Frequency rates for plant import controls

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/591 of 20 February 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 concerning the establishment of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on consignments of plants, plant products and other objects entering the Union

Update

The EU has updated the frequency rates of import controls for certain plants, including food plants from Argentina, Egypt, Kenya, Peru, Thailand, and South Africa.

Impacted Products

Plants and plant products, avocado, blueberries, citrus, ginger, turmeric, stone fruits, passion fruit, peaches, pears

What is changing?

Frequency rates for identity and physical checks on plant-related consignments entering the EU have been updated for various food plant products from different regions.

Decreased frequency of checks on fruits due to low numbers of interceptions:

• avocado (Persea americana) from all non-EU countries
• stone fruits (Prunus) from European non-EU member countries
• pears (Pyrus) from European non-EU member countries
• peaches (Prunus persica) from South Africa
• blueberries (Vaccinium) from Peru.

Increased frequency of checks because of lower volumes of imports:

• passion fruit (Passiflora) from Kenya
• blueberries (Vaccinium) from Argentina.

Increased frequency of checks in response to interceptions of Union quarantine pests in imported produce:

• citrus fruits from Egypt
• turmeric (Curcuma longa) roots and tubercles from Thailand
• turmeric and ginger (C. longa and Zingiber officinale) roots and tubercles from Peru.

These changes seek a balance between a high level of phytosanitary protection and the lower phytosanitary risk associated with certain plants.

Table 1 provides details of the changes.

Why?

Frequency rates are reviewed annually, incorporating updates from the EU’s Information Management System for Official Controls (IMSOC), the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), and EU Member States, taking into account pest biology, compliance records, and trade volumes.

Timeline

The new Regulation and its amendments will take effect from 1 May 2024, allowing time for competent authorities and stakeholders to adapt.

Recommended Actions

Non-EU countries should ensure that their plant exports comply with EU phytosanitary requirements to reduce the likelihood of interceptions and increases in physical checks. This requires enhanced plant health measures and certification processes.

Background

Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 aims to standardise the frequency rates for identity and physical checks on plant-related consignments entering the EU. The rates are reviewed yearly.

Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 lays down rules for the functioning of IMSOC, which integrates the following information systems:

• Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (iRASFF)
• Animal Diseases Information System (ADIS)
• European Union Notification System for Plant Health Interceptions (EUROPHYT)
• Trade Control and Expert System for exchanging data, information, and documents (TRACES).

Resources

Sources

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Regulation

Regulation (EU) 2024/591 concerning the establishment of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on consignments of plants, plant products and other objects entering the Union

What is changing and why?

This Regulation updates the frequency rates for identity and physical checks of plants, taking into account pest biology, past cases of non-compliance, and trade volume.

Frequency rates have decreased for avocados from all non-EU countries; stone fruits and pears from European non-EU member countries; peaches from South Africa; and blueberries from Peru.

Frequency rates have increased for passion fruits from Kenya and blueberries from Argentina.

In response to interceptions of quarantine pests, controls are also increased for citrus fruits from Egypt; roots and tubercles of turmeric from Thailand; and turmeric and ginger from Peru.

See Table 1 for details of the changes.

Actions

Non-EU countries should ensure their plant exports comply with EU phytosanitary requirements to reduce the likelihood of interceptions and increases in physical checks. This requires enhanced plant health measures and certification processes.

Timeline

The new frequencies of checks will apply from 1 May 2024.

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