1. EU Plant Health Regulation
(Regulation (EU) 2016/2031)
Introduced 13 December 2016

2. Private Sector Not-for-Profit Association ACP/EU
COLEACP
Private Sector Not-for-Profit Association ACP/EU
Established 1973
“Contribute to poverty alleviation and food and nutrition security through sustainable agricultural value chains”

3. Fit4Market COLEACP Core Activities Delivered Through Programmes
Market Intelligence, Business Development
Technical Assistance, Training
Information & Communication
Research & Innovation
Advocacy
Delivered Through Programmes
Regional Fruit Fly Project
PAEPARD
Fit4Market

4. Strengthening competitiveness by embracing sustainability
FIT FOR MARKET
Strengthening competitiveness by embracing sustainability
“Enable smallholders, farmer organisations, and MSMEs to access international and domestic horticultural markets by complying with SPS issues and market requirements, in a sustainable framework”

5. EU Plant Health Regulation
Fully applied 14 December 2019; until then, Regulation 2029 and Annexes remain applicable
Replaces 7 existing Council Directives on HOs
Series of delegated and implementing acts to be adopted
Major overhaul, focused on the prevention of entry or spread of plant pests in the EU
More proactive approach - increased surveillance, eradication, financing, import rules

6. Important Changes Targets all pests Phytosanitary certificates
High risk commodities
New Trade

7. Targets All Pests of Plants
One regulation covers all pests –quarantine and non- quarantine - categorised by risk assessment
Union quarantine pests: Not present in EU or localised and under official controls. High risk to plant health. Strict measures to prevent entry or spread in EU.
Protected zone quarantine pests: Present in most of EU but absent from 'protected zones'. Must not be allowed to enter and spread within these protected zones.
Regulated non-quarantine pests: Widely present in EU but have an impact on plant quality; seeds or planting material must be guaranteed free/almost free

8. Phytosanitary Certificates
All living plant material (plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, seeds, ...) must be accompanied by a phyto certificate
List of exemptions of “low risk” commodities to be issued in an implementing act
Potential opportunity to influence

9. Phytosanitary Certificates
Administrative burden for traders and competent authorities (large volumes)
By 2019, need inspection procedures in place, with sufficient trained personnel
Electronic certification systems?

10. High Risk Commodities
Specific measures on imports & movement of high risk commodities
Annexes III and IV remain valid, but with additional list of high risk plants or plant products
Imports prohibited until detailed RA determines if imports are acceptable and under what conditions
RA will only be done on request
RAs by EFSA, but pest crop data “probably needed” from 3rd country CAs (according to IPPC guidelines)

11. High Risk Commodities Listing under development by EU select committee
Commodity/country known to provide a significant pathway for pests into the EU
Bans or special measures specified following RA (Timeframe to implement? Dec 2019?)
Potential opportunity to influence

12. Temporary Measures Against New Trade
Where there is little experience and pest risks unknown
Temporarily restrictions on imports, or even a ban, until data is available for a RA
Likely to affect small volume tropical crops for which there is little available pest data

13. Registration, Traceability, Certification
Registration of professional operators
Traceability of commodities
Plant passports (planting material)
Export, re-export and pre-export certificates

14. Timeline: Delegated & Implementing Acts
Technical consultations with EU experts for phyto certificates, high risk commodities
List of high risk commodities (legal deadline)
Dec 2018
Phyto certificate exemption list (legal deadline)
Dec 2018
List of priority pests
2019
Rules on exemptions from scope
Regulation Fully Applied
Dec 2019

15. New Timeline for High Risk Listing - Expected
Provisional list discussed by SCoPAFF mid-June
EC Inter-service consultation
Provisional list adopted by SCoPAFF 10th July
Public consultation with EU stakeholders (TBC)
August – Brussels closed
September – first indicative voting by SCoPAFF
WTO notification → 60 days consultation with 3rd countries
December final adoption

16. In the interim, more stringent application of
existing regulations
Implementing Directive 2017/1279 setting new rules on 4 quarantine pests
Additional stringent controls covering FCM in capsicum from Africa from Urgent action by operators and NPPOs to keep trade open
Implementing Directive 2018/638 preventing entry and spread of fall armyworm
Emergency measures from – for 6 products: (bell) pepper, sugar maize, eggplant…

17. An example of what’s to come?
Before
After
F&V exempt from regulations
F&V subject to regulations
Flexible requirements
Rigid requirements (blocks)
Low level of inspections
High level of inspections
In the event of interceptions, long period of warning
In the event of interceptions, immediate response
Low economic impact
High economic impact Continuity of supply at stake

18. Stricter EU import policy
More legal tools for import restrictions
Pressure from 8 (southern) member states to use these tools

19. Concerns about content
Article 42: High Risk products → temporary import ban based on preliminary RA
Article 49: New trade → temporary measures; challenge to introduce new products/varieties
Article 73: Phyto certificates for (almost) all F&V → more import controls = more chance to find HOs

20. Concerns about implementation
Global timeframe, lack of detailed timelines
Demands on HR and Technical capacities
Lack of guidance, inconsistent messages, variable methods (RA) between MS
Impact on trade of important ACP crops

21. Lobbying To ensure EU actions are proportionate, not protectionist:
By EU industry alliance at Member State and European Parliament level
By all EU stakeholders through EC public consultation
By 3rd countries through the WTO

22. Implications for African Exports?
Potential impact on important export crops
Future low tolerance of non-compliances
CAs must ensure controls applied at all times to guarantee exports meet requirements
Private operators must invest to meet the rules
Need to start preparing now

23. Most urgent actions Identify CA capacity building needs
Inspection services: numbers, skills, SOPs
NPPOs: skills for PRAs, pest-free areas & sites
High risk commodities:
Lobby through the WTO, request RAs
Support for pest management e.g.:
Fast-track registration of PPPs; IPM Research
Establish national “task forces”:
Develop action plan & assign responsibilities

24. What can be done through FFM to help prepare for the new regulation?
Lobbying for the ACP industry
Informing stakeholders
Targeted capacity building
Support national platforms/action plans