This document establishes the regulatory framework for the prevention and control of plant pests within Great Britain. The order is issued by the government to mitigate the economic and ecological risks posed by non-native or harmful organisms affecting agricultural and horticultural sectors. It provides the legal basis for inspection, quarantine, and eradication measures necessary to maintain national biosecurity standards.

Legal professionals and agricultural policy analysts view this order as a foundational regulatory instrument for UK plant health. It is frequently cited in historical reviews of British biosecurity legislation and remains a primary reference for understanding the evolution of pest control mandates.