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

Our objective is to supply the highest quality plants. We therefore carry out regular site visits to our suppliers to hand pick stock, assess their biosecurity standards, and conduct our own pest risk analysis.

Roles and Responsibilities

At Provender Nurseries, the Site Operations Manager is the dedicated person responsible for importing, biosecurity, and plant health, and acts as APHA’s direct contact within the business. The Site Operations Manager stays up to date with changes in legislation and import regulations for both European and non-European stock, helps mitigate risks from regulated pests and diseases, and ensures all staff are informed of their responsibilities regarding biosecurity and plant health.

Provender Nurseries sources stock from a wide range of suppliers. Yearly visits are conducted to hand pick stock and ensure supplier standards. A dedicated Control Point, located at our site in Swanley, is used for clearing all non-UK plant deliveries with APHA, Border Force, and HMRC.

Import Procedures and Traceability

As an importer, Provender Nurseries is required by law to notify APHA (part of the DEFRA organisation) when importing specific stock lines. All plant labels include the SRSF plant passport label box with plant passport number, any required Pest Free Area (PFA) codes, and supplier country codes.

Plants can be traced both forward to customers and back to the supplier or country of origin. Upon arrival and before delivery, all stock is internally checked by the Nursery Manager and technicians. For customer orders, plants are held on site for 3 working days prior to release to allow for inspection by a plant health inspector.

Due to evolving government legislation and the expanded buffer zone for the Oak Processionary Moth (OPM), each Oak tree sale is assessed individually to ensure compliance with government guidelines. We may refuse sale to protect customers and the environment.

Training and Education

Staff training is conducted regularly throughout the year, either internally or by our APHA inspector. Educating our customers is equally important—we inform them about the work behind the scenes and explain any potential delays due to biosecurity measures.

How Provender Nurseries Plans to Achieve This Policy

• Directors and management sharing responsibilities and discussing biosecurity at management meetings.

• Involving all staff—full-time, part-time, students, office and nursery workers—in policy execution.

• Continued staff training and development.

• Compliance with all new and existing legislation.

• Regular policy review.

• Membership of trade bodies BALI and HTA.

• Performing pest risk analyses on plant species to mitigate risk.

• Holding Plant Healthy Certification.

Staff Implementation Responsibilities

• Attend internal or external training courses.

• Be alert for issues around the site and report them.

• Clean tools after use to prevent disease spread.

• Handle deliveries with extra care.

• Check for biosecurity and plant health concerns.

• Maintain accurate records of sold or wasted stock and reasons for waste.

• Stay updated on internal and government policy changes through memos and inquiries.