Biosecurity Policy

1. INTRODUCTION

Greenwood Group Ltd under the trading name of Greenwood Plants (‘Greenwood’), is a company registered in England and Wales at Companies House.

Greenwood is committed to defining the standards set out across the horticultural industry to ensure its nurseries adhere to the highest standards of biosecurity and plant health management at all times to protect our environment and manage the risk of plant pest and disease.

2. SUPPLY CHAIN

Greenwood has six nurseries across the United Kingdom and an extended European supply chain. The Company acknowledges it responsibility to act in a manner to minimise the risk posed to itself, its supply chain, and its clients in all matters relating to biosecurity.

3. POLICY

Greenwood is committed to ensuring the highest levels of biosecurity are met. The Company’s Biosecurity Policy applies to everyone in the organisation, is reviewed annually, and is available on the Company website.

Greenwood will continue to encourage and strive towards a culture where all employees are aware of their responsibilities in identifying plant health issues, and ensuring robust processes are put into place to manage them.

Greenwood provides regular training and guidance to employees to ensure they are informed and up to date on all plant health topics.

4. RESPONSIBLE

Greenwood’s list of designated responsible roles for Plant Health include the following:

• Site Managers (each location)
• Head sprayer (matrix responsibility across all locations.

5. COMPLIANCE

All of Greenwood ‘s employees, sub-contractors, agents, and partners, are required to behave in line with the terms set out on Greenwood’s biosecurity policy.

Greenwood is authorised by DEFRA to issue Plant Passports (Plant Passport No. UK GB31888) and is subject to annual inspections to ensure plant health and compliance.

Greenwood has systems in place to:

1. Demonstrate high levels of nursery hygiene, plant maintenance, pest and disease control and identification, and ensure these are kept to across purchasing, production, and logistics processes with full related documentation.
2. Comply with all government legislation and regulations to ensure the risk of disease entering the UK is controlled and minimised.
3. Work with government and industry bodies such as DEFRA, the HTA & BALI to remain fully informed on all plant health developments and issues and keep abreast of industry best practice.
4. Undertake regular Site and Operations Pest Risk Analysis to minimise the plant biosecurity risks to an appropriate level,
5. Only purchase plants from its approved supplier list who behave in accordance with Greenwood’s Plant Biosecurity policy, and ensuring all are plant passported in accordance with current legislation.
6. Not import any high risk Xylella Genus or any Genus from designated outbreak areas (as listed on DEFRA Plant Health Portal) in accordance with HTA guidance.
7. Operate a robust flagging system for Pest, Disease and Weed on all imported stock and Identify and mitigate the potential risk areas within the supply chain. Adhere to a robust plant inspection process for all plants, where responsible employees are trained in accordance with our imported goods procedure. Inspection reports are kept on all received goods.
8. Monitor potential biosecurity risks and constantly look at new ways to improve.
9. Work towards achieving ISO 14001 Environmental management accreditation.
10. Employees receive detailed plant health training and ongoing guidance to ensure they can recognise and report pest and disease.
11. Work closely with our local plant health inspectorate.

We believe that these steps minimise to the best of our ability the risk carried by our plants.

This Biosecurity Policy document has been approved and endorsed by the Leadership team of Greenwood.

6. CONTACT

For any questions, queries, or comments relating to Greenwood’s Biosecurity Policy should be addressed to hello@greenwoodplants.co.uk

Glenn Devenish                                 

Chief Executive Officer

1^st February 2024