by Richard McIntosh

1. Phyto-threats
Richard McIntosh, Assistant Chief Plant Officer, Defra
Date: 21 April 2106

2. Role
• Assistant Chief Plant Health Officer in Defra
• Head of Defra’s PH Risk and Horizon Scanning Team
• The Team is comprised principally of specialist regulatory scientists,
with backgrounds mainly in entomology and plant pathology,
focussing on statutory plant health and related projects
• It provides scientific and technical advice and training to Defra,
Devolved Administrations, Fera Science Ltd., stakeholders and
overseas countries’ equivalent organisations
• My main roles are supporting and deputising for the CPHO,
facilitating the monthly Plant Health Risk Group cycle and
representing the UK at the monthly EU Plant Health Standing
Committee (SCOPAFF) meetings
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3. What is the UK Plant Health Risk Group?
• Chaired by Defra with APHA, DA and FC input
• Determines UK wide positions on specific pest issues
• Meets monthly, with specific session on tree threats
• 6 monthly co-ordination meetings (with Crown Dependencies)
• Makes recommendations to CPHO and informs Ministers
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4. PHRG process
Identify
threat
• Interceptions/outbreaks
• Literature/reports
Assess
threat
• Risk assessment – Risk Register and PRA
Propose
response
• PRA consultation (usually 12 weeks)
Confirm
approach
• Recommendation to CPHO
• Key issues escalated to Ministers
• EU notification

5. PH Risk Register developments
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?

6. Phytophthoras are an important element
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7. Both those present and those not present
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8. Range of threats represented
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9. Follow up actions identified in some cases
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10. Details of further actions proposed
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11. Challenges for the project
• Vast range of Phytophthoras – how to prioritise and identify which are
significant threats?
• Dealing with the unknowns, unexpected and incomplete – risks and
data
• Generating outputs which can be used to develop practical and
proportionate guidance, focussed on the key threats
• Encouraging participation by industry – dealing with the ‘what’s in it
for me’ question – both in terms of the project and application of
resulting schemes
• Future proofing
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12. What would I like to see from the project?
• Outputs which lead to growers/traders recognising and accepting the
benefits of employing best practice on disease management, leading
to wider environmental benefits
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