Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community.

This Directive lays down protective measures against the introduction into the Member States from other Member States or third countries of organisms which are harmful to plants or plant products. It also concerns: (a) protective measures against the spread of harmful organisms within the Community by means related to movements of plants, plant products and other related objects within a Member State; (b) protective measures against the introduction of harmful organisms into the French overseas departments from other parts of France and, conversely, into other parts of France from the French overseas departments; (c) protective measures against the introduction of harmful organisms into the Canary islands from other parts of Spain and, conversely, into other parts of Spain from the Canary Islands. With a view to clearly defining the application scope of this Directive, article 2 contains the definition of, among others, "plants", "plant products" and "harmful organisms". The latter mean pests of plants or of plant products, which belong to the animal or plant kingdoms, or which are viruses, mycoplasmas or other pathogens. Each Member State shall set up or designate one single and central authority which shall be in charge (under the control of the national Government) of coordination in matters related to plant health. Member States shall ban the introduction into their respective territories of the harmful organisms, plants and plant products referred to in Annexes I, II and III. Annex V defines the plants, plant products and other objects which must be subject to plant inspections. Where it is considered, on the basis of the examination laid down in article 6(1) and (3), that the conditions therein are fulfilled, a phytosanitary certificate shall be issued in accordance with the model contained in Annex VII, Part A.