Plant health legislation: Protective measures against plant pests

‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings aim to provide Members of the European Parliament with systematic and automatic analysis on all substantial proposals for EU legislation at every stage of the legislative procedure. Each contains an account of the purpose, content and legal aspects of the legislation proposed, in particular analysing what the legislation would change, as well as any previous legislation and the background. An overview of stakeholders’ views is also provided, as well as the opinions of national parliaments and the two advisory committees.

They are all made publicly available for stakeholders and the public.Following an evaluation of the European Union's plant health regime, on 6 May 2013 the European Commission proposed a new regulation on protective measures against plant pests. These include regulating pests on the basis of established criteria for risk assessment and prioritising those pests with the most serious consequences.

More focus is being placed on high-risk trade coming from third countries. The proposal provides for better surveillance and the early eradication of outbreaks of new pests.

On 15 April 2014, the outgoing European Parliament adopted its first-reading position. Seven trilogue meetings were held which concluded on 16 December 2015, when the representatives of the Council and Parliament finalised an overall compromise text.

Once the Council adopted its first reading position, the text could then be adopted by the European Parliament without amendment in an early second reading.

The Council’s position at first reading adopted on 18 July 2016 confirmed the agreement reached with the European Parliament in December 2015. To conclude the procedure, the legal act must now be adopted by the European Parliament at second reading. This briefing updates an earlier edition of March 2016

• Primary Source

EP: EPRS: Briefing: EU Legislation in Progress http://epthinktank.eu/eu-legislation-in-progress/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-on-protective-measures-against-pests-of-plants/

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

ESO: Background information: Tackling plant pests: new measures adopted by Council http://www.europeansources.info/record/tackling-plant-pests-new-measures-adopted-by-council/

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