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)
R&D programmes and funding schemes (e.g. ERA-net, networks of excellence, etc) is crucial,
but currently not perceived to be sufficient.
DG RTD supports the coordination of plant health research activities commissioned under
national MS budgets (which roughly account for 90% of all such budgets available in the EU),
through the ERA-net EUPHRESCO. The establishment of this network is perceived to be a
significant step forward in the direction of establishing a coordinated EU R&D approach and
there is wide support for its continuation in future.
EFSA can contribute to the harmonisation of the framework for PRA and the identification and
evaluation of risk management options. However, the role of EFSA does not encompass the
economic (cost/benefit) analysis required in full PRAs according to ISPM 11 and 21 and WTO-
SPS. It is therefore important to find an appropriate platform to carry out this type of analysis,
which at present is provided on an ad hoc and exceptional basis through impact assessments. In
this context, the outputs of the EU FP7-funded project PRATIQUE are expected to provide
generic economic and modelling techniques to support the development of decision support tools
for pest management. Finally there is a concern that the PRA process per se is becoming
increasingly complex and this can inhibit timely decision-making to the detriment of effective
and efficient plant health management.
Moving forward, the need to create a more permanent platform to ensure the continuity of the
coordination and support of research and development in this field has been identified; this issue
is explored further in section 5.8.1.
3.9.2 Diagnostic laboratories and training
3.9.2.1 Diagnostic capacity
This section summarises the findings of the evaluation on the CPHR performance to date, taking
into consideration EQ 16 and EQ 18 (area G) of the ToR.
EQ16. To what extent is the CPHR supported by an appropriate diagnostic infrastructure,
allowing for rapid and reliable diagnosis of all regulated HOs?
EQ18. In how far have the CPHR requirements for appropriate training of MS plant health
inspectors and diagnosticians been met and how can this be improved?
The general survey has provided a broad picture of the current diagnostic capacity in MS:
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 164