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)
5.2.2 Options and analysis
In general terms, the evaluation results as confirmed by the February conference have
demonstrated that there is need to reassess the current system of import controls with a view
to improving its role in the overall EU phytosanitary regime. In particular, consideration
should be given to defining the appropriate tools for effective and efficient risk assessment
and risk management, within the continuum of risk (see figure above).
In this context, the options identified for further consideration are as follows:
i. Status quo with improvements („soft‟ interventions);
ii. Widen the list of HOs subjected to import controls (Annexes to Directive 2000/29/EC);
iii. For emerging risks (particularly new trade in plants for planting/ propagating
material (PM): commodity pathway analysis;
iv. For plants for planting/propagating material strengthen measures:
a. Official post entry inspections for latent HOs;
b. Improve collaboration with country of origin, including via pre-export inspections
where necessary (e.g. on the basis of repeated interceptions for certain products
from certain origins);
c. On the basis of commodity pathway analysis, introduce import bans where
necessary.
As indicated within the above figure on the risk management continuum, a more targeted
approach by pathway is suggested to target higher risk import flows. This would differentiate
between:
Fresh produce: for which entry inspections appear to provide sufficient control. For this
category of products, further improvements to the current reduced frequency checks
system could also be considered, to improve both the effectiveness and the efficiency of
the inspections (thereby releasing resources to focus on higher risk products). Also
synergies with existing certification systems where these are established to cover quality
issues could be considered, e.g. to extend coverage to phytosanitary issues;
Plants for planting/PM (e.g. entry and post-entry inspections at growing sites): for which
there should be some shift from inspections at the point of entry, where detection of latent
pests and diseases is difficult, to inspections at growing sites. For this category of products,
in addition to strengthening inspections, a series of further measures can be taken, the
severity of which will depend on risk analysis. Such measures range from a more targeted
approach for new types of trade by modelling risks of imports from emerging supply
sources, to pre-export inspections, or even import bans where necessary. Within this sector,
a more specific approach may be considered for the seeds industry (seeds for planting),
which is generally already using extensive certification systems to monitor product quality,
and – subject to further examination of the appropriateness of these systems in the context
of phytosanitary inspections - there may be scope to take these into account to adjust
accordingly the level of inspections that may be required for these products.
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 332