The joint industry/Government funded study on responsibility and cost-sharing in the quarantine plant health (QPH) sector has now been completed. The Imperial College researchers sent their report to the industry and government partners at the beginning of July, and are due to make a formal presentation of their findings to the partners next month.

The study considers options for cost sharing in QPH with respect to control of outbreaks of plant pests and diseases, and risk reduction measures, including risk assessment, surveillance, research and others. The researchers identified that QPH threats are diverse and probably growing, and can be split into 2 main groups (1) well anticipated pests and diseases of food crops, particularly those affecting trade, and (2) largely unanticipated pests of ornamental plants which pose secondary, possibly major threats to native species and local ecosystems.

The industry and the threats it faces are so diverse that there are probably no single options that will be appropriate across all sectors. However, the study shows there are sectors where levy- and insurance-based cost sharing schemes may be attractive to industry, with government support, and other sectors where government and industry may make valuable, prior agreements on responsibility and cost sharing in outbreak control and risk reduction.

Once industry and Government partners (which include the NFU, Horticultural Development Council, Horticultural Trades Association, Royal Horticultural Society, British Potato Council, Home Grown Cereals Authority, Defra, and the devolved governments of Scotland and Wales) have received the presentation and discussed the report, the results and options for moving forward will be discussed with the wider industry.