Grafting is a critical time for biosecurity. Whether you’re doing a few plants or a full block, moving plant material is the highest-risk way of pathogen spread - including new biosecurity threats that may have recently arrived that we are not yet aware of.

Choose clean budwood

KVH’s budwood certification scheme (KPCS) sets the minimum standard, but aim higher where you can:

• Use budwood from your own orchard first.

• Otherwise, source from a KVH-certified supplier.

• Always select from the cleanest blocks, well away from any symptomatic vines.

KPCS basics

If supplying budwood, you must be registered with KVH and follow KPCS requirements, including:

• Tagging and avoiding symptomatic vines.

• No use of prunings or material from the ground.

• No collection from vines with disease symptoms (including Psa).

• Copper applied within four weeks before collection.

Clean tools: lower risk

• Sanitise tools before entering the orchard.

• Clean regularly (at least between rows and at breaks).

• Use effective, recommended sanitisers.

Movement rules

• No movement from Psa positive to Not Detected orchards.

• Limited movement within the same ownership (up to 1000 plants/year).

• All other movements may require KVH approval.

All budwood distributors (including pack-houses and grafters) must register annually with KVH.

For guidance, contact [email protected].