DAFM Pilot Plant Health Training Programme

Tender description

Plant health has important consequences for human and animal health as an important driver of food security, production agriculture and as part of a healthy environment. Plants provide for over 80 per cent of the food consumed by humans and are the primary source of nutrition for livestock and play a critical role in combating climate change. Increased plant pest burdens can cause economic losses through reduced yield and quality, thus resulting in food losses and impacting on food security. The United Nations have identified that globally up to 40 per cent of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases every year. To ensure the implementation of an effective Official Control Programme to promote and safeguard public health, food and feed safety and animal and plant health, the agricultural inspectorate as authorised officers play a crucial role in protecting plant health across trade, agriculture and the environment. As part of their official control duties, they inspect imported plants and plant products to ensure compliance with EU import regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016.2031) and to prevent the introduction of any regulated and potentially harmful organisms. Authorised officers also conduct internal country surveillance, surveying crops and nurseries for any quarantine plant pests that could potentially harm our horticultural sectors as well as the environment. Article 5.4 of the Official Controls regulation (EU) 2017.625 requires staff involved in delivery of official controls to receive regular additional training to keep up to date in their area of competence. The training programme is required to maintain and enhance competence and expertise of agricultural inspectorate staff in performing official controls/activities in the area of plant health. The training programme will also contribute to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) delivery of a professional and technical service through a tailored continuous professional development approach in the plant health area. It will also underpin ongoing policy development and awareness of plant health at national and international level, as per DAFM’s Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025.