Last update: 02/04
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What is EUROPHYT?
Objectives
How does it work?
Achievements
Who benefits?
The role of IDA
Technical information
Documentation
What is EUROPHYT?
EUROPHYT is a web-based network supporting the protection of human, animal and plant life and health by the European Commission and Member States. Launched by DG Health and Consumers Protection, it is a sub-project of PHYSAN (Phyto-Sanitary Controls) specifically concerned with plant health information.
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Objectives
The main objective of EUROPHYT is to improve the exchange of official information between plant health services of the EU Member States and the European Commission.
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How does it work?
EUROPHYT is made up of two parts: EUROPHYT-PHY and EUROPHYT-CIRCA.
The EUROPHYT-PHY database manages notifications of interceptions of plants or plant products that do not comply with EU legislation. The system allows users to enter, modify or consult notifications using either the interactive interface or the message exchange facility. Notifications are distributed to all Member States by e-mail in real-time, and may be printed in a prescribed format.
Users can be authorised to perform different roles:
- Consultation,
- Data entry,
- Approval at national and Community levels.
The system may be used for both third country and intra-Community notifications and also allows for the preparation of statistical information on these notifications. In addition, users can work in different Community languages.
The EUROPHYT-(FIS) CIRCA database acts as a notice board for the Member States and contains data such as:
- Technical and biological information;
- Plant health legislation;
- The Vademecums for plant health inspectors.
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Achievements
- EUROPHYT-CIRCA is operational and has been used by Member States and the Commission since September 2001. It has increased the availability of information to Member States and eases the burden of distributing information, especially prior to meetings of the Regulatory Committees. The greater availability of information also increases its transparency - for example, the results of surveys by a Member State are now readily available to all other Member States and the Commission.
- EUROPHYT-PHY is operational and has been used by two Member States and the Commission for entering and distributing notifications of interceptions. The rapid dissemination of notifications greatly supports the work of the national services in targeting high risk consignments.
- The system report options allow easy analysis of data. This is essential for the timely development of legislation and to provide the necessary information to support the new legislation at the World Trade Organisation.
- The Commission is also able to provide an annual summary of notifications which is used as an indication of the effectiveness of current import controls.
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Who benefits?
Citizens: EUROPHYT projects were developed to improve the efficiency of the phytosanitary control and monitoring systems, with the result of strengthening biosecurity measures, enhancing food and environmental security, and therefore the protection of consumers.
Policy Makers: EUROPHYT supports decision-making processes by providing a better quality of electronic data.
Public Administrations: The alert mechanism also allows Member States and Commission services to rapidly take appropriate measures when needed.
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The role of IDA
The EUROPHYT network was developed with the financial contribution of the IDA Programme. It made use of the IDA generic service TESTA and security service PKI in its development.
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Technical information
|
Project start date |
1992 |
|
Project completion date |
2003 |
|
Project status |
Implementation |
|
IDA budget |
1999 € 300,000
2001 € 300,000
2002 € 150,000
2003 € 100,000 |
|
Responsible service |
DG Health and Consumer Protection |
|
Project coordinator |
Lars Christoffersen |
|
Contact |
idabc@ec.europa.eu |
|
Countries involved |
All EU Member States, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey |
|
Public website |
http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/rc/scph/rap13_en.html |
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Documentation: |
Print
EUROPHYT - Annual Report 2003 (PDF)
