Plant health civil sanctions - APHA publishes guidance
9 Apr 2026
The civil sanctions guidance has now been published by APHA and you can see it here (also available in Welsh at that link). The consultation response has also been added to the original consultation page which you can see here and in Welsh here.
Sets out how APHA will use civil sanctions in England and Wales to address non-compliance with plant health regulations, and who they will apply this to.
It explains the different types of civil sanction that could be applied and provides examples. It also includes details of how and when recipients can make representations or appeal decisions. The purpose of the guidance is to provide transparency on APHA’s use of this enforcement option.
APHA will not be implementing civil sanctions until October 2026 to give a 6 month period for industry to understand the guidance and address any outstanding non-compliance.