How the EU makes sure imported plants are safe
Countries outside the EU intending to export plants and plant products to the EU must follow the EU’s Plant Health Law to protect Europe’s agriculture and environment from harmful pests and diseases. Some high risk plants and plant products must undergo a thorough risk assessment before they can be imported. As part of this process, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carries out commodity risk assessments of these potential imports. The European Commission uses EFSA’s findings to decide whether to allow or ban imports.
Submission of dossier
The National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of a non EU exporting country submits information to the European Commission.
Eligibility check
The European Commission checks the eligibility of the dossier. If needed, it requests more information from the NPPO. Once complete, the dossier is sent to EFSA for scientific assessment.
Risk assessment
EFSA’s independent panel on plant health and scientific experts assess the plant health risks that importing these commodities could pose to the EU.
Identification of pests
The panel can request additional information from the exporting country. They identify pests associated with specific commodities and assess the likelihood of infestation or infection.
Publication of report
EFSA publishes the commodity risk assessment report with detailed information about the plant commodity, cultivation methods, risk mitigation measures, and the likelihood of pest occurrences.
Final decision
Based on EFSA’s assessment, the European Commission decides whether the plant or plant product remains prohibited or is allowed into the EU. If allowed, it may require additional measures to reduce risks, including specific actions against identified pests.
EFSA also carries out pest categorisation and risk assessment, evaluates climate and habitat suitability, develops surveillance tools, and performs other technical tasks to support the European Commission, the European Parliament, and EU Member States. Read more: Plant Health.