This enhanced system, allied with better rules on identification and registration, will give those working to protect our food chain, such as farmers and veterinarians, the capability to react quickly and to limit spread of disease and minimise its impact on livestock, and on consumers.
Furthermore, it introduces categorization/prioritisation of diseases, which require intervention at EU level. As such, it enables a more risk based approach and appropriate use of resources.
Sufficient flexibility is provided to adjust the animal health measures to different sizes and types of establishments (e.g. Small and medium enterprises, hobby holding, etc.) to different local circumstances in particular with respect to registration and approval requirements for establishments and the keeping animals and products.
On a broader scale the law needs to be flexible and robust enough to provide for the effective response of the whole EU in the event of important climate changes thus giving us the tools to deal with new and unknown emerging risks so that we can adjust quickly to new scientific developments and international standards.
Plant health
The value of crops grown in the EU is €205 billion annually. Without the protection afforded by plant health rules this sector would suffer severe economic damage.
Europe's agriculture, forests and natural heritage are being threatened by pests and diseases that attack plants. The introduction of new pest species has increased as a result of the globalisation of trade and climate change.
To prevent new pests from establishing in the EU and to protect plant growers as well as the forestry sector, the Commission proposes to upgrade the existing plant health regime.
More focus will be placed on high risk trade coming from third countries and increased traceability of planting material on the internal market.
The legislation also introduces better surveillance and early eradication of outbreaks of new pest species and financial compensation for growers hit by such quarantine pests.
Plant reproductive material (including seeds)
Sixty per cent of the world export value in seeds originates from the EU.
The package provides more simplified and flexible rules for the marketing of seeds and other plant reproductive material with the aim to ensure productivity, adaptability and diversity of Europe's crop production and forests and to facilitate their trading.
The broad choice of material and the improved testing requirements will contribute to protection of biodiversity and to breeding oriented towards sustainable agriculture.
The use of seed in private gardens is not covered by the EU legislation and private gardeners can continue to buy any plant material and sell their seed in small quantities Moreover, it will be clarified that any non-professional (e.g. private gardeners) can exchange seed with other private gardeners without falling under the rules of the proposed Regulation.
The aim of the legislation is to introduce a broader choice for the users thus including new improved and tested varieties, material not fulfilling the variety definition (heterogeneous material), traditional varieties and niche market material.
However the new rules, in line with the Commission's better regulation agenda, take into account the type of material, production conditions and the size of the business involved. Thus for old traditional varieties and for heterogeneous material, there are only light registration rules. Such categories are exempted from the testing and other requirements of the legislation.
In addition, administrative burden is reduced for micro-enterprises who can market any type of material as 'niche market material' without registration.
Furthermore, micro-enterprises are generally exempted from registration fees.
Next Steps
Other EU institutions, including the European Parliament and the Council will consider the Commission's package of measures and will adopt their positions in due course. At this stage, it can be estimated that the package will come into force in 2016.
