Plant health and biosecurity
EU actions for plant health
EU rules on plant health aim to protect crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamentals and forests from harmful pests and diseases (quarantine pests) by preventing their introduction into the EU or their spread within the EU.
The EU has common rules for:
- the introduction of plants and plant products into the EU from countries outside the EU;
- the movement of plants and plant products within the EU;
- managing outbreaks of harmful pests and diseases.
The EU also provides funding to Member States facing an outbreak.
International cooperation
Plants are traded internationally and pests and diseases know no borders. The EU is a member of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) where it actively takes part in the setting of international quality standards for plants and plant products.
International Year of Plant Health 2020
The UN has proclaimed 2020 the first-ever international year of plant health to raise awareness of the major roles plants play in most areas of our lives – food, clothing, energy, and many others. An international conference on plant health co-financed by the EU will take place in Helsinki in July 2021.
Watch this video to learn more about EU actions to protect plant health.
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