COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/178

of 31 January 2020

on the presentation of information to passengers arriving from third countries and to clients of postal services and of certain professional operators concerning the prohibitions as regards the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC (1), and in particular the fourth subparagraph of Article 45(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 requires Member States, seaports, airports and international transport operators to make available to passengers information concerning prohibitions and requirements for the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory.

(2) Postal services operators and professional operators involved in sales through distance contracts also are to make available that information to their clients.

(3) The information should be presented in an easy and immediately understandable manner. It should therefore visually represent following prohibited items carried by passengers: plants for planting, cut flowers, fruits and vegetables.

(4) For the purpose of clarity, it should also include a message about the most important rules and requirements concerning the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory. That message should contain information about the fruits that are exempted from the requirement for a phytosanitary certificate, pursuant to Article 73 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, the third countries from which a phytosanitary certificate is not required and the Union territories from which that certificate is required.

(5) That information should be made available at all points of entry into the Union or on transport means moving into the Union. Member States should be free also to select additional points, such as the points of departure from the Union to third countries, in order to make this information accessible in due time to the passengers who will later be returning from those countries to the Union.

(6) This Regulation should enter into force on the third day following that of its publication, in order to ensure that passengers, as well as the clients of postal services and professional operators involved in sales through distant contacts, are informed as soon as possible about the application of the new rules.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 Presentation of information to passengers arriving from third countries and to clients of postal services and of certain professional operators 1. Member States, seaports, airports and international transport operators shall display posters with the information set out in the Annex at all points of entry into the Union, or on all transport means moving into the Union, for the benefit of the passengers arriving from third countries. Member States, seaports, airports and international transport operators may display posters as provided for in the first subparagraph also at points of departure out of the Union. 2. Postal services operators and professional operators involved in sales through distance contracts shall make available to their clients, at least through the internet, the information set out in the Annex. 3. The information set out in the Annex shall be placed at easily visible points, both in physical locations as well as on the internet.

Article 2 Entry into force This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 31 January 2020. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 317, 23.11.2016, p. 4.