Our goals are connected to our mission to serve as the national public
entity responsible for plant protection.
1. We inspect, monitor and survey plants
and plant material to report and take action on the existence, outbreak or
spread of pests and harmful organisms.
2. We control the movement of plants and
plant materials coming from third countries and within the EU through systems of notification, licences,
authorisations, passports and certifications.
3. We provide state registrations and
statutory licences to professional operators involved in propagation and
trading of plants and plant materials, and to technical advisors with expert
knowledge on soil management, integrated pest management and the certification
of breed standards, to enable them to conduct their business activities in
compliance with the law, and to ensure a level playing field in the market of
plant production, and trading.
4. We facilitate the export of plants,
plant materials, and other commodities from Malta to countries outside the EU
by issuing movement certificates in accordance with the law.
5. We manage ex situ collections of plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture, and provide a system for the fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources.
6. We act as a bridge between various key
sectors among which are health, conservation, agriculture, education and
research with a view to valuing and conserving biodiversity for food and
agriculture and promoting its use in support of global food security and
sustainable development, for present and future generations.
7. We provide information to all our
customers and the public on technical matters and national policy in relation
to plant health and genetic resources for food and agriculture.
8. We simplify citizen’s duties on matters
related to plant protection by providing the appropriate mechanisms for them to
fulfil their statutory obligations without the burden of unnecessary
bureaucracy.
9. We serve our customers so that
commercial, research, and personal activities do not conflict or impact
negatively on the health, quality and genetic integrity of Maltese plants,
animals, and other organisms for food and agriculture.