In the interest of plant health, the EU has set certain requirements concerning the safe movement of plants in order to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms to plants and plant products. This means that certain commodities are not allowed to be imported into the EU because there are a number of pests, unless certain well-established conditions are complied with the country of origin; and specified plants or plant products must be accompanied by a plant health certificate, also known as a phytosanitary certificate.
This means that traders in plants and plant products (importers and exporters of plant material including fruit and vegetables and wood products to the EU and outside the EU), have to make sure that their products comply with the EU legislation on plant health.
Although the issue of phytosanitary certificates and phytosanitary certificates for export and re-export by the Plant Protection Directorate is primarily a regulatory function of the entity, it also serves as an important mechanism to facilitate the trade of plants and plant products between the EU and third countries.
A phytosanitary certificate is a document issued by a third country that is required for the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects into the Union territory. It certifies that the plant, plant product or other object concerned is free from pests and that it complies with certain criteria.
A ‘phytosanitary certificate for export’ is required in the case of export of a plant, plant product or other object from the Union territory to a third country, by the phytosanitary import requirements of that third country. This type of certificate can be issued by the Plant Protection Directorate at the request of a professional operator who is registered in the
Malta Official Register.
The phytosanitary certificate for export can only be issued where the information available allows the Plant Protection Directorate to certify compliance of the plant, plant product or other object concerned with the phytosanitary import requirements of the third country concerned.
For this reason, the Plant Protection Directorate will need to obtain information relating to:
• inspections, sampling and testing of the plants, plant products or other objects concerned, or their place of production and its vicinities;
• official information on the pest status in the production site, place of production, area or country of origin of the plants, plant products or other objects concerned;
• a plant passport, accompanying the plants, plant products or other objects concerned;
• the mark of wood packaging material or other attestations.