Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
28.1.2020
The Commission will follow the implementation of the legislation in the Member States through regular consultations with the relevant competent authorities and through audits in individual Member States. The Commission will also use the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ initiative to share experiences and best practices.
The plant passport system was introduced in 1995. The new plant health regime[1] is broadening its scope to all business-to-business movements of all plants for planting, in line with the outcome of the impact assessment carried out by the Commission in 2013[2]. The impact assessment included financial and economic impact analysis, which did not suggest a significant increase of costs for operators under the selected policy option. The system was extended to improve the protection of the EU territory against the introduction and spread of harmful organisms. As indicated in the recitals of the regulation, based on consultation with stakeholders, the special situation of small and medium-sized enterprises has been taken into account where possible.
Continuing with a ‘material’ form of plant passport as a distinct printed label was considered the most feasible way to facilitate the transition from the existing to the new plant health regime. However, the legal basis for future digitalisation of the plant passports system through implementing provisions is already included in Article 83 (8) of the new legislation.