Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Official Report 711KB pdf

Subordinate Legislation

Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2022

Our final item of business today is consideration of a consent notification relating to the Phytosanitary Conditions (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2022. I refer members to paper 2. Does any member have any comments on the notification?

The reclassification of blueberry rust from the list of quarantine pests in the list of regulated non-quarantine pests suggests to me that controls on that pest have been ineffective as it has moved from being a pest that is largely absent from a territory to being one that is already present in the territory with measures in place to minimise its spread. I am interested in receiving any data on the rising prevalence of the pest and any analysis of what has led to its spread, and in hearing what steps the relevant ministers and Governments are taking to control and eradicate it.

Thank you. I suggest that, if members are content to agree to the notification, we can write to ask for some more information on the topic that Mercedes Villalba has raised. Are members content?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. That concludes our business today. I now formally close this meeting.