Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/355

Contents

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on th…
1 Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389
2 Entry into force and application
I Frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks of the consignments of certain plants, plant products and other objects, or categories thereof, as referred to in Article 4(3)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation)^note, and in particular points (a) and (c) of the first subparagraph of Article 54(3) thereof,Whereas:

(1)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389^note establishes rules for the uniform application of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on consignments of plants, plant products and other objects referred to in Article 47(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 entering the Union that are subject to official controls at the border control posts of first arrival into the Union. Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 sets out the list of plants, plant products and other objects which are subject to identity checks and physical checks at specific frequency rates.

(2)In accordance with Article 4(4) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389, any plant, plant product or other object which is subject to a measure provided for in acts adopted in accordance with Articles 28(1), 30(1) and 49(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council^note is not subject to the reduced frequency rates referred to in paragraph 3; it is therefore subject to a frequency rate of 100 % for identity checks and for physical checks when entering the Union.

(3)Those acts frequently set out, inter alia, measures that do not subject the import of plants to specific requirements but only impose requirements concerning plants situated within the Union territory, such as surveys on host plants of specific pests. As experience with the application of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 has shown, it is not appropriate to systematically apply a 100 % frequency rate for the import of those plants into the Union, when their introduction into the Union territory is not subject to any specific requirements pursuant to those acts.

(4)Therefore, for reasons of legal clarity, it is appropriate to amend Article 4(4) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 so that the reduced frequency rates for identity and for physical checks do not apply to plants, plant products and other objects which are subject to specific measures concerning their introduction into the Union, provided for in acts adopted in accordance with Articles 28(1), 30(1) and 49(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

(5)In accordance with Article 6(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389, the frequency rates set out in Annex I to that Implementing Regulation are to be modified with regard to the criteria set out in points (i), (ii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of Article 54(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the criteria set out in Annex II, and, where appropriate, with regard to the information set out in Annex III to that Implementing Regulation. In accordance with Article 6(2) of that Implementing Regulation, the frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks for plants, plant products and other objects, or categories thereof, are to be reviewed at least annually, in order to take into account new information collected through IMSOC or provided by Member States, and modified accordingly.

(6)The Commission established a working group of experts who examined the situation of imports in 2022, 2023 and 2024 of plants, plant products and other objects referred to in Article 47(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 that are subject to official controls at the border control posts of first arrival into the Union. On the basis of the criteria referred to in Article 6(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389, the working group indicated the minimum frequency rates of identity and physical checks it deemed appropriate for certain plants, plant products and other objects from particular third countries of origin.

(7)A method based on risk and statistics was used taking into account a series of variables, which includes: the estimated mobility index of the Union quarantine pests at the most mobile stage to which they could develop on the relevant plants, plant products or other objects, or categories thereof; the number of consignments of plants, plant products and other objects, or categories thereof, for which identity checks and physical checks have been carried out during the previous year; the total number, and the details, of non-compliances due to the presence of Union quarantine pests related to consignments imported pursuant to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389; the total number of consignments of the goods concerned notified for other reasons than the presence of Union quarantine pests and the details thereof; and any other factor relevant for the determination of the phytosanitary risk associated with the trade concerned.

(8)In particular, and mainly due to the lower number of interceptions of consignments affected by Union quarantine pests, the minimum frequency rates of identity and physical checks should be decreased for cut flowers of Dianthus and Gypsophila from Ecuador, Gypsophila from Kenya, fruits of Malus, Prunus and Pyrus from European third countries, Citrus from Egypt and Israel, Citrus and Prunus from Türkiye, Pyrus from China, vegetables of Solanum lycopersicum from the Canary Islands and used machinery from all third countries.

(9)Furthermore, in order to ensure that a minimum number of identity checks and physical checks is performed in all cases, despite a lower number of imported consignments, as regards fruits of Citrus originating in Morocco and the United States, Malus from Argentina and New Zealand, and Prunus and Vaccinium from Chile, the respective minimum frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks should be increased.

(10)In addition, the minimum frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks should be increased due to interceptions of consignments affected by Union quarantine pests for cut flowers of Aster from Zimbabwe, Rosa from Zambia, fruits of Fragaria from Egypt, Persea americana from Cameroon, and roots and tubercles of Curcuma longa from Thailand.

(11)In view of the above, the Commission considers that the frequency rates for identity and physical checks set out in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 should be modified.

(12)For reasons of clarity, it is appropriate to replace Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389.

(13)In order to allow the competent authorities sufficient time to adapt to the new frequency rates, this Regulation should apply from 1 March 2025.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389#

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 is amended as follows:

(a)Article 4(4) is replaced by the following:‘4.The frequency rates according to paragraph 3 shall not apply to:

(a)plants intended for planting;

(b)any plant, plant product or other object which is subject to a measure concerning its introduction into the Union, provided for in acts adopted in accordance with Articles 28(1), 30(1) and 49(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.’

(b)Annex I is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2Entry into force and application#

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.It shall apply from 1 March 2025.

Annex I · Frequency rates of identity checks and physical checks of the consignments of certain plants, plant products and other objects, or categories thereof, as referred to in Article 4(3)

Plant, plant product or other object, or a category thereof	Country of origin	Minimum frequency rate of identity and physical checks (%)
Cut flowers
Dianthus	Colombia	3
Dianthus	Ecuador	10
Dianthus	Kenya	5
Dianthus	Türkiye	25
Gypsophila	Ecuador	3
Gypsophila	Kenya	5
Phoenix	Costa Rica	50
Rosa	Colombia	3
Rosa	Ecuador	1
Rosa	Ethiopia	25
Rosa	Kenya	25
Fruits
Actinidia	All third countries	10
Carica papaya	All third countries	10
Fragaria	All third countries^note	5
Persea americana	All third countries^note	1
Rubus	All third countries	5
Vitis	All third countries	1
Malus	European third countries^note	10
Prunus	European third countries^note^note	3
Pyrus	European third countries^note	10
Vaccinium	European third countries^note	50
Citrus	Egypt	50
Citrus	Israel	25
Citrus	Mexico	25
Citrus	Morocco	5
Citrus	Peru	10
Citrus	Türkiye	5
Citrus	USA	75
Malus	Argentina	75
Malus	Chile	5
Malus	New Zealand	15
Malus	South Africa	15
Mangifera	Brazil	75
Passiflora	Colombia	5
Passiflora	Réunion	10
Passiflora	South Africa	75
Passiflora	Viet Nam	15
Prunus	Chile	25
Prunus	South Africa	10
Prunus	Türkiye	25
Pyrus	Argentina	25
Pyrus	Chile	15
Pyrus	China	50
Pyrus	South Africa	10
Vaccinium	Argentina	50
Vaccinium	Chile	15
Vaccinium	Peru	5
Vegetables
Solanum lycopersicum	Canary Islands	15
Solanum lycopersicum	Morocco	1
Root and tubercle vegetables, other than tubers of Solanum tuberosum L.^note^note	All third countries^note	5
Roots and tubercles of Curcuma longa	Thailand	35
Used machinery
Machinery and vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes	All third countries	5

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