Endorsement of the draft proposal on protective measures against plant pests

The European Parliament's plenary session formally approved the draft proposal on rules to curb the influx into the European Union of plant pests and to better equip member states to tackle their spread.

The new regulation introduces preventive and rapid response mechanisms for suspect plant imports, steps up pest surveillance efforts in the EU and requires all member states to draw up outbreak contingency plans.

The proposal was originally adopted by the European Commission in May 2013 and subject to an informal agreement between the Parliament and the Council of the European Union in December 2015. The Parliament's own agriculture committee approved the text in April 2016, while the Council formally endorsed the draft law in July. It was therefore ready to be published in the Official Journal.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Plant health legislation: Protective measures against plant pests http://www.europeansources.info/record/plant-health-legislation-protective-measures-against-plant-pests-2/

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