Ministerial Decree establishing measures against the introduction into the territory of the Republic of Italy of organisms harmful to plants or plant products.

The Decree aims at controlling the spreading of harmful organisms by means connected with the production or transit of plants and plant products. To this end it establishes a close and constant collaboration between the plant producers and the plant protection services. Any person engaged in the production or trade of plants and plant products shall be registered in the official register of producers, according to the procedure set out by the present Decree. Article 21 states the following obligations of the producers: (a) to keep record of, and carry out an inventory of the species actually cultivated; (b) to appoint a technical expert in charge of the external relations with the plant protection services; (c) to perform mandatory health checks according to the frequency and timing established by the regional plant protection services; (d) to collaborate in any other way with the plant protection services as they may deem necessary. In particular, the plant protection services may impose specific measures concerning checks, sampling, isolation, treatment and destruction of plants and plant products. The Decree regulates also the plant health checks to be carried out in order to assess that the provisions relevant to plant health standards and special requirements are satisfied. If the results of the checks are satisfactory, the plant protection services may officially authorize the issuance of an agreed mark, the so called "plant passport", that should be attached to the product, so ensuring the free movement of plants and plant products throughout the Community. Title VIII concerns health checks to be carried out on plants and plant products originating from member countries or from third countries. As far as the export of said products is concerned, the Decree regulates the checks to be performed by plant protection inspectors, who shall release a certificate in compliance with the legislation of the countries of destination. Final provisions concern protective measures to be taken for the introduction or transit of plants and plant products for scientific purposes.