EUROPEAN COMMISSION Food and Veterinary Office FVO Plant

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) Plant Health Group Monitoring the delivery of plant health controls in the EU Presented by Lars Christoffersen 25 September 2003 FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 1

Presentation l Why? – Background l How? – The FVO Plant Health Group – How is it done in practice FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 2

Background l European Single Market from 1993 l Controls still with Member States l Uniform application across the EU: – checks at place of production – checks at EU entry points – control/eradication programmes FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 3

FVO Plant Health Group - Mandate l Mandate: – Council Directive 2000/29/EC, Art. 21 (previously 77/93/EEC) FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 4

FVO Plant Health Group - Mandate l Mandate for Inspections regarding: – Plant passport regime – Protected zone regime – Import controls – Member States safeguard measures – Derogations/equivalency (3 rd countries) FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 5

FVO Plant Health Group - Mandate l Inspections must be in operation with Member State: co- – Advance notice – Member State shall facilitate l EC Inspectors’ obligations: rights and – Same as national inspectors FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 6

FVO Plant Health Group - Set-up: l Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection: FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 7

FVO Plant Health Group - Set-up: l Food and Veterinary Office: FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 8

FVO Plant Health Group - Set-up: l Staffing: – FVO: 109 professionals – Unit Food of Plant Origin: 19 professionals – Plant Health Group: 6 agronomists FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 9

The practical work: l 15 - 20 inspections per year l Strategy: “systems audits” instead of outbreak inspections l Rolling 6 months plan of inspections l FVO manual of procedures FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 10

The practical work: l The inspection mission process: Identification as priority notification + inspection plan + questionnaire implementation of inspection reporting + recommendations follow-up + close-out FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 11

The inspection mission process: l The pre-inspection questionnaire: – Statistical data (production, trade etc. ) – National legislation – Organisation of control system – Resources – Data on surveys and inspections – Laboratories FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 12

The inspection mission process: l Implementation of inspection: – Itinerary prepared in advance – Opening meeting with Central Authority – Visits to regional and local offices – Visits to laboratories – Visits to producers, traders etc. – Closing meeting FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 13

The inspection mission process: l Reporting: – Follows standard format and time plan – Includes recommendations – Consultation with inspected country – Publication: http: //europa. eu. int/comm/food/fs/inspections/p i/reports/index_en. html FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 14

The inspection mission process: l Follow-up: – Action plan for addressing recommendations – If satisfactory: close-out – If not: – further inquiries, follow-up mission – country profiles, high level meetings – infringement procedure – Adaptation of legislation FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 15

Inspections 2000 -2003 FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 16

Conclusions l l “System audits” necessary Procedures are important Systematic follow-up necessary Good work requires resources FVO 9/24/2020 Slide: 17