EBSA Conference 2022 and Preconference courses

• 17-18 May 2022 Preconference courses
• 19-20 May 2022 Conference

Check out the conference program and register via this link.

You can still submit an abstract for poster presentation.

The BBP will be well represented! We are very proud to announce that several BBP and BBP Steering Team members are involved in the preconference courses and conference sessions.

We hope to see you all in Ghent!

Registered biocides

To ensure compliance with Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR), we highlight the importance of using registered biocides.

The list of in Belgium authorized biocides with links to the authorization certificates, issued by the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, is now also available in an extended interactive web application with search function.

Did you know that biocidal products that have received an EU registration via ECHA, can also be used in Belgium, even when they are not yet included in list of registered biocides issued by FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment? The overview of ECHA registered products and associated search function is online available.

Update OVAM guidelines medical waste

In August 2021 OVAM published new guidelines for medical waste:

The main additions and adjustments in the 2021 edition are:

• Broadening of the list of waste materials that belong to hazardous medical waste or to non-hazardous medical waste;
• Clarification of the link between waste legislation and ADR legislation;
• Amendment to the Decree of 28 March 2014 regarding the treatment of stillborn children who have not yet reached the legal viability limit;
• Adjustments to guidelines for medical glass management;
• Clarification of waste management from medical home care and self-care, including waste from peritoneal dialysis (peritoneal lavage).

More info on the OVAM website. 

Each shipment of plant products/ABP should be noted in TRACES

This notification needs to be done by someone responsible for the shipment, and most often this is the courier, broker service, a declaring agent etc.

• For ABP, please make sure to verify whether the courier is allowed to ship ABP and has a point of entry in Belgium. In case the point of entry is abroad it is advised to have a FAVV/ AFSCA import permit in English. Don't ignore the additional requirements stated on it, what's more, the other EU country may impose additional requirements.
• For plant products, check out the next topic in this Flash!

TRACES pre-notification for all materials entering the EU with a phytosanitary certificate

FAVV-AFSCA requires pre-notification in TRACES-NT for all shipments entering the EU with a phytosanitary certificate, in practice this means those items listed on Annex XI Part A and Part B of 2019/2072, and Annex XII of 2019/2072.

However, when the first point of entry into the EU is not Belgium, but another EU member state, certain BPP members experienced that not all shipments were required to be pre-notified in TRACES-NT by the local phytosanitary authorities.

E.g. Courier X and Courier Y indicated that they follow the rules of the countries their respective hubs are located in (DE and FR), and therefore do not necessarily pre-notify all shipments in TRACES (only those listed on Annex XI Part A or Annex XII of 2019/2072, or flagged for physical inspection); so those listed in Annex XI Part B of 2019/2072 are not standardly pre-notified in TRACES in those countries, which is in contradiction with the requirement from the FAVV-AFSCA,

BPP actively reached out to FAVV-AFSCA for clarification. FAVV-AFSCA indicated that for those items listed in Annex XI Part B of 2019/2072, the EU member states are free to choose how they implement the organization of 1% of risk-based inspections, and hence they have chosen to subject all items listed in Annex XI Part B of 2019/2072 to the TRACES-NT prenotification requirement. To avoid incompliance with the FAVV-AFCSA interpretation, one can organize import with a dedicated courier that directly enters the shipments into Belgium, instead of via an intermediate stop in another EU member state. However, this comes with additional costs, hence BBP is following up closely and inviting FAVV-AFSCA for further consultation to come to a compliant and pragmatic approach.

Invertebrate research – trade document and health certificate

We are aware of the problems associated with the importation of fruit flies and other invertebrates for research. The import permissions have been adjusted. The new model clearly states that a commercial document is sufficient for this type of shipment. A health certificate signed by an official veterinarian will no longer be requested. “The animals must be accompanied with a commercial document with at least the following information:

• country of origin and country of origin,
• name and address of the sender and of the company of origin,
• name and address of the consignee and of the delivery address,
• place of loading,
• characteristics of the means of transport,
• species (scientific name), category and number of animals,
• identification of the shipment and a sanitary guarantee statement:
• the animals are free of pathogens
• the animals were examined on the day of packing and found suitable for transport”

The application must clearly state that it concerns the import of invertebrates for scientific research.

Update phytosanitary aspects

In December 2021 an update of the Big Implementing Act (EU) 2019/2072 which describes the protective measures against pests of plants, was published. Modifications concern listed quarantine pests and phytosanitary requirements. Click here for more details. The changes (with some exceptions) are effective from 11 April 2022

Xylella fastidiosa

Based on the European Plant Health legislation, the circular regarding phytosanitary emergency measures for X. fastidiosa was extensively updated. The latest versions are available in Dutch (Omzendbrief Xylella V5 (favv-afsca.be)) and French (Circulaire Xylella V5 (favv-afsca.be)).

Points of attention:

• Reference to the Plant Health regulatory framework
• Changes in definitions of “host plants” and “further specified host plants”, as well as in the respective lists – e.g. Brassica plants are also host plants.
• Status of the disease in the EU: the disease is further spreading in Italy, France and Spain.

Implementing regulation (EU) 2020/1770 will be applicable as of Dec 31, 2021. This means that as of then, always a traceability code will need to be mentioned on the plant passport (even if the plants are destined for sale to final users!) for the following plants for planting (other than seeds): Citrus, Coffea, Lavandula dentata, Nerium oleander, Olea europea, Polygala myrtifolia, Prunus dulcis and Solanum tuberosum.

Research project “Beware&Note” was recently finalized by the PCS (Proefcentrum voor Sierteelt) Natuurpunt and ILVO. The project aimed to enhance awareness on quarantine organisms with the general public, and developed informational leaflets on the major quarantine organisms, an information package for schools and a separate tool to report quarantine organisms on the website in Dutch(Welkom - Waarnemingen.be) and French (Bienvenue - Observations.be)

Specific contact persons at FAVV-AFSCA per topic:

• Lieve Van Den Broeck: plant pasports
• Erika Van Den Berghe: export / international affairs
• Jan Van Autreve: Xylella fastidiosa

Emergency phytosanitary measures for the import of tomato, pepper and pumpkin seeds to Turkey

As of Sept 15, 2021, Turkey is requiring additional declarations on phytosanitary certificates accompanying imports of tomato, pepper and pumpkin seeds. More details can be found in this document.