Plant health service

Nearly 90% of Britain's timber requirement comes from abroad, mainly from the Baltic States, Scandinavia, Canada and Russia. A vast range of other commodities are imported into the country every day. Nearly all of these have wooden packing material of one form or another around them. Much of this packaging - or dunnage - is low quality wood which can be a high plant health risk.

Tree pests not currently found in GB but which could easily establish populations in our growing forests may hitch a ride. These pests could kill vast tracts of forest or seriously damage other woodland and amenity trees.

Dutch elm disease is a relatively recent reminder of how such an introduction can dramatically alter the countryside.

To prevent the introduction of new plant pests and control the spread of any already existing here, the Plant Health Service:

• inspects shipments of timber and timber products arriving from countries outside the EU;
• maintains a register of GB traders moving timber and timber products within the EU;
• carries out national surveys of forests to ensure that no new pests have been introduced and to establish the extent or spread of pests here;
• places controls on the movement of timber and timber products from infested areas to non-infested areas within the EU.

Its central office is at the Forestry Commission's HQ in Edinburgh, with three regional offices who support Plant Health Inspectors over the whole of Great Britain.