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Horticultural Activities

Plant Quarantine

The quarantine facilty

The Quarantine House was built in 1989 to provide thorough, professional and well-equipped plant importation facilities to meet requirements set by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) . The facility comprises a single-span glasshouse, which is divided into seven isolation bays, one potting area and an incinerator room.A climate control computer controls the environments in individual bays and settings can be adjusted to provide suitable regimes for a wide range of plants.

Plants requiring quarantine

With large numbers of plants being imported each year, appropriate isolation facilities are essential. Imports requiring quarantine fall into one of the following categories:

  • prohibited imports: any plant material specified by orders under the Plant Health Act 1967 must first be quarantined for at least a growing season to establish its freedom from pests;

  • soil / growing medium around roots: material arriving with soil attached to the roots must be held pending laboratory analysis of soil samples;

  • pests and diseases: material received with visible evidence of pest or disease infestation or viral symptoms;

  • dormant material: any dormant material not falling into the first three categories. Plants must be brought into growth to discover the presence of infection or infestation.

Following the arrival of plant imports at Kew and their unpacking and recording in the secure environment of the Quarantine House, the Plant Health Officer carries out an inspection. The Officer, from the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, carries out one inspection each month with individual plants inspected thoroughly. Any suspect material is sent to the Central Science Laboratory for analysis.

After inspection the plants are established in the Quarantine House. The appropriate departments may advise on the growth of species, however entry to the facility may only be authorised through the Kew Plant Quarantine Officer.

The plants are held for a quarantine period of not less than one growing season. Once this period is complete a final inspection takes place and the Plant Health Officer releases the plants from quarantine. The plants may then be transferred to appropriate departments for accessioning and public display or research purposes.

Plant imports

In order to protect the collections at Kew and the agricultural and horticultural industries in the UK, there are strict rules governing the importation of plant material into the EC and the UK. All plant material from outside the EC which is imported to Kew is subject to conditions set out in the DEFRA License.

Plant material subject to quarantine at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew may fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • plant materials collected during expeditions;

  • non-EC plant imports, including but not limited to material with a Phytosanitary Certificate;

  • EC plant imports and seeds not covered by the DEFRA License.

We do not accept unsolicited gifts of plant or seed materials which are sent to us by the public or from researchers world-wide. Please write to us directly at the address below stating what materials you wish to donate and we will contact you to discuss the matter in further detail.

Plant Reception
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB
UK

Plant exports

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew may wish to export plant material all over the world as part of our commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and we participate in exchanging genetic resources wherever possible. We receive hundreds, if not thousands, of enquiries each year from botanic gardens and scientific institutions requesting seed or plant material mainly for research purposes.

In all despatch cases outside the UK, we check the plant health requirements of the receiving country with Plant Quarantine personnel prior to the material being sent, since many items will require Phytosanitary Certificates and other relevant documentation. Failure to do so may result in the destruction of outgoing material by the Customs authorities in the receiving country.

The benefits of plant quarantine

Quarantine facilities, like those that we operate, perform a vital clearing-house function for imported materials. Although we only handle the quarantine of our own imports, we are able to intercept non-indigenous pests and diseases, and take action to prevent their spread. Examples of important non-indigenous pests and diseases include:

  • Banana Aphids

  • Colorado Beetles

  • Palm Thrips, which may also be found on orchids

  • Burrowing and Stem Nematodes

  • Dutch Elm Disease

 
 

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