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Trade in plants and plant products within the EU
The EU’s policy on trade in plants and plant products within the EU is designed to prevent the spread of quarantine pests through internal movements in the single market. It applies to certain plants, plant products and other objects considered possible carriers of harmful pests, as listed in Annexes VIII and IX of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.
Within the EU, the system is based on three main controls. First, operators are subject to production controls and inspections at the place of production during the growing season and immediately after harvest. Second, relevant operators must undergo official producer registration, under Directives 92/90/EEC, 93/50/EEC, and Articles 65–70 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031. Third, once goods have passed the required EU checks, they must be accompanied by a plant passport for movement within the Union.
The plant passport is therefore the key operational tool for intra-EU trade. The rules on its issue and use are linked to Directive 92/105/EEC, as amended by Directive 2005/17/EC, the authorisation criteria in Regulation (EU) 2019/827, the passport format in Regulation (EU) 2017/2313, and Articles 78–95 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031. In practical terms, the passport certifies that the product has met EU plant health requirements and can circulate within the internal market under harmonised rules.
Overall, the EU approach to intra-EU plant trade is a system of registration, inspection and passport-based traceability. Its aim is to allow the free movement of plants and plant products inside the Union while reducing the risk that harmful pests spread from one Member State to another.
Within the EU, the system is based on three main controls. First, operators are subject to production controls and inspections at the place of production during the growing season and immediately after harvest. Second, relevant operators must undergo official producer registration, under Directives 92/90/EEC, 93/50/EEC, and Articles 65–70 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031. Third, once goods have passed the required EU checks, they must be accompanied by a plant passport for movement within the Union.
The plant passport is therefore the key operational tool for intra-EU trade. The rules on its issue and use are linked to Directive 92/105/EEC, as amended by Directive 2005/17/EC, the authorisation criteria in Regulation (EU) 2019/827, the passport format in Regulation (EU) 2017/2313, and Articles 78–95 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031. In practical terms, the passport certifies that the product has met EU plant health requirements and can circulate within the internal market under harmonised rules.
Overall, the EU approach to intra-EU plant trade is a system of registration, inspection and passport-based traceability. Its aim is to allow the free movement of plants and plant products inside the Union while reducing the risk that harmful pests spread from one Member State to another.
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