Article 37 Prohibition of the introduction and movement of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on plants for planting
1. Professional operators shall not introduce a Union regulated non-quarantine pest into, or move that pest within, the Union territory on the plants for planting through which it is transmitted, as specified in the list referred to in paragraph 2. The prohibition laid down in the first subparagraph shall not apply in the following cases: (a) movement of plants for planting within, or between, the premises of the professional operator concerned; (b) movement of plants for planting necessary for their disinfection. 2. The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, establish a list setting out the Union regulated non-quarantine pests and the specific plants for planting, as referred to in point (d) of Article 36, where appropriate with the categories referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article and thresholds referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article. 3. The list referred to in paragraph 2 shall include the pests and the respective plants for planting set out in the following provisions: (a) Section II of Part A of Annex II to Directive 2000/29/EC; (b) points (3) and (6) of Annex I and point (3) of Annex II to Directive 66/402/EEC; (c) Annex I to Directive 68/193/EEC; (d) the acts adopted pursuant to Article 5(5) of Council Directive 98/56/EC ( 2 ); (e) Annex II to Directive 2002/55/EC; (f) Annex I and point B of Annex II to Directive 2002/56/EC, and the acts adopted pursuant to point (c) of Article 18 of that Directive; (g) point (4) of Annex I and point (5) of Annex II to Directive 2002/57/EC; (h) the acts adopted pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2008/72/EC; and (i) the acts adopted pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2008/90/EC. Pests listed in Annex I and in Section I of Part A and in Part B of Annex II of Directive 2000/29/EC and listed as a Union quarantine pest pursuant to Article 5(2) of this Regulation, as well as pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of this Regulation, shall not be included in that list. 4. The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, where appropriate, set out measures to prevent the presence of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on the plants for planting concerned, as referred to in point (f) of Article 36 of this Regulation. Those measures shall, where appropriate, concern the introduction into, and the movement within, the Union of those plants. Those measures shall be adopted in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II to this Regulation. Those measures shall apply without prejudice to the measures adopted pursuant to Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC and 98/56/EC, Council Directive 1999/105/EC ( 3 ), and Directives 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC, 2002/57/EC, 2008/72/EC and 2008/90/EC. 5. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, amend the implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Article where the results of an assessment show that: (a) a pest not listed in the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article fulfils the conditions referred to in Article 36; (b) a pest listed in the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article no longer fulfils one or more of the conditions referred to in Article 36; (c) amendments to that list are necessary as regards categories referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article or thresholds referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article; or (d) amendments to measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article are necessary. The Commission shall make that assessment available to the Member States without delay. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, replace the implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Article for the purpose of consolidating amendments. 6. The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 7. Where point (e) of Article 36 is only fulfilled for one or more of the pre-basic, basic, or certified material, seed or seed potatoes, or standard or CAC material or seed, as referred to in Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC, 2002/57/EC, 2008/72/EC and 2008/90/EC, the list referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall set out those categories stating that the prohibition of introduction and movement provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article only applies to those categories. 8. Where point (e) of Article 36 is only fulfilled if the pest concerned is present at an incidence above a certain threshold higher than zero, the list referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall set out that threshold stating that the prohibition of introduction and movement provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article only applies above that threshold. Such a threshold shall only be set if both of the following points are fulfilled: (a) it is possible for professional operators to ensure that the incidence of that Union regulated non-quarantine pest on those plants for planting does not exceed that threshold; (b) it is possible to verify whether that threshold is not exceeded in lots of those plants for planting. The principles for the management of the risk of pests set out in Section 2 of Annex II shall apply. 9. Article 31 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the measures to be taken by the Member States concerning regulated non-quarantine pests and the respective plants for planting.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 37 Prohibition of the introduction and movement of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on plants for planting):
1. Professional operators shall not introduce a Union regulated non-quarantine pest into, or move that pest within, the Union territory on the plants for planting through which it is transmitted, as specified in the list referred to in paragraph 2. The prohibition laid down in the first subparagraph shall not apply in the following cases: (a) movement of plants for planting within, or between, the premises of the professional operator concerned; (b) movement of plants for planting necessary for their disinfection. 2. The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, establish a list setting out the Union regulated non-quarantine pests and the specific plants for planting, as referred to in point (d) of Article 36, where appropriate with the categories referred to in paragraph 7 of this Article and thresholds referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article. 3. Pests listed in Annex I and in Section I of Part A and in Part B of Annex II of Directive 2000/29/EC and listed as a Union quarantine pest pursuant to Article 5(2) of this Regulation, as well as pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of this Regulation, shall not be included in that list. 4. The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, where appropriate, set out measures to prevent the presence of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on the plants for planting concerned, as referred to in point (f) of Article 36 of this Regulation. Those measures shall, where appropriate, concern the introduction into, and the movement within, the Union of those plants. Those measures shall be adopted in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II to this Regulation. Those measures shall apply without prejudice to the measures adopted pursuant to Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC and 98/56/EC, Council Directive 1999/105/EC ( 3 ), and Directives 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC, 2002/57/EC, 2008/72/EC and 2008/90/EC. The Commission shall make that assessment available to the Member States without delay. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, replace the implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Article for the purpose of consolidating amendments. 6. The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 2, 4 and 5 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 7. Where point (e) of Article 36 is only fulfilled for one or more of the pre-basic, basic, or certified material, seed or seed potatoes, or standard or CAC material or seed, as referred to in Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 68/193/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC, 2002/57/EC, 2008/72/EC and 2008/90/EC, the list referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall set out those categories stating that the prohibition of introduction and movement provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article only applies to those categories. 8. Where point (e) of Article 36 is only fulfilled if the pest concerned is present at an incidence above a certain threshold higher than zero, the list referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall set out that threshold stating that the prohibition of introduction and movement provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article only applies above that threshold. Such a threshold shall only be set if both of the following points are fulfilled: (a) it is possible for professional operators to ensure that the incidence of that Union regulated non-quarantine pest on those plants for planting does not exceed that threshold; (b) it is possible to verify whether that threshold is not exceeded in lots of those plants for planting. The principles for the management of the risk of pests set out in Section 2 of Annex II shall apply. 9. Article 31 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the measures to be taken by the Member States concerning regulated non-quarantine pests and the respective plants for planting. 10. In the event that plants for planting have been introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory in non-compliance with paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States shall adopt the necessary measures and shall notify that non-compliance and those measures to the Commission and other Member States through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103. Member States shall also notify those measures to the third country from which the plants for planting were introduced into the Union territory.
Article 38 Amendment of Section 4 of Annex I
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending Section 4 of Annex I in order to adapt it to the development of scientific and technical knowledge and of relevant international standards.
Article 39 Union regulated non-quarantine pests used for scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection, breeding or exhibitions
The prohibition provided for in Article 37 shall not apply to Union regulated non-quarantine pests which are present on plants for planting used for scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection, breeding or exhibitions.
Article 40 Prohibition of the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory
1. Certain plants, plant products or other objects shall not be introduced into the Union territory if they originate from all or certain third countries or territories. 2. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt a list containing the plants, plant products and other objects referred to in paragraph 1 which are prohibited from being introduced into the territory of the Union, together with the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries to which the prohibition applies. The first of those implementing acts shall include the plants, plant products and other objects as well as their countries of origin as listed in Part A of Annex III to Directive 2000/29/EC. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2) of this Regulation. In the list established by those implementing acts, the plants, plant products and other objects shall also be identified by their respective code in accordance with the classification in the Combined Nomenclature as laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 ( 4 ) (‘CN code’) where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 3. Where a plant, plant product or other object originating in or being dispatched from a third country poses a pest risk of an unacceptable level due to the likelihood that it hosts a Union quarantine pest, and that pest risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 accordingly to include in it that plant, plant product or other object and the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries concerned. Where a plant, plant product or other object included in that implementing act does not pose a pest risk of an unacceptable level, or it poses such a risk but that risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend that implementing act accordingly. The acceptability of the level of that pest risk shall be assessed in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II, where appropriate with regard to one or more specific third countries. Those amendments shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious pest risk, the Commission shall adopt those amendments by immediately applicable implementing acts, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). 4. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103, the Commission and other Member States where plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into the Union territory in violation of paragraph 1. That notification shall also be made to the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the Union territory.
Article 41 Plants, plant products and other objects subject to special and equivalent requirements
1. Certain plants, plant products or other objects may only be introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory if special requirements, or equivalent requirements, are fulfilled. Those plants, plant products or other objects may originate from third countries or within the Union territory. 2. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt a list containing the plants, plant products and other objects and the corresponding special requirements as referred to in paragraph 1. That list shall, where applicable, include the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas within third countries concerned. The first of those implementing acts shall include the plants, plant products and other objects, the special requirements and, where applicable, their third country of origin as listed in Part A of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2) of this Regulation. In the list established by those implementing acts, those plants, plant products and other objects shall also be identified by their respective CN code where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 3. Where a plant, plant product or other object poses a pest risk of an unacceptable level due to the likelihood that it hosts a Union quarantine pest, and that pest risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 to include in it that plant, plant product or other object and the measures to be applied to it. Those measures and the requirements referred to in paragraph 2 constitute ‘special requirements’. The measures referred to in the first subparagraph may take the form of specific requirements, adopted in accordance with Article 44(1), for the introduction into the Union territory of particular plants, plant products or other objects which are equivalent to special requirements for the introduction into, and movement within, the Union territory of those plants, plant products or other objects (‘equivalent requirements’). Where a plant, plant product or other object included in that implementing act does not pose a pest risk of an unacceptable level, or it poses such a risk but that risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by the special requirements, the Commission shall amend that implementing act accordingly by removing that plant, plant product or other object from the list or by including it in the list referred to in Article 40(2). The acceptability of the level of that pest risk shall be assessed, and the measures to reduce that risk to an acceptable level shall be adopted, in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II, where appropriate with regard to one or more specific third countries or parts thereof. Those amendments shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious pest risk, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). 4. In the event that plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory in violation of paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States shall adopt the necessary measures, as referred to in Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 , and shall notify the Commission and other Member States through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103. Where applicable, that notification shall also be made to the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the Union territory.
Article 42 Restrictions on the basis of a preliminary assessment for the introduction into the Union territory of high-risk plants, plant products and other objects
1. A plant, plant product or other object originating in a third country and which is not listed in accordance with Article 40 or not sufficiently covered by the requirements referred to in Article 41 or not subject to the temporary measures of Article 49 and which, on the basis of a preliminary assessment, presents a pest risk of an unacceptable level for the Union territory is a ‘high-risk plant’, ‘high-risk plant product’ or ‘high-risk other object’ (‘high-risk plants, plant products or other objects’). That preliminary assessment shall take into account, as appropriate for the plant, plant product or other object concerned, the criteria set out in Annex III. 2. High-risk plants, plant products or other objects listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 shall not be introduced into the Union territory from the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries of origin concerned by that listing. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts provisionally listing at the appropriate taxonomic level, pending the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4, the high-risk plants, plant products or other objects referred to in paragraph 1 and, where appropriate, the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries concerned. The first of those implementing acts shall be adopted by 14 December 2018. In the list established by those implementing acts, those plants, plant products and other objects, where applicable, shall also be identified by their respective CN code where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 4. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2, on the taxonomic level as listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 or below that level, does not pose a risk of an unacceptable level by its likelihood to host a Union quarantine pest, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object from the list referred to in that paragraph for the third countries concerned. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2 poses an unacceptable risk due to the likelihood that it hosts a Union quarantine pest, and that that pest risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object and the third countries concerned from the list referred to in paragraph 2 and add it to the list referred to in Article 40. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2 poses an unacceptable risk, but that that risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object and the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned from the list referred to in paragraph 2 and add it to the list referred to in Article 41. 5. Provided that demand for import of plants, plant products or other objects listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 is identified, the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4 shall be carried out within an appropriate and reasonable period of time. Where appropriate, that assessment may be limited to plants, plant products or other objects of a particular third country of origin or dispatch, or a group of third countries of origin or dispatch. 6. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific rules concerning the procedure to be followed in order to carry out the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4. 7. The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 42 Restrictions on the basis of a preliminary assessment for the introduction into the Union territory of high-risk plants, plant products and other objects):
1. A plant, plant product or other object originating in a third country and which is not listed in accordance with Article 40 or not sufficiently covered by the requirements referred to in Article 41 or not subject to the temporary measures of Article 49 and which, on the basis of a preliminary assessment, presents a pest risk of an unacceptable level for the Union territory is a ‘high-risk plant’, ‘high-risk plant product’ or ‘high-risk other object’ (‘high-risk plants, plant products or other objects’). That preliminary assessment shall take into account, as appropriate for the plant, plant product or other object concerned, the criteria set out in Annex III. 1a. The Commission is empowered to adopt a delegated act, in accordance with Article 105, supplementing this Regulation by setting out the procedure to conduct the listing of high-risk plants, plant products and other objects. That delegated act shall provide for all of the following elements: (a) the preparation of the evidence for the assessment of the high-risk plants, plant products and other objects; (b) the actions to be taken following the receipt of that evidence; (c) the procedures for that assessment; (d) the handling of dossiers concerning confidentiality and data protection. 2. High-risk plants, plant products or other objects listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 shall not be introduced into the Union territory from the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries of origin concerned by that listing. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts provisionally listing at the appropriate taxonomic level, pending the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4, the high-risk plants, plant products or other objects referred to in paragraph 1 and, where appropriate, the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries concerned. The first of those implementing acts shall be adopted by 14 December 2018. In the list established by those implementing acts, those plants, plant products and other objects, where applicable, shall also be identified by their respective CN code where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 4. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2, on the taxonomic level as listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 or below that level, does not pose a risk of an unacceptable level by its likelihood to host a Union quarantine pest, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object from the list referred to in that paragraph for the third countries concerned. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2 poses an unacceptable risk due to the likelihood that it hosts a Union quarantine pest, and that that pest risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object and the third countries concerned from the list referred to in paragraph 2 and add it to the list referred to in Article 40. If it is concluded, on the basis of a risk assessment, that the plant, plant product or other object originating in the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned referred to in paragraph 2 poses an unacceptable risk, but that that risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act removing that plant, plant product or other object and the third country, group of third countries or specific area of the third country concerned from the list referred to in paragraph 2 and add it to the list referred to in Article 41. 5. Provided that demand for import of plants, plant products or other objects listed in the implementing act provided for in paragraph 3 is identified, the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4 shall be carried out within an appropriate and reasonable period of time. Where appropriate, that assessment may be limited to plants, plant products or other objects of a particular third country of origin or dispatch, or a group of third countries of origin or dispatch. 6. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific rules concerning the procedure to be followed in order to carry out the risk assessment referred to in paragraph 4. 7. The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Article 43 Specific import conditions for the introduction into the Union territory of wood packaging material
1. Wood packaging material, whether or not actually in use in the transport of objects of all kinds, shall only be introduced into the Union territory if it fulfils all of the following requirements: (a) it has been subject to one or more of the approved treatments and complies with the applicable requirements set out in Annex 1 to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No 15 Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM15); (b) it is marked with the mark referred to in Annex 2 of ISPM15 attesting that it has been subject to the treatments referred to in point (a). This paragraph shall not apply to wood packaging material which is subject to the exemptions provided for in ISPM15. 2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending the requirements set out in paragraph 1 of this Article to take into account the development of international standards, and in particular of ISPM15. Those delegated acts may also determine that wood packaging material not subject to the exemptions provided for in ISPM15 is exempted from the requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article or is subject to less stringent requirements.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 43 Specific import conditions for the introduction into the Union territory of wood packaging material):
This paragraph shall not apply to wood packaging material which is subject to the exemptions provided for in ISPM15. 2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending the requirements set out in paragraph 1 of this Article to take into account the development of international standards, and in particular of ISPM15. Those delegated acts may also determine that wood packaging material not subject to the exemptions provided for in ISPM15 is exempted from the requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article or is subject to less stringent requirements.
Article 44 Setting out of equivalent requirements
1. The Commission shall set out equivalent requirements, by means of implementing acts, on request of a particular third country, if both of the following conditions are fulfilled: (a) the third country concerned ensures, through the application under its official control of one or more specified measures, a level of phytosanitary protection which is equivalent to the special requirements in respect of the movement within the Union territory of the plants, plant products and other objects concerned; (b) the third country concerned demonstrates to the Commission that the specified measures referred to in point (a) achieve the level of phytosanitary protection referred to in that point. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 2. Where appropriate, the Commission shall carry out investigations in the third country concerned and in accordance with Article 120 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 , to verify whether the conditions referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article are fulfilled.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 44 Setting out of equivalent requirements):
1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 2. Where appropriate, the Commission shall carry out investigations in the third country concerned and in accordance with Article 120 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 , to verify whether the conditions referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article are fulfilled.
Article 45 Information to be provided to travellers and clients of postal services
1. Member States, seaports, airports and international transport operators shall make information available to passengers concerning prohibitions referred to in Article 40(2), requirements referred to in Articles 41(2) and 42(3) and the exemption referred to in Article 75(2) as regards the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory. They shall provide that information in the form of posters or brochures and, where applicable, on their internet sites. Postal services and professional operators involved in sales through distance contracts shall also make available to their clients that information concerning plants, plant products and other objects referred to in the first subparagraph at least through the internet. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, set out arrangements for the presentation and use of those posters and brochures. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 2. Member States shall, on request, submit to the Commission a report summarising the information provided pursuant to this Article.
Article 46 Exception from prohibitions and requirements for frontier zones
1. By way of derogation from Article 40(1), Article 41(1) and Article 42(2), Member States may authorise the introduction into the Union territory of plants, plant products and other objects which fulfil all of the following conditions: (a) they are grown or produced in areas of third countries in the vicinity of their land border with Member States (‘third country frontier zones’); (b) they are introduced into areas of Member States immediately across that border (‘Member State frontier zones’); (c) they are to be subject to processing in those Member State frontier zones in such a manner that any pest risk is eliminated; (d) they do not pose any risk of spreading Union quarantine pests or pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) caused by movements within the frontier zone. Those plants, plant products and other objects shall only be moved into and within the Member State frontier zones, and only under the official control of the competent authority. 2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 supplementing this Regulation by setting out the following: (a) the maximum width of third country frontier zones and Member State frontier zones, as appropriate for the specific plants, plant products and other objects; (b) the maximum distance of the movement of the plants, plant products and other objects concerned within the third country frontier zones and Member State frontier zones; and (c) the procedures for the authorisation of the introduction into, and movement within, the Member State frontier zones of plants, plant products and other objects referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. The width of those zones shall be such as to ensure that the introduction and movement of those plants, plant products and other objects in the Union territory does not pose any pest risks to the Union territory or parts of it. 3. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific conditions or measures concerning the introduction into Member State frontier zones of particular plants, plant products and other objects, and determine specific third countries which are subject to this Article. Those acts shall be adopted in accordance with Annex II and, where appropriate, taking into account the development of scientific and technical knowledge and international standards. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 4. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103, the Commission and the other Member States where plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into, or moved within, Member State frontier zones or third country frontier zones in violation of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article. That notification shall also be made to the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the frontier zone concerned.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 46 Exception from prohibitions and requirements for frontier zones):
1. Those plants, plant products and other objects shall only be moved into and within the Member State frontier zones, and only under the official control of the competent authority. The width of those zones shall be such as to ensure that the introduction and movement of those plants, plant products and other objects in the Union territory does not pose any pest risks to the Union territory or parts of it. 3. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific conditions or measures concerning the introduction into Member State frontier zones of particular plants, plant products and other objects, and determine specific third countries which are subject to this Article. Those acts shall be adopted in accordance with Annex II and, where appropriate, taking into account the development of scientific and technical knowledge and international standards. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 4. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103, the Commission and the other Member States where plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into, or moved within, Member State frontier zones or third country frontier zones in violation of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article. That notification shall also be made to the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the frontier zone concerned.
Article 47 Requirements for phytosanitary transit
1. By way of derogation from Article 40(1), Article 41(1), Article 42(2), Article 72(1) and Article 73, plants, plant products and other objects may be introduced into, and be passed through, the Union territory to a third country, either in the form of transit or transhipment (‘phytosanitary transit’), if they fulfil both of the following conditions: (a) they are accompanied by a signed declaration of the professional operator in control of those plants, plant products and other objects stating that those plants, plant products or other objects are in phytosanitary transit; (b) they are packed and moved in such a way that there is no risk of spreading of Union quarantine pests during their introduction into, and passing through, the Union territory. 2. Competent authorities shall prohibit phytosanitary transit if the plants, plant products or other objects concerned do not comply, or there is reasonable evidence that they will not comply, with paragraph 1.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 47 Requirements for phytosanitary transit):
2. Competent authorities shall prohibit phytosanitary transit if the plants, plant products or other objects concerned do not comply, or there is reasonable evidence that they will not comply, with paragraph 1.
Article 48 Plants, plant products and other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding
1. By way of derogation from Article 40(1), Article 41(1) and Article 42(2), Member States may, on application, authorise temporarily the introduction into, and the movement within, their territory of plants, plant products and other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding. That authorisation shall be granted for the activity concerned only if adequate restrictions are imposed to ensure that the presence of the plants, plant products or other objects concerned does not cause an unacceptable risk of the spread of a Union quarantine pest or pest subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1), taking into account the identity, biology and means of dispersal of the pests concerned, the activity envisaged, the interaction with the environment and other relevant factors relating to the pest risk posed by those plants, plant products or other objects. 2. Where an authorisation is granted in accordance with paragraph 1, it shall include all of the following conditions: (a) the plants, plant products or other objects concerned are to be kept in a location and under conditions found to be appropriate by the competent authorities and referred to in the authorisation; (b) the activity involving those plants, plant products or other objects is to be carried out in a quarantine station or a confinement facility designated in accordance with Article 60 by the competent authority and referred to in the authorisation; (c) the activity involving those plants, plant products or other objects is to be carried out by personnel whose scientific and technical competence is found to be appropriate by the competent authority and referred to in the authorisation; (d) those plants, plant products or other objects are to be accompanied by the authorisation when introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory. 3. The authorisation referred to in paragraph 1shall be limited to the amount and duration that is adequate for the activity concerned and shall not exceed the capacity of the designated quarantine station or confinement facility. It shall include the restrictions necessary to adequately eliminate the risk of the spread of the relevant Union quarantine pests or pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1). 4. The competent authority shall monitor compliance with the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 and the limitation and the restrictions referred to in paragraph 3 and take the necessary action in case those conditions, that limitation or those restrictions are not complied with. Where appropriate, that action shall be the revocation of the authorisation referred to in paragraph 1. 5. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 supplementing this Regulation by laying down detailed rules concerning: (a) the exchange of information between Member States and the Commission concerning the introduction into, and movement within, the Union territory of the plants, plant products and other objects concerned; (b) the procedures and conditions for granting the authorisation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article; and (c) the requirements for the monitoring of compliance and the actions to be taken in the event of non-compliance, as referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 48 Plants, plant products and other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding):
That authorisation shall be granted for the activity concerned only if adequate restrictions are imposed to ensure that the presence of the plants, plant products or other objects concerned does not cause an unacceptable risk of the spread of a Union quarantine pest or pest subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1), taking into account the identity, biology and means of dispersal of the pests concerned, the activity envisaged, the interaction with the environment and other relevant factors relating to the pest risk posed by those plants, plant products or other objects. 3. The authorisation referred to in paragraph 1shall be limited to the amount and duration that is adequate for the activity concerned and shall not exceed the capacity of the designated quarantine station or confinement facility. It shall include the restrictions necessary to adequately eliminate the risk of the spread of the relevant Union quarantine pests or pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1). 4. The competent authority shall monitor compliance with the conditions referred to in paragraph 2 and the limitation and the restrictions referred to in paragraph 3 and take the necessary action in case those conditions, that limitation or those restrictions are not complied with. Where appropriate, that action shall be the revocation of the authorisation referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 49 Temporary measures concerning plants, plant products and other objects likely to pose newly identified pest risks or other suspected phytosanitary risks
1. The Commission may adopt, by means of implementing acts, temporary measures as regards the introduction into, and movement within, the Union territory of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries where the following conditions are fulfilled: (a) the plants, plant products or other objects are likely to pose newly identified pest risks which are not sufficiently covered by any Union measures and are not linked, or cannot yet be linked, to Union quarantine pests or pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1); (b) there is insufficient phytosanitary experience, such as in relation to new plant species or pathways, as regards trade in the plants, plant products and other objects concerned originating in or dispatched from the third countries concerned; (c) no assessment has been carried out as regards the newly identified pest risks for the Union territory in respect of those plants, plant products or other objects from the third countries concerned. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 2. The temporary measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted taking into account Section 2 of Annex II and Annex IV. They shall provide for one or more of the following, as necessary in the case concerned: (a) systematic and intensive inspections and sampling, at the point of introduction, of each lot of plants, plant products or other objects introduced into the Union territory and the testing of samples; (b) a quarantine period, within a quarantine station or a confinement facility as referred to in Article 60, to verify the absence of the newly identified pest risk concerned in those plants, plant products or other objects; (c) a prohibition of the introduction of those plants, plant products or other objects into the Union territory. In the cases referred to in points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph, the implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 may also set out specific measures to be taken before the introduction into the Union territory of those plants, plant products or other objects. 3. The temporary measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply for an appropriate and reasonable period of time, pending the characterisation of pests likely to be associated with those plants, plant products or other objects from those third countries and the full assessment of the risks posed by those pests in accordance with Section 1 of Annex I. 4. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious newly identified pest risk, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). Those acts shall be adopted in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II. 5. By way of derogation from the measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, Article 48 shall apply to the introduction into, and the movement within, the Union territory of plants, plant products or other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding. 6. Member States shall submit a report to the Commission and the other Member States, by 30 April of each year, on the application of the measures referred to in point (a) or (b) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 during the preceding calendar year. Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member States where, following the application of the measures referred to in points (a) or (b) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2, a pest has been found to be present which is likely to pose newly identified pest risks. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103 of this Regulation, the Commission and the other Member States of any case where the introduction of a plant, plant product or other object into the Union territory was refused, or its movement within the Union territory prohibited, because the Member State concerned considered that the prohibition referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of this Article was violated. Where applicable, that notification shall include the measures taken by that Member State on the plants, plant products or other objects concerned pursuant to Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 . Where applicable, the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were dispatched for introduction into the Union territory shall also be notified.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 49 Temporary measures concerning plants, plant products and other objects likely to pose newly identified pest risks or other suspected phytosanitary risks):
1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 2. The temporary measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted taking into account Section 2 of Annex II and Annex IV. They shall provide for one or more of the following, as necessary in the case concerned: (a) systematic and intensive inspections and sampling, at the point of introduction, of each lot of plants, plant products or other objects introduced into the Union territory and the testing of samples; (b) a quarantine period, within a quarantine station or a confinement facility as referred to in Article 60, to verify the absence of the newly identified pest risk concerned in those plants, plant products or other objects; (c) a prohibition of the introduction of those plants, plant products or other objects into the Union territory. In the cases referred to in points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph, the implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 may also set out specific measures to be taken before the introduction into the Union territory of those plants, plant products or other objects. 3. The temporary measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply for an appropriate and reasonable period of time, pending the characterisation of pests likely to be associated with those plants, plant products or other objects from those third countries and the full assessment of the risks posed by those pests in accordance with Section 1 of Annex I. 4. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious newly identified pest risk, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). Those acts shall be adopted in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II. 5. By way of derogation from the measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, Article 48 shall apply to the introduction into, and the movement within, the Union territory of plants, plant products or other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding. 6. Member States shall submit a report to the Commission and the other Member States, by 30 April of each year, on the application of the measures referred to in point (a) or (b) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 during the preceding calendar year. Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member States where, following the application of the measures referred to in points (a) or (b) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2, a pest has been found to be present which is likely to pose newly identified pest risks. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103 of this Regulation, the Commission and the other Member States of any case where the introduction of a plant, plant product or other object into the Union territory was refused, or its movement within the Union territory prohibited, because the Member State concerned considered that the prohibition referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of this Article was violated. Where applicable, that notification shall include the measures taken by that Member State on the plants, plant products or other objects concerned pursuant to Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 . Where applicable, the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were dispatched for introduction into the Union territory shall also be notified.
Article 50 Report from the Commission on the enforcement and effectiveness of measures relating to imports into the Union territory
By 14 December 2021, the Commission shall present a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the enforcement and effectiveness of measures relating to imports into the Union territory, including a cost-benefit analysis, and, where appropriate, present a legislative proposal.
Article 51 Amendment of Annexes III and IV
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending Annexes III and IV in order to adapt them to the development of scientific and technical knowledge and of relevant international standards.
Article 52 Temporary measures by Member States concerning imminent danger
1. Where a Member State considers that the introduction into, or movement within, its territory of plants, plant products or other objects from certain third countries or certain other Member States poses an unacceptable level of pest risk concerning the entry into, and establishment and spread in, its territory of a Union quarantine pest or a pest assessed to fulfil the conditions for inclusion in the list of Union quarantine pests, and that risk is not adequately mitigated by the measures referred to in Article 17(1) and (2), Article 18(1), Article 19(1), Article 28(1) and (2), Article 29(1), Article 30(1) and (3), Article 40(2) and (3), Article 41(2) and (3), Article 42(3), Article 49(1) and Article 53, it shall notify in writing the Commission and the other Member States of the Union measures it would like to be taken, together with the technical or scientific justification for those measures. 2. If a Member State considers that the Union measures referred to in paragraph 1 are not being, or cannot be, taken in sufficient time to mitigate the risk referred to that paragraph, it may take temporary measures to protect its territory against the imminent danger. Those temporary measures, and the technical justification for those measures, shall be notified immediately to the Commission and the other Member States. 3. Where the Commission receives the notification referred to in paragraph 1, it shall immediately assess whether the risk referred to in paragraph 1 is adequately mitigated by the measures referred to in Article 17(1) and (2), Article 18(1), Article 19(1), Article 28(1) and (2), Article 29(1), Article 30(1) and (3), Article 40(2) and (3), Article 41(2) and (3), Article 42(3), Article 49(1) and Article 53, or whether any new measure should be adopted pursuant to those Articles. 4. Where, on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission concludes that the risk referred to in paragraph 1 is not adequately mitigated by the temporary measures taken by the Member State pursuant to paragraph 2, or if those measures are disproportionate or not adequately justified, it may decide, by means of implementing acts, that those measures are to be repealed or amended. Until such an implementing act has been adopted by the Commission, the Member State may maintain the measures that it has taken. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Article 53 Prohibition of introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into protected zones
1. Certain plants, plant products or other objects originating from third countries or within the Union territory shall not be introduced into certain protected zones. 2. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt a list containing the plants, plant products and other objects referred to in paragraph 1 which are prohibited from being introduced into certain protected zones. The first of those implementing acts shall include the plants, plant products and other objects and their respective protected zones and, where applicable, their country of origin as listed in Part B of Annex III to Directive 2000/29/EC. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2) of this Regulation. In the list established by those implementing acts, the plants, plant products and other objects shall also be identified by their respective CN code where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 3. Where a plant, plant product or other object coming from outside a protected zone poses a pest risk of an unacceptable level by its likelihood of hosting the respective protected zone quarantine pest and that risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 accordingly to include in it that plant, plant product or other object and the protected zone or zones concerned. Where a plant, plant product or other object included in that implementing act does not pose a pest risk of an unacceptable level, or it poses such a risk but that risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend that implementing act accordingly. Those amendments shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). The acceptability of the level of that pest risk shall be assessed in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious pest risk, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). 4. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103, the Commission and other Member States of any cases where plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into, or moved within, the protected zone concerned in violation of the prohibitions adopted pursuant to this Article. Where applicable, the Member States or the Commission shall notify the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the protected zone concerned.
Article 54 Plants, plant products and other objects subject to special requirements for protected zones
1. Certain plants, plant products or other objects may only be introduced into, or moved within, certain protected zones if special requirements for those protected zones are fulfilled. 2. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, adopt a list containing the plants, plant products and other objects, their respective protected zones and the corresponding special requirements for protected zones. The first of those implementing acts shall include the plants, plant products and other objects, their respective protected zones and the special requirements for protected zones as listed in Part B of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2) of this Regulation. In the list established by those implementing acts, those plants, plant products and other objects shall also be identified by their respective CN code where that code is available. Other codes laid down by Union legislation shall, in addition, be referred to where they specify further the applicable CN code for a specific plant, plant product or other object. 3. Where a plant, plant product or other object coming from outside the protected zone concerned poses a pest risk of an unacceptable level for that protected zone by its likelihood of hosting a protected zone quarantine pest, and that risk can be reduced to an acceptable level by applying one or more of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II, the Commission shall amend the implementing act referred to in paragraph 2 to include in it that plant, plant product or other object and the measures to be applied to it. Those measures and the requirements referred to in paragraph 2 constitute ‘special requirements for protected zones’. Where a plant, plant product or other object included in that implementing act does not pose a pest risk of an unacceptable level for the protected zone concerned, or it poses such a risk but that risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by the special requirements for protected zones, the Commission shall amend that implementing act accordingly. Those amendments shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). The acceptability of the level of that pest risk shall be assessed, and the measures to reduce that risk to an acceptable level shall be adopted, in accordance with the principles set out in Section 2 of Annex II. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to address a serious pest risk, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 107(3). 4. Member States shall notify, through the electronic notification system referred to in Article 103, the Commission and other Member States where plants, plant products or other objects have been introduced into, or moved within, the protected zone concerned in violation of the measures adopted pursuant to this Article. Where applicable, the Member States or the Commission shall notify the third country from which the plants, plant products or other objects were introduced into the Union territory.
Article 55 Information to be provided to travellers and clients of postal services as regards protected zones
Article 45 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the introduction into, or the movement within, protected zones of plants, plant products and other objects.
Article 56 Exception from prohibitions and requirements for frontier zones as regards protected zones
Article 46 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the plants, plant products and other objects listed in the implementing acts provided for in Article 53(2) and (3) and Article 54(2) and (3) which are introduced from a third country frontier zone into the respective protected zones bordering that frontier zone.
Article 57 Requirements for phytosanitary transit as regards protected zones
Article 47 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the phytosanitary transit of the plants, plant products and other objects listed in the implementing acts provided for in Article 53(2) and (3) and Article 54(2) and (3) through protected zones.
Article 58 Plants, plant products and other objects used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding as regards protected zones
By way of derogation from the prohibitions and requirements provided for in Article 53(1) and Article 54(1), Article 48 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the introduction into, and the movement within, protected zones of plants, plant products and other objects listed in the implementing acts provided for in Article 53(2) and (3) and Article 54(2) and (3) and used for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding.
Article 59 General requirements for vehicles, machinery and packaging material
1. Vehicles, machinery and packaging material used for plants, plant products or other objects referred to in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 28(1) and (2), Article 30(1) and (3), Article 40(2), Article 41(2) and (3), Article 42(3) and Article 49(1) and moving into or within the Union territory, or through the Union territory pursuant to Article 47, shall be free from Union quarantine pests and from the pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1). 2. Paragraph 1 shall apply to protected zones also as regards the respective protected zone quarantine pests.
Article 60 Designation of quarantine stations and confinement facilities
1. For the purposes referred to in Articles 8, 48, 49 and 58, Member States shall take one or more of the following actions, taking into account the relevant pest risk: (a) designate in their territory quarantine stations or confinement facilities; (b) authorise the use of designated quarantine stations or confinement facilities in another Member State, provided that, where applicable, that other Member State has agreed to such authorisation; (c) designate temporarily the premises of professional operators or other persons as confinement facilities for the pests, plants, plant products or other objects and their relevant uses as set out in Articles 8, 48 and 49. 2. Member States shall, on request, communicate a list of the designated quarantine stations and confinement facilities in their territory to the Commission and the other Member States.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 60 Designation of quarantine stations and confinement facilities):
2. Member States shall, on request, communicate a list of the designated quarantine stations and confinement facilities in their territory to the Commission and the other Member States.
Article 61 Requirements for quarantine stations and confinement facilities
1. Quarantine stations and confinement facilities referred to in Article 60 shall meet the following requirements to prevent the spread of Union quarantine pests: (a) they provide physical isolation of the pests, plants, plant products and other objects to be kept in quarantine or confinement and ensure they cannot be accessed or removed from those stations or facilities without consent of the competent authority; (b) they have systems, or access to systems, for sterilisation, decontamination or destruction of infested plants, plant products and other objects, waste and equipment before removal from the stations or facilities; (c) they have an identification and description of the tasks of those stations and facilities, the persons responsible for carrying out those tasks and the conditions under which they shall carry out those tasks; (d) they have a sufficient number of suitably qualified, trained and experienced personnel; and (e) they have a contingency plan for the purpose of effectively eliminating any unintended presence of Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) and preventing their spread. 2. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific rules in order to provide uniform conditions of application for the requirements set out in paragraph 1 in relation to the type of plants, plant products and other objects and the actual or potential risk, including specific requirements for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 61 Requirements for quarantine stations and confinement facilities):
2. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific rules in order to provide uniform conditions of application for the requirements set out in paragraph 1 in relation to the type of plants, plant products and other objects and the actual or potential risk, including specific requirements for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Article 62 Operation of quarantine stations and confinement facilities
1. The person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility shall monitor that station or facility and its immediate vicinity for the unintended presence of Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1). 2. Where an unintended presence of a pest referred to in paragraph 1 is found or suspected, the person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility concerned shall take the appropriate action, based on the contingency plan referred to in point (e) of Article 61(1). The obligations set out for professional operators in Article 14 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility. 3. The person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility shall keep records on the following: (a) the personnel employed; (b) the visitors accessing the station or facility; (c) the pests, plants, plant products and other objects entering and leaving the station or facility; (d) the place of origin of such plants, plant products and other objects; and (e) observations concerning the presence of pests on such plants, plant products and other objects inside the quarantine station or confinement facility and in its immediate vicinity. Those records shall be kept for three years.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 62 Operation of quarantine stations and confinement facilities):
1. The person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility shall monitor that station or facility and its immediate vicinity for the unintended presence of Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1). 2. Where an unintended presence of a pest referred to in paragraph 1 is found or suspected, the person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility concerned shall take the appropriate action, based on the contingency plan referred to in point (e) of Article 61(1). The obligations set out for professional operators in Article 14 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility. 3. Those records shall be kept for three years.
Article 63 Supervision of quarantine stations and confinement facilities and revocation of designation
1. The competent authority shall regularly inspect the quarantine stations and confinement facilities to verify whether they meet the requirements set out in Article 61 and the operation conditions set out in Article 62. It shall determine the frequency of those inspections according to the pest risk related to the operation of the quarantine stations or confinement facilities. 2. On the basis of the inspection referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority may require the person responsible for the quarantine station or confinement facility to implement corrective actions to ensure compliance with Articles 61 and 62, either immediately or within a specified period of time. Where the competent authority concludes that the quarantine station or confinement facility or the person responsible for it fails to comply with Articles 61 and 62, that authority shall without delay take the measures necessary to ensure that non-compliance with those provisions does not continue. Those measures may include the revocation or suspension of the designation referred to in Article 60(1). 3. Where the competent authority has taken measures in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article other than the revocation of the designation referred to in Article 60(1), and non-compliance with Articles 61 and 62 continues, that authority shall without delay revoke that designation.
Article 64 Release of plants, plant products and other objects from quarantine stations and confinement facilities
1. Plants, plant products and other objects shall only leave the quarantine stations or confinement facilities, upon authorisation by the competent authorities, if it is confirmed that they are free from Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1), or, where applicable, protected zone quarantine pests. 2. The competent authority may authorise the movement of plants, plant products or other objects infested by a Union quarantine pest or pest subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) from a quarantine station or a confinement facility to another quarantine station or confinement facility if that movement is justified by official testing or scientific reasons and takes place under the conditions set by the competent authority. 3. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down specific rules concerning the release of plants, plant products and other objects from quarantine stations and confinement facilities, and, where appropriate, labelling requirements related to that release or to the movement referred to in paragraph 2. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2).
Article 65 Official register of professional operators
1. The competent authority shall keep and update a register containing the following professional operators who operate in the territory of the Member State concerned: (a) professional operators introducing into, or moving within, the Union plants, plant products and other objects for which a phytosanitary certificate or a plant passport is required on the basis of the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 72(1), Article 73, Article 74(1), Article 79(1) and Article 80(1); (b) professional operators authorised to issue plant passports in accordance with Article 89; (c) professional operators who request the competent authority to issue the certificates referred to in Articles 100, 101 and 102; (d) professional operators authorised to apply the marks referred to in Article 98, authorised to issue the attestations referred to in Article 99, providing information in accordance with Articles 45 or 55, introducing plants, plant products or other objects to frontier zones in accordance with Article 46(1) or Article 56, or carrying out activities concerning the relevant plants in demarcated areas, unless those operators are listed in another official register which is accessible to the competent authorities; and (e) professional operators other than the ones referred to in points (a) to (d) of this subparagraph, if so required by an implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 28(1), Article 30(1), Article 41(2), Article 49(1), Article 53(2) or Article 54(2). Member States may decide for further categories of growers or other professional operators to be registered if so justified by the pest risk presented by the plants that they grow or by any other of their activities. 2. A professional operator may be registered only once in the register of a competent authority. Where applicable, that registration shall be carried out with explicit references to each of the different premises referred to in point (d) of Article 66(2). 3. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to a professional operator who fulfils one or more of the following criteria: (a) it supplies exclusively and directly to final users small quantities of plants, plant products and other objects by means other than sales through distance contracts; (b) it supplies exclusively and directly to final users small quantities of seeds, other than the seeds subject to Article 72; (c) its professional activity concerning plants, plant products and other objects is limited to transporting them for another professional operator; (d) its professional activity exclusively concerns the transport of objects of all kinds using wood packaging material. Member States may decide not to apply the exemption referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph to all or certain growers or other professional operators if so justified by the pest risk presented by the plants that they grow or that are concerned by any other of their activities. 4. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 concerning one or more of the following: (a) amending this Regulation by adding further categories of professional operators to be exempted from the application of paragraph 1 of this Article, where registration would constitute an administrative burden for them disproportionate to the low pest risk related to their professional activities; (b) supplementing this Regulation by setting out particular requirements for the registration of certain categories of professional operators, taking into account the nature of the activity or of the plant, plant product or other object concerned; (c) supplementing this Regulation by setting out the maximum figures for small quantities of particular plants, plant products or other objects as referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 3. Those figures shall be established as appropriate for the plants, plant products and other objects concerned and the respective pest risks.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 65 Official register of professional operators):
1. Member States may decide for further categories of growers or other professional operators to be registered if so justified by the pest risk presented by the plants that they grow or by any other of their activities. 2. A professional operator may be registered only once in the register of a competent authority. Where applicable, that registration shall be carried out with explicit references to each of the different premises referred to in point (d) of Article 66(2). 3. Member States may decide not to apply the exemption referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph to all or certain growers or other professional operators if so justified by the pest risk presented by the plants that they grow or that are concerned by any other of their activities.
Article 66 Procedure of registration
1. Professional operators falling within the scope of Article 65(1) shall submit to the competent authorities an application for registration. 2. The application for registration shall include the following elements: (a) name, address in the Member State of registration and contact details of the professional operator; (b) a statement concerning the intention of the professional operator to exercise one or more of the activities referred to in Article 65(1) concerning plants, plant products and other objects; (c) a statement concerning the intention of the professional operator to carry out, as applicable, one or more of the following activities: (i) issuing of plant passports for plants, plant products and other objects pursuant to Article 84(1); (ii) placing of the mark on wood packaging material referred to in Article 96(1); (iii) issuing of any other attestation referred to in Article 99(1); (d) address of the premises and, where applicable, the location of land plots used by the professional operator in the Member State concerned to carry out the activities referred to in Article 65(1) for the purpose of the registration; and (e) the commodity types, families, genera or species of the plants and plant products and, where appropriate, the nature of other objects concerned by the activities of the professional operator, as referred to in Article 65(1). 3. The competent authorities shall register a professional operator without delay where the application for registration contains the elements set out in paragraph 2. 4. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, a competent authority shall register a professional operator without the submission of an application for registration if that operator is registered in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(5), Article 6(6) or point (b) of Article 13c(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC or national plant health rules and if all elements set out in paragraph 2 of this Article are available to that competent authority. Where relevant, the professional operator concerned shall submit an update of those elements by 14 March 2020. 5. Registered operators shall, where relevant, submit annually an update concerning any changes in the data referred to in points (d) and (e) of paragraph 2 and the statements referred to in points (b) and (c) of paragraph 2. That submission shall take place by 30 April of each year with regard to the updating of the data of the preceding year. An application for updating the data referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2 shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the change in those data. 6. Where the competent authority becomes aware that the registered operator no longer carries out the activities referred to in Article 65(1), or that the elements included in the application submitted by the registered operator in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article are no longer correct, it shall request that operator to correct those elements immediately or within a specified period of time. Where the registered operator does not correct those elements within the period of time set by the competent authority, the competent authority shall, as appropriate, amend or revoke the registration of that operator.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 66 Procedure of registration):
1. Professional operators falling within the scope of Article 65(1) shall submit to the competent authorities an application for registration. 3. The competent authorities shall register a professional operator without delay where the application for registration contains the elements set out in paragraph 2. 4. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, a competent authority shall register a professional operator without the submission of an application for registration if that operator is registered in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 6(5), Article 6(6) or point (b) of Article 13c(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC or national plant health rules and if all elements set out in paragraph 2 of this Article are available to that competent authority. Where relevant, the professional operator concerned shall submit an update of those elements by 14 March 2020. 5. Registered operators shall, where relevant, submit annually an update concerning any changes in the data referred to in points (d) and (e) of paragraph 2 and the statements referred to in points (b) and (c) of paragraph 2. That submission shall take place by 30 April of each year with regard to the updating of the data of the preceding year. An application for updating the data referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2 shall be submitted no later than 30 days after the change in those data. 6. Where the competent authority becomes aware that the registered operator no longer carries out the activities referred to in Article 65(1), or that the elements included in the application submitted by the registered operator in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article are no longer correct, it shall request that operator to correct those elements immediately or within a specified period of time. Where the registered operator does not correct those elements within the period of time set by the competent authority, the competent authority shall, as appropriate, amend or revoke the registration of that operator.
Article 67 Content of the register
The register shall contain the elements set out in points (a), (b), (d) and (e) of Article 66(2) and the following elements: (a) the official registration number, which shall include the two-letter code indicated in norm ISO 3166-1-alpha-2 ( 5 ) for the Member State in which the professional operator is registered; (b) where applicable, an indication for which of the activities referred to in point (c) of Article 66(2) the professional operator is authorised, and, where applicable, the specific plants, plant products or other objects concerned.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 67 Content of the register):
(a) the official registration number, which shall include the two-letter code indicated in norm ISO 3166-1-alpha-2 ( 5 ) for the Member State in which the professional operator is registered; (b) where applicable, an indication for which of the activities referred to in point (c) of Article 66(2) the professional operator is authorised, and, where applicable, the specific plants, plant products or other objects concerned.
Article 68 Availability of information of official registers
1. The Member State keeping the register shall make available, on reasoned request, the information contained therein to the other Member States or the Commission, for their own use. 2. The Member State keeping the register shall make available, on justified request, the information referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 66(2) and point (b) of Article 67 concerning a particular registered operator to any professional operator established in the Union, for its own use. 3. This Article shall apply without prejudice to national and Union rules on confidentiality, access to information and private data protection.
Article 69 Traceability
1. A professional operator to whom plants, plant products or other objects are supplied that are subject to requirements or conditions pursuant to points (a) to (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 28(1), Article 28(2) and (3), Article 30(1), (3) and (4), Article 37(2), Article 41(2) and (3), Article 46(1) and (3), Article 48(1) and (2), Article 49(1), Article 54(2) and (3), Articles 56, 57 and 58 and Article 79(1) shall keep a record allowing that operator to identify, for each trade unit of plant, plant product or other object supplied, the professional operators who supplied it. 2. A professional operator supplying plants, plant products or other objects that are subject to requirements or conditions pursuant to points (a) to (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 28(1), Article 28(2), and (3), Article 30(1), (3) and (4), Article 37(2), Article 41(2) and (3), Article 46(1) and (3), Article 47(1), Article 48(1) and (2), Article 49(1), Article 54(2) and (3), Articles 56, 57 and 58 and Article 79(1) shall keep a record allowing that operator to identify, for each trade unit of plant, plant product or other object it supplied, the professional operators to whom it was supplied. 3. Where an authorised operator issues a plant passport pursuant to Article 84(1), and where the competent authority issues a plant passport pursuant to Article 84(2) for a registered operator, that operator shall ensure, for the purpose of ensuring traceability pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, that it records the following information as regards that plant passport: (a) where applicable, the professional operator who supplied the trade unit concerned; (b) the professional operator to whom the trade unit concerned was supplied; and (c) relevant information relating to the plant passport. 4. Professional operators shall keep the records referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 for at least three years after the date on which the plant, plant product or other object concerned was supplied to or by them. 5. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, set out the following elements: (a) a shorter or longer minimum period than the one referred to in paragraph 4 with regards to specific plants, where so justified by the length of the cultivation period of those plants; and (b) requirements as to the accessibility of the records to be kept by the professional operators referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 6. On request, the professional operators referred to in paragraph 4 shall communicate the information in the records referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 to the competent authority. 7. This Article shall not apply to the professional operators referred to in points (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 65(3).
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 69 Traceability):
4. Professional operators shall keep the records referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 for at least three years after the date on which the plant, plant product or other object concerned was supplied to or by them. 5. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, set out the following elements: (a) a shorter or longer minimum period than the one referred to in paragraph 4 with regards to specific plants, where so justified by the length of the cultivation period of those plants; and (b) requirements as to the accessibility of the records to be kept by the professional operators referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 107(2). 6. On request, the professional operators referred to in paragraph 4 shall communicate the information in the records referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 to the competent authority. 7. This Article shall not apply to the professional operators referred to in points (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 65(3).
Article 70 Movements of plants, plant products and other objects within and between the premises of the professional operator
1. The professional operators who are supplied with, or supply, the plants, plant products or other objects referred to in Article 69(1) and (2) shall have in place traceability systems or procedures to allow identification of the movements of those plants, plant products and other objects within and between their own premises. The first subparagraph shall not apply to the professional operators referred to in points (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 65(3). 2. The information identified by the systems or procedures referred to in paragraph 1 on the movement of the plants, plant products and other objects within and between the premises of the professional operators referred to in that paragraph shall be made available to the competent authority on request.
Article 71 Phytosanitary certificate for introduction into the Union territory
1. A phytosanitary certificate for introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory shall be a document, issued by a third country, which fulfils the conditions of Article 76, has the contents set out in Part A of Annex V, or, where applicable, Part B of Annex V, and certifies that the plant, plant product or other object concerned complies with all of the following requirements: (a) it is free from Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1); (b) it complies with the provisions of Article 37(1) concerning the presence of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on plants for planting; (c) it complies with the requirements referred to in Article 41(2) and (3) or, where applicable, Article 54(2) and (3); (d) where applicable, it complies with rules adopted in accordance with the provisions adopted pursuant to point (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 28(1), Article 28(2) and Article 30(1). 2. The phytosanitary certificate shall specify under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’ which specific requirement is fulfilled, whenever the respective implementing act, adopted pursuant to Article 28(1) and (2), Article 30(1) and (3), Article 37(2), Article 41(2) and (3) and Article 54(2) and (3), allows for several different options for such requirements. That specification shall include the full wording of the relevant requirement. 3. Where applicable, the phytosanitary certificate shall state that the plants, plant products or other objects concerned comply with phytosanitary measures recognised as equivalent, pursuant to Article 44, to the requirements of the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 41(3). 4. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending Parts A and B of Annex V to adapt them to the development of the relevant international standards.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal Legislation on protective measures against pests of plants or plant products has been established at Union level since the 1970s. That legislation has been of major importance for the protection of the agriculture, the landscape and the environment in the Union. The first evaluation and revision of the Union phytosanitary policy took place between 2008 and 2016 and resulted in the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council 1 (‘the Regulation’), which repealed and replaced Council Directive 2000/29/EC 2 . Th e Regulation is currently the basic legal framework for the U nion plant health policy. Article 50 and Article 79(6) of the Regulation prescribed that the Commission submits, by the end of 2021, to the European Parliament and the Council reports on the enforcement and effectiveness of the import measures, and the experience gained by operators from the extension of the plant passport to all plants for planting (‘the reports submitted in accordance with Article 50 and Article 79(6)’). The Commission submitted those reports on 10 December 2021. The report on import measures concluded that it could be considered that those import measures, as well the inclusion of the plant health controls within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 have contributed towards achieving the objectives to enhance the phytosanitary protection of the Union and to increase proactive action against pests in compliance with the rules of the International Plant Protection Convention ( IPPC) through risk-based and transparent approaches. The report on the extension of the plant passport system to all plants for planting concluded that that extension has contributed towards achieving the objectives of the Regulation. More specifically it contributed to increased effectiveness of the protection against quarantine pests, improved preparedness for the identification of new plant pests of Union concern, improved understanding and awareness on the part of relevant stakeholders concerning the plant health importance, and increased possibility to identify pests. The reports identified areas for further discussion to enhance the effectiveness and practical implementation of the rules for plant health but also for official controls. Those discussions took place in 2022 with the Member States’ Chief Plant Health Officers, as well as with Union associations relevant to plant health. They led to the conclusion that certain improvements of the system were needed, which were only possible by amending the Regulation. Those improvements refer to the need for (i) declarations on the phytosanitary certificate for regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs), (ii) reporting the non-compliances with the RNQP rules in the electronic notification notification system (Information Management System for Official Controls – IMSOC), (iii) procedural rules for the submission and examination of non-EU countries’ requests for temporary derogations from import prohibitions, (iv) procedures for identifying and listing of high-risk plants and (v) rationalising the obligation to attach a plant passport to certain plants. Further improvements were identified through elements deriving from the experience gained by the Commission during the first 5 years of the application of the Regulation, with regard to (i) measures against pests qualifying as quarantine pests but not yet fully assessed, (ii) the need for autonomous acts for adopting temporary derogations from import prohibitions, and special import requirements, (iii) the need for setting temporary import requirements for the introduction into the Union of palnts, plant products or other objects which have been removed from the list of high risk plants but for which the phytosanitary risk has not been fully assesed, (iv) setting out requirements for third countries’ equivalence, and (v) the alternative official attestations. Finally, certain reporting elements were identified as falling under the scope of the Commission’s commitment to rationalise the reporting obligations of Member States and professional operators on the basis of its Communication on ‘ Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’ 4 . Rationalisation of the reporting obligations As regards the rationalisiation of reporting obligations, the Commission has taken a horizontal initiative. In its Communication on ‘Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030’, it stressed the importance of a regulatory system that ensures that objectives are reached at minimum costs. It has committed therefore to a fresh push to rationalise and simplify reporting requirements, with the ultimate aim to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the related policy objectives. Its overall objectives are summarised as follows: (a) to improve legal certainty and clarity for competent authorities and professional operators, both in the Union and in third countries; (b) to increase transparency, flexibility and consistency of the Union regulatory procedures; (c) to contribute through digitalisation, to the rationalisation of reporting obligations and the administrative tasks linked to them . Reporting requirements play a key role in ensuring correct enforcement and proper monitoring of legislation. Their costs are overall largely offset by the benefit they bring, in particular in monitoring and ensuring compliance with key policy measures. Reporting requirements can however also impose disproportionate burden on stakeholders, particularly affecting SMEs and micro-companies. Their cumulation over time can result in redundant, duplicating or obsolete obligations, inefficient frequency and timing, or inadequate methods of collection. The proposal thus aims also at rationalising reporting obligations by a combination of measures: – removal of reports which are not necessary any longer; – digitalisation of transmission of information; – reduction of frequency of reporting requirements The reporting requirements concern public authorities and, in certain cases, indirectly, professional operators. According to the proposed amendments, certain reporting obligations are removed, while others are digitalised or are requested with reduced frequency. 
Revised version (Article 71 Phytosanitary certificate for introduction into the Union territory):
2. The phytosanitary certificate shall specify under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’ which specific requirement is fulfilled, whenever the respective implementing act, adopted pursuant to Article 28(1) and (2), Article 30(1) and (3), Article 37(2), Article 41(2) and (3) and Article 54(2) and (3), allows for several different options for such requirements. That specification shall include the full wording of the relevant requirement. 3. Where applicable, the phytosanitary certificate shall state that the plants, plant products or other objects concerned comply with phytosanitary measures recognised as equivalent, pursuant to Article 44, to the requirements of the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 41(3). 4. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 105 amending Parts A and B of Annex V to adapt them to the development of the relevant international standards.