2454 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime: Final Report
DG SANCO Evaluation Framework Contract Lot 3 (Food Chain)
Further development of EUROPHYT to become a fully effective and user friendly platform is
largely seen as needed and beneficial for plant health, and is supported by both the MS CAs and
stakeholders. The improvement and development of EUROPHYT would allow this to become a
more systematic support and decision-making tool for the Community, as well as enabling
exporting countries to implement corrective measures.
Based on the results of the survey and interviews, a number of potential improvements to
EUROPHYT have been identified by respondents, such as enhancing the user-friendliness of the
system to allow general queries for specific cases (not possible at the moment), adopting a more
pro-active approach that focuses on upcoming threats (some prioritisation on higher risk
interceptions), providing further analysis of the notifications to MS, and completing the
electronic operability of the system.
In terms of the need for some prioritisation, in particular, analysis of EUROPHYT data as such,
indicates that some pathways (in particular plants for planting including ornamentals, from
certain third countries) are most prevalent, indicating there is scope to adopt a more targeted
pathway approach in some cases. It is noted that trade in this high risk category has expanded by
more than 50% in the last decade, with EU imports of plants for planting (except bulbs)
increasing from around 80,000 tonnes in 2000 to over 120,000 tonnes in 2008 (Eurostat data).
A more detailed list of the scope for improvements is provided in section 3.10.3.
3.4.2 Efficacy of the system in dealing with non-compliance
In case of non-compliance at import, one or several of the following official measures shall be
taken immediately, in accordance with Article 13c(7) of Directive 2000/29/EC:
Refusal of entry into the Community of all or part of the consignment;
Movement, under official supervision, in accordance with the appropriate customs procedure
during their movement within the Community, to a destination outside the Community;
Removal of infected/infested produce from the consignment;
Destruction;
Imposition of a quarantine period until the results of the examinations or official tests are
available;
Exceptionally and only in specific circumstances, appropriate treatment where it is
considered by the responsible official body of the MS that, as a result of the treatment, the
conditions will be fulfilled and the risk of spreading HOs is obviated; the measure of
appropriate treatment may also be taken in respect of HOs not listed in Annex I or Annex II
of the Directive.
MS taking such measures must notify the Community and the other MS of any such
consignments and the measures taken.
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 92