Don't panic over dirty plant

The Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate has distanced itself from reports that fleets of imported plant will automatically be sent back if machines arrive in the country dirty.

Paul Kilby of the plant health division said neither the law nor the interpretation of it has changed, with the same unofficial concession that allows plant importers to clean dirty plant and dispose of soil on arrival.

"Generally, this still happens, unless there are serial offenders. We don't take the view that those who bring in these machines aren't bothering to have them cleaned before export unless this is proved otherwise," said Kilby.

The fact that such recidivism was not a major problem, according to Kilby, meant he did not perceive any threat of a backlog of dirty kit being refused entry into the country.

However, he said the prospect of machines being sent back should not be dismissed: "Soil can be very problematic for plant health."