Authorisation to use the plant passport

Due to globalisation and global warming, the risk of potentially environmentally and economically hazardous plant pests being introduced into Europe is increasing. Therefore, compared to previous legislation, Reg. (EU) 2016/2031 in Articles 79 and 80 establishes an expansion of the use of the plant passport in order to contain this issue.

In fact, the plant passport guarantees the buyer that the plant material comes from an officially controlled production and fulfils all the phytosanitary conditions prescribed for its marketing, i.e. that it is free from quarantine pests and that, if provided for, it complies with the provisions on regulated non-quarantine organisms.

In addition, if an infestation is found on passported plants, the origin of the plants or propagation material can be traced. This allows for the possible rapid containment of the pest.

The plant passport is applied to

• all 'planting plants' (except seeds), meaning all plants intended to remain planted or to be planted or replanted;
• certain seeds, if they are marketed within the scope of the respective directives and for which specific RNQPs are listed in Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

The exemption from the application of the passport is foreseen only for plants intended to be transferred to the end user, provided that this exchange does not take place via a distance contract and does not concern movement in protected zones.

When submitting an application, Professional Operators must meet the following requirements:

• be registered or apply for registration in the Official Register of Professional Operators (RUOP);
• have a Farm Centre in the area of competence of the RFS to which the application is made;
• be registered in the Provincial Agricultural Register and maintain an up-to-date farm file;
• comply with the provisions of Reg. (EU) 2019/827 and DM 333987 of 27/07/2022 "Requirements, endowments and fulfilments of Professional Operators registered with the RUOP pursuant to Chapter VII of Legislative Decree no. 19 of 2 February 2021".

The application is accompanied by a €16.00 revenue stamp if submitted individually and not at the same time as the application for registration with the RUOP.

Professional Operators applying for the authorisation to use the passport shall also be required to pay the following compulsory fees as per Article 56 of Legislative Decree 19/2021 and Annex III - Section III of the same decree

• 100 Euro one-off fee for checks for the issuing of the authorisation to use the plant passport;
• annual phytosanitary fee for phytosanitary checks on production and circulation for RUOP-registered companies holding the authorisation to use the passport, the amount of which varies depending on the type of passport requested and the number of Farm Centres held. For the years following the first, the amount of the fee must be paid by 31 January of each year and is relative to the entire calendar year.

Depending on the type of passport (ordinary or for protected areas) and the number of Farm Centres for which it has been requested, the Professional Operator must pay a fee set as follows

The fee must be paid through the digital platform "PagoPa" by accessing the payment portal of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

The regulations in force provide that the competent SFR for the territory where the farm centre or the production field falls, grants to the Professional Operator who applies for it, the authorisation to issue plant passports after verification of the requirements set out in Reg. (EU) 2019/827 and Ministerial Decree 333987 of 27/07/2022 on "Requirements, equipment and fulfilments of Professional Operators registered with the RUOP pursuant to Chapter VII of Legislative Decree no. 19 of 2 February 2021".

The Professional Operators, registered with the RUOP and authorised to issue the passport, issue the plant passport referred to in Articles 79 and 80 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

The Professional Operator, if it has farm centres in regions other than the region in which it has its registered office, must submit the application for authorisation to use the plant passport to each SFR competent for the territory in order to allow the correct execution of controls.

When submitting the application, Professional Operators must meet the following requirements

• be registered or apply at the same time for registration with the Official Register of Professional Operators (RUOP)
• possess one or more Farm Centres in the area of competence of the RFS to which the application is made;
• be registered in the Farm Register and maintain an up-to-date farm file;
• comply with the provisions of Reg. (EU) 2019/827 and DM 333987 of 27/07/2022 "Requirements, equipment and fulfilments of Professional Operators registered with the RUOP pursuant to Chapter VII of Legislative Decree no. 19 of 2 February 2021";
• there must be no grounds for disqualification, suspension or prohibition pursuant to Article 67 of Legislative Decree 159/2001.

Subjects must fill in and sign the application form for authorisation to use the plant passport and the annex concerning the farm centre. If the application is submitted individually (and not at the same time as the RUOP application), a 16.00 euro revenue stamp must be affixed. The form (accompanied by a copy of the front and back of a valid identity document) must then be submitted to the Agricultural Service using one of the following methods

• sent by PEC to the address: serv.agricoltura@pec.provincia.tn.it;
• sent by ordinary mail
• hand delivery to the Agriculture Service or to the Peripheral Agricultural Units of the Autonomous Province of Trento.

• Application for authorisation to use the plant passport;
• Annex 1 - Farm Centres: Information on Farm Centres.

Preliminary investigation with documentary check and company inspection to verify requirements and consequent issue of authorisation following the positive outcome of the checks provided for by the Director of the Agricultural Service.