EU approves revision of rules against plant pests

The Council of the European Union, which brings together the member states, approved today - 18 November - a revision of the EU's plant health legislation, which aims to improve the way the EU combats plant pests. It also simplifies procedures and aims to ensure that plants entering the European Union are safe, the Council said in a statement. "This regulation will ensure a high level of plant health protection throughout the EU and protect us from plant health threats. The revision also reduces bureaucracy and streamlines existing rules, which will benefit national authorities as well as operators in the sector," said Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy, whose country holds the EU Council presidency this semester. The legislative revision includes the creation of an EU plant health emergency team, made up of plant health experts who can provide assistance in the event of new pest outbreaks in the EU. The team will also be able to provide emergency assistance and expertise ...