The new European plant health law aims to prepare us for future outbreaks of plant pests and make sure our territory remains properly protected from the entry of non-native pests, according to Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis. He was speaking at the Oireachtas Health committee which was also attended by some members of the agriculture and EU affairs committees.

According to the commissioner, the new plant health regulation will:

  • Introduce more proactive rules for the early detection and eradication of dangerous plant pests.
  • Add more proactive tools and actions.
  • Allow the EU to adopt a more proactive policy against the entry of pests from other countries.
  • Harmonise the rules concerning certification of plants and plant products and make them more transparent.
  • Specify the responsibilities of producers through their registration and authorisation.
  • Over the next three years, the Commission will develop the necessary delegated and implementing acts to support member states in the practical implementation of the new rules.

    Animal health law

    “The EU Animal Health Law, adopted at the end of March 2016, will bring significant improvements to the existing EU animal health legislation,” Andriukaitis said.

    However, implementation is “a lengthy and complex task requiring a series of Commission acts”. These acts will also support the use of modern technology in disease surveillance and detection.

    Anti-microbial resistance

    According to Andriukaitis, the European Commission is currently drawing up a second EU action plan on AMR – the first one expired at the end of 2016.

    “Let me take this opportunity to appeal for Ireland’s support for speeding up work in the council on two legislative proposals – on veterinary medicines and medicated feed – which are critically important in the fight against AMR,” he said.

    Food waste

    Andriukaitis told the committee that it is “immoral” for €143bn of food to be wasted each year, 88m tonnes.

    “Fighting food waste requires a thorough rethink of how we produce, market and consume food at each step in the food supply chain,” he said. “It calls for concrete action on the ground by all players. We need to create integrated and effective action plans to prevent food waste.”

    The Commission has already set out sustainable development goal targets for food waste reduction in the EU – in particular to cut by 50% both retail and consumer food waste by 2030. It is now implementing initiatives to help member states achieve them.

    Pick up your copy of this week’s Irish Farmers Journal to read our interview with Commissioner Andriukaitis on the Brazilian meat scandal and glyphosate.

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