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)
A large proportion of respondents to the survey consider that the Community emergency
measures system should be improved and its implementation strengthened.
General survey results
Q3.9.r and 3.7.r Extent to which the Community emergency measures system should be improved
22 MS CA out of 25 and 14 stakeholders out of 24 consider that Community emergency measures system should be
improved. (1 MS CA and 7 stakeholders do not know).
Q3.9.s and 3.7.s Extent to which the Community emergency measures system should be strengthened
23 MS CA out of 26 and 12 stakeholders out of 25 consider that Community emergency measures system should be
strengthened. (1 MS CA and 10 stakeholders do not know).
The major criticism concerning the current system, as reported during the interviews, is the fact
that adopting EU-wide emergency measures on imports does not occur fast enough. The time for
approval of emergency measures in the EU after interceptions or when a MS notifies a risk is far
too long. The time needed for discussions at the SCPH to take decisions is too long and several
interviewees have reported that it can take several years before decisions are reached, by which
time it may be too late to take effective action.
In addition to the problems posed by the legislation and delays in procedures for the adoption of
emergency measures as such, a large majority of interviewees have reported further significant
delays and shortcomings in MS implementation of the required measures. These appear to be due
mainly to the following reasons:
First, because the subject is highly technical the legislation has to remain quite vague on
the measures to be applied as it is impossible to insert precise management measures
applicable everywhere in the EU, leading to delays by MSs in further defining and
implementing the technical measures. National emergency measures can be applied on the
basis of a ‗fast-track PRA‘, as well as WU emergency measures. Limiting factors to short
term responses are the Commission‘s resources to draft the Decision, and implement the
required internal procedures. . Such problems were identified, for example, in the case of
emergency situations caused by Rynchophorus ferrugineus (Red Palm Weevil) and
Anoplophora chinensis 124 .
Secondly, political considerations may delay correct implementation of measures, thus
distracting from efficient risk management. When measures are likely to raise strong
opposition from the public, politicians are reluctant to implement (for instance, measures to
cut otherwise asymptomatic trees that have been part of the landscape for decades, e.g. old
palm trees for Rynchophorus ferrugineus or susceptible species for PWN). In addition to
124 The first outbreaks of Rynchophorus ferrugineus were reported in the mid 1990‘s but during the first 10 years the
damage appears to have been quite limited; when signs of severe damages emerged, the pest was already widespread
and eradication much more difficult. Another similar example Anaplophora Chinensis imported from China, after
apparently no preventive measures had been taken in China, so there was no indication how control could be
achieved; it then first appeared in Italy, but as no measures were effectively taken no further knowledge was gained;
when it appeared later in the Netherlands it was considered an important threat but the opportunity to gain
knowledge had in the meantime been lost.
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 110