Public consultation on the draft Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2026-2030
- Published on: 16 December 2025
- Last updated on: 10 March 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has today launched a public consultation process on the draft Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2026-2030.
Minister Heydon said:
“Our geographic location, climate and isolation as an island provide natural advantages in terms of the protection of our agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors, as well as the wider environment. Ireland has a favourable plant health status with the highest number of protected zones in Europe meaning that it has been designated free from specific plant pests and diseases that are present elsewhere in the EU. It is crucial we maintain our plant health status and enhance our biosecurity. Increased globalisation of trade, movement of people, e-commerce and climate change all pose significant challenges to plant health and biosecurity.”
The Minister added:
“I am delighted to launch this public consultation on the draft Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2026-2030. Protecting plant health and biosecurity is fundamental to safeguarding food security, safe trade and the environment. Everyone has a role to play, and it is important that all stakeholders are aware of the risks to plant health and understand their role and responsibilities in protecting plant health and enhancing biosecurity.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae, added:
“Ireland’s forests are a key national economic, social, environmental and recreational resource valued at over €2 billion annually and Ireland’s thriving amenity sector over €100 million. Maintenance of Ireland’s favourable plant health status is vital for these two key sectors. I encourage stakeholders to contribute to the draft Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy, which sets out a vision for protecting Ireland’s agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors and the wider environment from plant pests and diseases.”
The new strategy aims to build upon the success of the first Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025 in the areas of risk anticipation, risk surveillance and management and risk awareness and communication.
Minister Heydon concluded:
“Plant health and biosecurity is important to everyone, and I encourage stakeholders and members of the public to take part in this consultation and I look forward to receiving feedback, views and comments on the draft strategy.”
Further information on the consultation is available on the department’s website, and the draft strategy is available here. Feedback on the draft strategy can be submitted by email to: PHBStrategy2026-2030@agriculture.gov.ie. The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Friday, 9 January 2026.
Notes
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine fulfils the role of Ireland’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO). The NPPO is responsible for implementing agreed international plant health requirements and the annual plant health programme under EU and national legislation, with the aim of protecting the health of plants and biosecurity in Ireland.
The draft Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy sets out a vision for plant health and biosecurity in Ireland for the period 2026-2030 with strategic goals, objectives and actions for the next five years. The strategy aligns with the department’s Statement of Strategy 2025-2028.
Freedom of information
Please note that responses to this consultation may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. This means by law we must release this information if it is requested by an individual or organisation. However, if there is any personal information in the answers, we will redact it before we release it. We recommend you do not include personal information in your responses.