100 likes | 111 Vues
The internet and risks to plant health. Steve Ashby CPM vice-chair. Internet sales of plants for planting. Giltrap, Eyre and Reed, (EPPO Bulletin 39) Specialist suppliers National newspapers E commerce websites representing many small producers Plant sharing and trading websites .
E N D
The internet and risks to plant health Steve Ashby CPM vice-chair
Internet sales of plants for planting Giltrap, Eyre and Reed, (EPPO Bulletin 39) • Specialist suppliers • National newspapers • E commerce websites representing many small producers • Plant sharing and trading websites
Specific issues • Large quantities bought in • Small quantities supplied • Large numbers of recipients • Suppliers can be outside NPPO jurisdiction • Traders may lack plant knowledge • Speed of trade
Case studies 1. Import of Goji plants • Lycium barbarum (Solanaceae) • Banned import in EU • Plants imported into Guernsey via the Netherlands from China • Uncovered by an inspector • Huge market – 45000 plants supplied to 19000 customers • Non-native pest discovered – Aceria kuko
2. Import of Acer plants • Imports infested with Anoplophora chinensis • Plants imported to Guernsey via the Netherlands from China • Guernsey inspectors found the pest • Supplied to customers of a national newspaper/internet and TV shopping channel • 60,000 trees sent to private buyers in UK • 12 interceptions of beetles connected to this
Problem • 80,000 goji plants and 60,000 acers distributed throughout UK • Company unwilling to provide customer lists although agreed to contact purchasers • Impossible to ensure all buyers were aware of the risks or to follow
Conclusions • Lack of knowledge of trade • Huge number of end-users • Legal issues with action in private gardens • Increasing trade • Problems discovered after trade had happened • Internet is vast – e.g. 9000 people selling plants in UK on Ebay. • High cost of automatic or human monitoring
Other internet issues • Sales of insects • e.g. Manduca sexta – Sphinx or tobacco hornworm moth • e.g. Lymantria dispar - Gypsy moth • Seeds • Specialist collectors • Member only internet sites • Use of unrecognised names – incorrect Latin names or different common names
How to tackle the issue • Monitor the internet • Contact owners of websites to seek cooperation • Contact internet trade groups and on-line forums • Raise awareness of risks