Imports of stone from China are going to be held up at the docks from 1 April in an attempt to control infestations of Asian Longhorn beetles in a purge against the pest that will last for the next two years.

The beetles kill a wide variety of trees in the UK and have no natural predators here.

They are imported in the wood used for packaging stone – and only stone imports are involved. The checks will be carried out by the Forestry Commission on imports of all varieties and uses of stone from China. The Forestry Commission says the checks should not take more than three days to carry out.

The action is being taken across Europe following the escape of the beetles into the wild in various countries, including England. There was a porogramme of tree felling in the South East last year to try to eradicate beetles that had escaped into the wild.

Previously, importers have been required to show certificates showing that wooden pallets containing the stone have been treated to kill the beetles. But the certificates seem to have been issued from China without the wood actually being treated, which is why the current action programme is being taken.

There is more about this in the March edition of Natural Stone Specialist magazine.