

• Provender Nurseries directors and management team working closely together and sharing responsibilities.
• Involving all staff from full-time, part-time, student work experience, office to nursery staff in the policy.
• Continued staff training and development.
• Compliance with all new and old legislation brought in by government bodies.
• Regular review of this Policy.
• Membership of trade bodies, BALI and HTA.
• Carrying out “Pest Risk Analysis” on the plant species we hold to mitigate the risk of spreading pest and disease.
• Member of the Plant Healthy Certification.

Implementation of the Biosecurity and Plant Health Policy

• Attend any training courses held internally or externally.
• Be mindful of any problems around the site and report them to the nursery manager.
• Clean all tools after use to avoid any spread of diseases.
• Use extra care whilst unloading deliveries.
• Check for any biosecurity and plant health issues.
• Keep accurate records when any stock is sold or wasted , and record the reasons why they were wasted.
• Keep up to date on the changes in policies internally and government policies, by reading memos and asking questions.