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)
2 Reference model: the current CPHR
The analysis below captures the main themes of the Reference Model required by section 2.2
of the ToR 22 . Reference to the Evaluation Questions (EQs) of the ToR is made where
appropriate. The model describes the design and implementation of the current CPHR.
The aim of the model is a clear understanding of the hierarchy of objectives, intervention
logic and relationship between different stakeholders involved, the instruments used and the
impacts generated, along the chain from producers to final consumers/users. It also serves to
focus discussion on the proposed changes/options for the future and their likely impacts.
2.1 Legal basis
The Community plant health acquis is based on Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of
the European Union (under Title III: Agriculture and Fisheries). It is also based on the IPPC
and the WTO-SPS agreement, to which the EU is a contracting party.
The evaluation, in particular, reviews Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 (hereafter
referred to as ―the base Directive‖) on protective measures against the introduction into the
Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within
the Community. The Directive is a codification of the original rules introduced in 1977
including all subsequent amendments, and constitutes the base legislation of the CPHR.
2.2 Evolution of the CPHR to date
By far the most significant point in the evolution of the CHPR was the introduction of the
Single Market in 1993, which resulted in a new strategy in the field of plant health. This
aimed to strike a balance between opening the EU‘s internal borders (i.e. minimising internal
border controls and restrictions) and sufficiently protecting the EU‘s territory from the
introduction and spread of harmful organisms (HOs). To this end, a series of measures were
introduced, which included:
the establishment of common plant health standards for domestic and intra-
Community trade;
the transfer of checks from internal borders to places of production (and for third
country producers to external Community frontiers) - this was effected via the
issuing of ‗plant passports‘ for all movements within the EU (replacing phytosanitary
certificates);
22 In addition to answering the evaluation questions, the ToR request the development of a reference model for
describing the current Community plant health regime. This would cover: the legal basis; objectives (including
scope and positioning concerning related regimes); responsibilities of the different parties involved (including
aspects of subsidiarity and Community added value); intervention logic; key instruments used under the CPHR
and how instruments are integrated (including monitoring systems and reporting structure); infrastructure
(including official laboratories and science and methodological innovation (R&D)); management procedures and
comitology; administrative issues (burden to stakeholders); and budget and Community financing.
Food Chain Evaluation Consortium 21