The government is set to publish information on plant health risks from pests and diseases, with a little help from the industry.

Defra is launching a consultation on how best to publish its pest risk anaylsis information, taken from a process co-ordinated across the EU.

It is looking for the best way to improve decision making and enable growers, traders and gardeners to contribute more easily to the discussion about which measures are appropriate for each pest.

The consultation will also set out Defra’s proposed approach to the release of information about outbreak sites where statutory action is being taken against a pest or disease.

The department is proposing more information on the geographical location of outbreak sites should be made public, but individual names and addresses should not be released unless there is a clear need to do so.