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New regulations on imported plant pests approved by European Parliament

Xinhua, October 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

New regulations to help fight the spread of pests affecting plant health were approved Wednesday by the European Parliament, meeting here for its plenary session, introducing preventative and rapid response mechanisms for dealing with risky plant imports into the European Union (EU).

The resolution aims to bolster the prevention of pests and diseases, such as the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa that has attacked olive trees in Southern Italy, as well as to better equip EU member states tackle their spread in the case of an epidemic by including requirements for the drawing up of national outbreak contingency plans.

"Pests and diseases don't respect national borders! That's why it is so important to have EU-wide rules to protect our agriculture, horticulture and forestry through a proportionate and risk-based approach that provides for quicker decision-making, faster action and better cooperation between member states," said rapporteur Anthea McIntyre.

"New pests and diseases emerge all the time, and globalisation, climate change and trade increase the risk of future outbreaks. As a continent, our defences are only as strong as our weakest link," she added.

Among the new measures will be a preliminary assessment mechanism to help quickly identify plants and plant products from third countries that are likely to pose plant health risks and give the European Commission the power to temporarily ban them from entering the EU.

In addition, "plant health certificates" will be required of all plants and plant products imported from third countries, and a "plant passport" system will be extended to all movements of plants for planting within EU borders.

The measures also give member states the authority to take eradication measures in the case of pest outbreaks, even on private premises when it is necessary to protect the public interest, but growers whose plants undergo eradication targeting specific pests will be eligible for fair compensation.

The text of the resolution, endorsed by the European Council in July 2016 and now by the European Parliament, will enter into force 20 days after it is published in the EU Official Journal. The regulations will become applicable 36 months after that date. Endit