and sampling techniques with Thai fruits, cut flowers and vegetables Göran Kroeker, Sweden Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting

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1 Overview of EU inspection requirements and sampling techniques with Thai fruits, cut flowers and vegetables Göran Kroeker, Sweden Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 1

2 Background to problems of today Over the years EU has developed to be an important export market for Thai producers and traders of fruits, cut flowers and vegetables. Since many years Plant Health authorities in the EU has complained over to many interception on imports of fruits, cut flowers and vegetables from Thailand. Through audit missions from the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), which included experts on Plant Health, Thai authorities has been encouraged to strengthen their export inspection for these plant material. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 2

3 Situation of today FVO has again visited Thailand and made it clear to its authorities that the EU is prepared to take stricter actions if the situation is not altered to the better = less consignment coming to the EU with pests regulated in the EU. At the same time, EU financial support were given for training workshops within the fields of plant health, pesticide residues and microbes, all within the field of food security. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 3

4 Workshop on plant health The EU structure of legislation with examples from Plant Health What does it mean in practical life Harmonized way of working? Different needs for plant health protection But one internal market Requirements on Thai fruits, cut flowers and vegetables Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 4

5 The EU structure of legislation with examples from Plant Health 1 In short and without going to details EU is working with Regulations, which is giving the law in all MS without any implementation process by the MS. There is a tendency to use Regulations more often today instead of Directives. Directives has to be implemented by MS and gives them a certain degree of freedom to adjust the legal text to their needs as long common aims are achieved. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 5

6 The EU structure of legislation with examples from Plant Health 2 Directives are used on two levels. Those taken on Council level, a higher degree of MS involvement on the political level, for example the articles of Council Directive 2000/29/EC. But also the Commission is using Directives for example to amend the Annexes to 2000/29. Commission Decisions are for example used for emergency measures. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 6

7 What does it mean in practical life Well, during the weeks I joined the trainings, I have noticed that there are expectations on the EU to act as a State, like if we had the United States of Europe, but we have not! That explains that the EU are still rather late in adopting common guidelines for instance when it comes to how to perform import inspections on imports from third countries. We often then refer to the risk for the own country, and perhaps not so much for others. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 7

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9 Different needs for protection, but an internal free market From the map you would certainly understand the needs for different needs of protection between the MS. This is partly dealt with through the possibility for MS to require protected zones, that will give them a higher expected phytosanitary security. Because of the lack of internal movement inspection to day, it is on the other hand difficult to adjust the import requirements for instance to lower risks for citrus in the north of the EU. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 9

10 The EU Plant Health requirements in practice for the trade from Thailand 1 The EU requirements for the imports of fruits, cut flowers and vegetables from Thailand are in line with the risk for the EU and as I indicated earlier then to the countries at the highest risks like the Mediterranean countries. This could perhaps be solved by regionalization according plant health risks, like the protected zones, but this is probably not solved in the near future. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 10

11 The EU Plant Health requirements in practice for the trade from Thailand 2 An indication of different priorities amongst MS are given if you look from where the most interceptions are coming, from a country in the south. Risks are focused on the commodity and the possible pests it could be accompanied with. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 11

12 Export inspection: sampling and inspection today and tomorrow? 1 For the export of fruits, cut flowers and vegetables, low level risk material, the export inspection is today done at the airport. The number of interceptions indicate that the system should be re-analyzed and perhaps changed. Some 16 commodities has wisely enough been banned by the Thai Plant Protection Organization themselves to avoid that the products would be banned by EU. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 12

13 Export inspection: sampling and inspection today and tomorrow? 2 The sampling and inspection has also been done, misunderstanding the basics for sampling: the sampling unit, to be able to use the Standard on sampling, ISPM 31, has to be the unit, lot, that the producer delivers to the packing house, coming from one field. Today normally it is mixed with other lots from other producers. It is however essential that the lot is kept as the unit for inspection because of its homogeneity! By using the standard today on the mixed commodity the need is for having a higher number of samples. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 13

14 Export inspection: sampling and inspection today and tomorrow? 3 There is a need for producer, packinghouses and the Thai authority to together discuss what could be achieved in a short perspective but also for the future. It is of course not good if lots free from any harmful organisms at the packing house are mixed with others with a lower plant health status, which would mean with the risk of being stopped at the airport export inspection. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 14

15 Examples on the requirements on cut flowers, fruits and vegetables exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Cut flowers of Orchidaceaeand fruits of Momordicaand Solanum melongena, originating in third countries. The first option is: originate in a country free from Thrips palmi, or immediately prior to their export, have been officially inspected and found free from the pest. Officiallymeans inspection has to be done by DOA inspectors Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 15

16 Examples on the requirements on fruits, cut flowers and vegetables exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Cut flowers of Dendranthema, Dianthus, Gypsophila, and Solidago, and leafy vegetables of Apium graveolens and Ocimum. The pests are the leaf miners Liriomyza sativae and Amauromyza maculosa First option is: country freedom. Second option is: immediately prior to their export, have been officially inspected and found free from the pests. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 16

17 Examples on the requirements on fruits, cut flowers and vegetables exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Cut flowers of Asterspp., Eryngium, Gypsophila, Hypericum, Lisianthus, Rosa, Solidago, Trachelium and leafy vegetables of Ocimum, originating in non-european countries. The pest is Bemisia tabaci (non-eurpean populations) First option: country freedom Second option: immediately prior to their export, have been officially inspected and found free from Bemisia tabaci(non-european populations). Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 17

18 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Fruits of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus, and their hybrids, originating in third countries. The fruits shall be free from peduncles and leaves and the packagingshall bear an appropriate origin mark. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 18

19 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Fruits of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus and their hybrids, originating in third countries. The pest in focus is Xanthomonas campestris all strains pathogenic to Citrus. First option: country freedom accepted by SCPH(18.2) Second option: area freedom, or Third option: official control and examination regime, no symptoms of the pest have observed in the field of production and in its immediate vicinity since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 19

20 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I 6 (16.2) none of the fruits harvested in the field of production has shown symptoms of the pest, and the fruits have been subjected to treatment such as sodium orthophenylphenate, mentioned on the PC, and the fruits have been packed at premises or dispatching centres registered for this purposes, or any certifications system, recognized as equivalent to the above provisions in accordance with the acceptance of the EU Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH) Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 20

21 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Fruits of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus and their hybrids, originating in third countries. Pest of concern: Cercospora angolensis First option: country freedom accepted by SCPH, or Second option: area freedom, or Third option: no symptoms of the pest have been observed in the field of production and in its immediately vicinity since beginning of the last cycle of vegetation,and none of the fruits harvested in the field of production has shown, in appropriate official examination, symptoms of this organism. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 21

22 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I Fruits of Citrus deals with Guignardia citircarpa 16.5 Fruits of Citrus deals with fruit flies Tephritidae (non-european). First option: area freedom, or Second option: no signs of the pest have been observed at the place of production and in its immediately vicinity since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation, on official inspection carried out at least monthly during the three month prior to harvesting, and none of the fruits harvested at the place of production has shown, in appropriate official examination, signs of the relevant organism, or Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 22

23 Examples on the requirements on fruits exported to the EU in Annex IV.A.I 8 (16.5) c) the fruits have shown, in appropriate official examination on representative samples, to be free fromthe pest in all stages of their development, or d) the fruits have been subjected to an appropriate treatment, or quick freeze treatment, which has been shown to be efficient against the pest without damaging the fruit, and where not available, chemical treatment as far as it is acceptable by the Community legislation. Kroeker Phytosanitary Consulting 23