Improving plant health and protection

The Slovenian Presidency will continue to work on measures to reduce risks and impacts of plant protection products on human health and the environment. A key objective of the Slovenian Presidency in this area will be to achieve the greatest possible progress on two legislative proposals. The proposal for a Regulation on placing plant protection products on the market is the priority dossier on which the Slovenian Presidency will strive to make progress for achieving political agreement. The aim of the Slovenian Presidency for the proposed framework Directive on sustainable use of pesticides is to adopt a common position.

Besides discussions on the above-mentioned legislative proposals, the Slovenian Presidency will continue to conduct discussions on the proposal for a recast version of the Directive on the marketing of fruit propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production with  a view to its adoption.

International affairs

As far as international activities in the phytosanitary field are concerned, the Slovenian Presidency will in the context of the Commission for Phytosanitary Measures coordinate Member States’ positions for implementation of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The Slovenian Presidency will also coordinate Member States’ positions for the spring meeting of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The Slovenian Presidency will continue with the intensive work on preparing common positions for negotiations with the Russian Federation and other third countries. The aim is to ensure undisturbed trade in plant goods while taking into account Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.