EU Plant Health Regime - Role of research -Evaluation of EU PLH Regime Guillermo H. Cardon European Commission, DG SANCO Plant health / Harmful organisms EUPHRESCO Final Dissemination Conference, FERA, York, UK 30 June 2009

Objectives of the EU plant health regime Protecting the EU against the harm that could be caused by the introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases, so as to: Support sustainable production Ensure competitiveness / employment, and safeguard rural development Ensure food security Protect public and private green, forests, landscape

Legal framework Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community Specific Control Directives

International framework EU Plant Health regime is in line with: FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (“SPS Agreement”) EU measures need to be transparent, proportional and technically justified (measures need to be science-based: Pest Risk Analysis)

Cornerstone: Pest Risk Analysis Constant need for research on a growing number of diverse (insects, bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc) emerging as well as already regulated harmful organisms Research output and other data Development of effective and proportionate Union legislation to prevent the introduction into the EU, to achieve the eradication or to limit the spread of harmful organisms Pest Risk Analysis

Research needs PRA: Pest Risk Assessment and risk management options Assessment of probability of entry, establishment and spread; potential impacts; identification and evaluation of risk management options Decision on Risk management: decision on regulation and content of legal provisions (core Directive, emergency measures, control Directives, derogations) Contingency plans / Action plans Surveillance, monitoring and sampling strategies Laboratory methodology for detection and identification What type of research and technology development? Research on the biology (life cycle, host range, capacity for natural dispersal, etc), sampling, detection, identification, monitoring, and control methods and tools

Roles of various players Risk assessment Scientific community, National Plant Protection Organisations, EPPO, EFSA PLH Panel Risk management European Commission (DG SANCO) and Member States (Standing Committee on Plant Health)

Roles of various players (2) The Commission supports PLH research : EU Funding of collaborative research (Framework Programme- DG RTD): PRATIQUE, QBOL, Qdetect, etc. EU Funding of coordination actions (Framework Programme- DG RTD): ERA-NET EUPHRESCO The DG SANCO acknowledges the relevance of the research funded by Member States

Roles of various players (3) EUPHRESCO plays a central role in the coordination of EU PLH research funding EUPHRESCO SANCO COPHs Scientific community RTD

Congratulations for the achievements of the EUPHRESCO project and much success for EUPHRESCO II!

Evaluation of the Community Plant Health Regime Basic structure of the regime was conceived in 1977 and updated many times (major updates in 1992 and 2002) Major changes and developments since then; is the regime still fit for purpose? Commission policy to regularly evaluate legislation

What developments have taken place Globalisation Enlargement of the European Community Developments concerning international treaties Establishment of EFSA Erosion of the scientific expertise underpinning the Community Plant Health Regime (CPHR) Decreasing resources for public services Evolution of related Community regimes Better Regulation Climate change

Position taken by European Council In November 2008, the Council invited the Commission: To carry out an evaluation of the CPHR To consider possible modifications to the existing legal framework and their impacts To present a proposal for a Community plant health strategy, putting prevention at the core of the system

CPHR evaluation issues CORE POLICY MEASURES: Categorisation and surveillance of Harmful Organisms (HO) Import controls Intra-Community trade (plant passports) Protected zones and regionalisation Emergency and control measures

CPHR evaluation issues CROSS-CUTTING AREAS: CPHR objectives and scope Organisational aspects including solidarity regime Research and development, including diagnostics Coherence with other Community policies Social, economic & environmental impacts

CPHR evaluation milestones Evaluation (FCEC consortium): June 2009 – May 2010 Presentation of the report to the Commission, Member States, stakeholders: September 2010 Defining policy options and impact assessment: New Community plant health strategy and adoption by the Commission of a new legislative proposal: 2012 Amendment of the legislation (Council / EP): from 2012

CPHR evaluation milestones Conferences: February 2010 (feedback for contractor consortium on preliminary findings and options for the future) 28 September 2010 (presentation of evaluation outcome; preparation of impact assessment for new plant health strategy)

Thank you for your attention!