BTSF Training Programme on Plant health controls - Outbreaks in Forestry and ornamental

The overall objective is:

  • To increasing knowledge and providing for a common and unambiguous understanding of EU legislation and its' correct and harmonized implementation across the EU.
  • Furthermore, it should allow the exchange of information and experience amongst MS and increase the efficacy of plant health services.

Therefore, the objectives of the training are addressed to improve understanding, exchange knowledge, national approaches and best practices on Plant Health Controls.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Course 3b (HO-FNEU): Official staff responsible (or responsible official bodies) in charge of organising and implementing harmful organism outbreak control and surveys of harmful organism.
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 24/04/2023 28/04/2023 Vigo Spain
2 19/02/2024 23/02/2024 Munich Germany
3 10/06/2024 14/06/2024 Vigo Spain
Plant health controls - Outbreaks in Forestry and ornamental

BTSFTraining Programme on Plant health controls - Outbreaks in Agricultural and horticulture products

The overall objective is:

  • To increasing knowledge and providing for a common and unambiguous understanding of EU legislation and its' correct and harmonized implementation across the EU.
  • Furthermore, it should allow the exchange of information and experience amongst MS and increase the efficacy of plant health services.

Therefore, the objectives of the training are addressed to improve understanding, exchange knowledge, national approaches and best practices on Plant Health Controls.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Course 3a (HO-AH): Official staff responsible (or responsible official bodies) in charge of organising and implementing harmful organism outbreak control and surveys of harmful organism.
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 20/03/2023 24/03/2023 Alicante Spain
2 23/10/2023 27/10/2023 Alicante Spain
3 22/01/2024 26/01/2024 Nice France
Plant health controls - Outbreaks in Agricultural and horticulture products

BTSF Training Programme on Plant health controls - Non-timber forest products

The overall objective is:

  • To increasing knowledge and providing for a common and unambiguous understanding of EU legislation and its' correct and harmonized implementation across the EU.
  • Furthermore, it should allow the exchange of information and experience amongst MS and increase the efficacy of plant health services.

Therefore, the objectives of the training are addressed to improve understanding, exchange knowledge, national approaches and best practices on Plant Health Controls.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Course 2 (NTFP): Officials who control imported WPM and non-timber forest products, and/or supervising the treatment and marking of WPM or in charge of planning/implementation of official controls on WPM and non-timber forest products.
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 15/05/2023 19/05/2023 Tallinn Estonia
2 11/12/2023 15/12/2023 Lisbon Portugal
3 22/04/2024 26/04/2024 Tallinn Estonia
Plant health controls - Non-timber forest products

BTSF Training Programme on Plant health controls - Import controls of plant health

The overall objective is:

  • To increasing knowledge and providing for a common and unambiguous understanding of EU legislation and its' correct and harmonized implementation across the EU.
  • Furthermore, it should allow the exchange of information and experience amongst MS and increase the efficacy of plant health services.

Therefore, the objectives of the training are addressed to improve understanding, exchange knowledge, national approaches and best practices on Plant Health Controls.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Course 1 (IMP): Officials involved in import controls or in charge of planning/targeting import controls
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 12/06/2023 16/06/2023 Valencia Spain
2 25/09/2023 29/09/2023 Riga Latvia
3 20/11/2023 24/11/2023 Valencia Spain
4 11/03/2024 15/03/2024 Marseille France
5 20/05/2024 24/05/2024 Riga Latvia
Plant health controls - Import controls of plant health

The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme on Plant health surveys is:

  • To provide a clear, comprehensive and harmonised understanding of the key elements for plant health surveillance in the EU: the new regulatory framework (new Plant Health Law and relevant implementing and delegated acts), available guidelines, recommendations and supporting tools from EFSA, relevant International Standards, new technologies for plant health surveillance and best practices for planning, executing, documenting and reporting of surveys.

To ensure that effective and efficient surveillance is carried out by all Member States in a harmonised way, the course aims at:

  • Building capacity at national level for the planning and implementation of plant healht surveys.
  • Improving knowledge on the new Plant Health Regime and Financial Framework, EFSA surveillance toolkit, relevant international standards, and new technologies.
  • Addresing practical real situations and examples through carefully composed case studies, site visits and practical activities.
  • Identifying gaps in knowledge ans skills that need to be filled. Receiving feedback on challenges at national level and future capacity building needs related to survey programmes to ensure effective and reliable surveys.
  • Providing opportunities for partnership to be built with a view to strengthening plant health systems.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Senior officers from the EU Member States competent authorities, and experienced representatives from NPPOs, involved in official control activities with regards to plant health surveys in order to keep them up to date with all aspects of the EU law on Plant Health Surveys and ensure the exchange of best practices between the participants
  • Experienced staff responsible for planning, conduct, analysis, and reporting of surveys, from EU Member States, Candidate, potential Candidates and EEA/EFTA countries.
  • Participants that have the capacity to work and make interventions in the English language.
Phase II
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 30/01/2024 02/02/2024 Naples Italy
2 27/02/2024 01/03/2024 Munich Germany
3 09/04/2024 12/04/2024 Athens Greece
4 04/06/2024
07/06/2024
Riga Latvia
Phase I
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 20/09/2021 24/09/2021 Online Online
2 18/10/2021 22/10/2021 Online Online
3 06/12/2021 10/12/2021 Online Online
4 17/01/2022/td> 21/01/2022 Online Online
5 14/02/2022 18/02/2022 Online Online
6 14/03/2022 18/03/2022 Online Online
7 04/04/2022 08/04/2022 Online Online
8 03/05/2022 06/05/2022 Alicante Spain
8 03/05/2022 06/05/2022 Alicante Spain
9 13/06/2022 16/06/2022 Milan Italy
10 20/09/2022 23/09/2022 Riga Latvia
11 03/10/2022 06/10/2022 Nice France
12 08/11/2022 11/11/2022 Milan Italy
13 13/12/2022 16/12/2022 Munich Germany
14 13/02/2023 16/02/2023 Vigo Spain
15 13/03/2023 16/03/2023 Alicante Spain
Plant Health Surveys

The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on EU internal plant movement regime are:

  • Provide knowledge for a common and understanding of new EU plant health regime
  • Increase the level of expertise with regard to the rules introduced by the new PHR
  • Improve the level of consistency of their implementation across the EU
  • Foster a correct, harmonised, and unambiguous understanding across MS
  • Favour exchange of information and experience amongst MS
  • Disseminate best practices for official controls in the plant health area
  • Facilitate the transition to the new PHR

The course addresses the following topics:

  • International and EU Legal framework
  • New Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 (PHR)
  • Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (OCR)
  • EU Internal Plant Movement Regulation Overview
  • Introduction Professional Operators
  • Registration of Professional Operators
  • Authorization of Professional Operators and issue of Plant Passports
  • Obligations and Control of authorised Professional Operators
  • Pest risk management plans
  • Introduction Plant Passports
  • Regulated plant material
  • Use, Content and Format of the Plant Passport
  • Internal control and inspection
  • Interception and outbreaks linked with plant passporting

This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.

  • Representatives from relevant competent authorities involved in policy making, planning and control activities (preferably at central or regional level)
  • Field inspectors involved in official control activities
  • Official staff and inspectors involved in import controls or in charge of planning/targeting import controls
  • Advisable: “hands-on” experience
  • Proficiency in English language
  • Compromised to disseminate the learnings gained and to inform via a survey on which are the dissemination activities implemented
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 18/10/2021 22/10/2021 Virtual Class -
2 13/12/2021 17/12/2021 Virtual Class -
3 21/03/2022 25/03/2022 Virtual Class -
4 25/02/2022 29/04/2022 Virtual Class -
5 14/11/2022 17/11/2022 Amsterdam The Netherlands
6 Postponed
Postponed
Madrid Spain
7 24/04/2023
27/04/2023 Warsaw Poland
8 22/05/2023 25/05/2023 Riga Latvia
9 19/06/2023 22/06/2023 Madrid Spain
10 18/09/2023 21/09/2023 Madrid Spain
EU internal plant movement regime

The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme/Course on New EU plant health regime are:

  • Provide knowledge for a common and understanding of new EU plant health regime
  • Increase the level of expertise with regard to the rules introduced by the new PHR
  • Improve the level of consistency of their implementation across the EU
  • Foster a correct, harmonised, and unambiguous understanding across MS
  • Favour exchange of information and experience amongst MS
  • Disseminate best practices for official controls in the plant health area
  • Facilitate the transition to the new PHR

The course addresses the following topics:

  • International and EU Legal framework
  • Introduction to (New) Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 (PHR)
  • New PHR - Introduction Better protection and proactive action
  • Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (OCR)
  • OCR Implementing and Delegated Acts
  • Pest Concepts and Categorization
  • Import Control Regime
  • Practical elements for Import control
  • Wood Packaging Material (WPM)
  • Surveillance
  • Outbreaks Management
  • Overview Relevant HO for agriculture and horticulture
  • Overview Relevant HO for forestry, natural environments
  • Internal Movement Regime
  • Internal Controls Practical
  • Measures and Certification for Export
  • Information campaigns. Stakeholders and Citizens
  • Notification and Information of findings

This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.

  • Representatives from relevant competent authorities involved in policy making, planning and control activities (preferably at central or regional level)
  • Field inspectors involved in official control activities
  • Official staff and inspectors involved in import controls or in charge of planning/targeting import controls
  • Advisable: “hands-on” experience
  • Proficiency in English language
  • Compromised to disseminate the learnings gained and to inform via a survey on which are the dissemination activities implemented
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 01/10/2021 01/08/2021 Virtual Class -
2 08/11/2021 15/11/2021 Virtual Class -
3 25/02/2022 04/03/2022 Virtual Class -
4 16/05/2022 20/05/2022 Alicante Spain
5 Cancelled Cancelled Nice France
6 19/09/2022 23/09/2022 Tallin Estonia
7 17/10/2022 21/10/2022 Turin Italy
8 12/12/2022 16/12/2022 Valencia Spain
9 27/03/2023 31/03/2023 Nice France
New plant health regime

The Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) carries out audits of the controls implemented by competent authorities on a broad number of topics. These include the implementation of EU legislation relating to import controls and EU legislation in relation to Pesticides and Plant Health.

To increase or supplement the expertise of the audit teams, they in most cases, include a Member State expert in the topic at hand. Having Member State representatives ("national experts") included, also serves the purpose of increasing the knowledge and confidence amongst Member States of and in each other's control systems, the controls of the products imported into the EU and the auditing work of the Commission.

Finally, it is also hoped that it will further the sharing of good practices across Member States. The event aims to provide training to National Experts in the above fields.

Pesticides and plant health - National experts training