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)
5.1.4 Options and analysis: positioning of RNQPs (plants for planting)
5.1.4.1 Background
As outlined in section 3.2.2, the question to address here is what would be the right
positioning of those HOs considered as suitable to be regulated as RNQPs: the plant health
regime or the S&PM regime? Based on the IPPC defining criteria (ISPM 16) and the results
of the 2004 Commission WG report on RNQPs, this would most likely concern some of the
HOs listed in Annex II, Part A, Section 2 to Council Directive 2000/29/EC, and some HOs
listed in the various S&PM Directives.
During the evaluation, it was generally observed by several MS that a number of HOs qualify
for transfer between the two acquis – such ‗borderline‘ cases‘ would include:
HOs currently included in the S&PM Directives but which could be transferred to
Directive 2000/29/EC because a zero tolerance is required: potential examples include
Bruchus spp. on legume seed, certain vine viruses (tolerance level is zero);
HOs currently included in Directive 2000/29/EC but which could be transferred to the
S&PM Directives because the objective is to ensure plant health quality at the start of
the production chain: potential examples include Aphelenchoides besseyi as regards
seeds of Oryza sp. on the assumption that it is present in the EU (which seems to be the
case); fragariae var. fragariae as regards plants of Fragaria L., intended for planting,
other than seeds; Plum pox virus as regards plants of Prunus L., intended for planting,
other than seeds. 277
ISPM No 2 (Framework for PRA, 2007), describes the key factors that should be considered
to determine whether a pest has the characteristics of a RQP or RNQP, (Step 2 of PRA: pest
categorization), as follows:
Assessment of introduction and spread:
o Candidates for RQPs: the identification of the endangered area and assessment of
the probability of introduction and spread;
o Candidates for RNQPs: assessment of whether the plants for planting are or will
be the main source of pest infestation, in comparison to other sources of
infestation of the area.
Assessment of economic impacts:
o Candidates for RQPs: assessment of economic impacts, including environmental
impacts;
o Candidates for RNQPs: assessment of potential economic impacts associated with
the intended use of plants for planting in the PRA area (including analysis of
infestation threshold and tolerance level).
For the formulation and analysis of options on how best to position RNQPs, the difference in
perspectives, objectives and available tools of the two regimes (CPHR, S&PM) need to be
277 Conclusions of the Commission Working Group on RNQPs in EC legislation (May 2004)
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 324