Phytosanitary Issues

Information on the activities of the department 
"Products for plant protection”

The main purpose of its activities is that only officially authorized plant protection products reach the market:

• Which are tested for efficacy using the uniform standards of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization / EEPO/;
• Containing active substances included in the List of active substances allowed in the EU / Annex I /, or notified for entry to this list;
• To be used properly in accordance with the principles of good plant protection practice and integrated combat.

The activity is carried out by the Department of Plant Protection Products in pursuance of the provisions of Plant Protection Act. The department has the following main priorities:

1. Biological testing of the efficacy of Plant Protection Products under the good experimental practice;
2. Places Plant Protection Products for marketing and use in pursuance of the provisions of the Law on protection of plants (harmonized with Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market);
3. Organization and coordination of the activities of the Service for Plant Protection Products;
4. Approval of facilities for biological testing of Plant Protection Products for natural persons and legal entities.

Information on the activities of the department 
"Operational plant protection”

Organization of activities for surveillance, diagnosis, prognosis and signaling of economically important pests on agricultural crops.

Ensuring the production of clean plants and plant materials, protection of human health and the environment from pollution by Plant Protection Products, through the control of plant protection products and fertilizers placed on the market, their use in the country and monitoring of pesticide residues in soil and agricultural produce.

Maintaining a network for monitoring and diagnostic system to alert the development and dissemination of important economic pests to protect agricultural crops, conservation of biodiversity in agrocenoses, and keeps the crop production and the soil from pollution.

Ensuring the production of clean plants and plant materials, protection of human health and the environment from pollution by Plant Protection Products, through the control of plant protection products and fertilizers placed on the market, their use in the country and monitoring of pesticide residues in soil and agricultural produce.

1. Organization of activities for surveillance, diagnosis, prognosis and signaling of economically important pests on agricultural crops.

2. Development and implementation of monitoring programmes on the combat against and the dissemination of economically important pests in the country.

3. Development and implementation of geographical information systems for evaluation, analysis and risk management of economically important pests on agricultural crops.

4. Preparation of newsletters and other tools and materials for disclosure to farmers and the public about the occurrence, distribution and implementation of pest combat.

5. Conducting of training and supervision of farmers for the implementation of the requirements of "good plant protection practice" in crops.

6. Draw up a list of bio-agents being introduced and implemented in the country.

7. Development of programmes, implementation of guidelines and control on the manufacture of integrated products.

8. Development of regulations on the market placement and use of Plant Protection Products and fertilizers.

9. Registration of fertilizers, soil and growing environments;

10. Organization of:

• The work of departments in plant protection from the regional services for plant protection and conducts courses for raising the qualification of inspectors;
• Monitoring programmes on the Plant Protection Products used in the country.
• The safe storage of prohibited and useless Plant Protection Products together with the Ministry of Environment and Waters and the Civil Defense Service;
• Performance of testing and registration of fertilizers, soil and growing media;

11. Control on:

• The market placement of Plant Protection Products in the country.
• The use of plant protection products by farmers;
• Methodology for applying Plant Protection Products.
• Compliance with the composition of fertilizers, soil additives, and food environments announced by the farmer;
• Use and storage of fertilizers, soil, and biologically active substances;
• Content of chemical and biological contaminants in farm lands and waters for irrigation.

12. Execution of all activities in the settlement of trade in Plant Protection Products.

13. Development and implementation of monitoring programmes related to implementation of good agricultural practice.

14. Issue of permits for use of sludge from wastewater treatment plants for agriculture;

Information on the activities of the department 
"Phytosanitary Plant Control”

Responsible for protecting the territory of the country against the introduction and spread of quarantine pests and ensures the export of plants and plant products under the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country in accordance with international law provisions in this area.

1. Brief description of activities in the field of plant control. Border plant / quarantine / import control of plants and plant products for Bulgaria and EU member states, in accordance with European standards and Directives 2000/29, 98/22, etc.

• An analysis of the risk of introduction of quarantine pests in the country for imports.
• Registration of importers of plants and plant products included in Annex 5 of Decree № 1 for Phytosanitary Control and the EU Directive 2000/29/EC and maintaining an official register for phytosanitary control.
• Registration of warehouses of importers under the plant and customs control throughout the country under the provisions of Ordinance № 68.
• Phytosanitary / quarantine / control of plants and plant products imported into the territory of the country in accordance with European standards and Directives 2000/29, Directive 98/22 and Decree № 68 on the disposal of irregular shipments of plants or plant products for imports or contaminated with quarantine pests.
• Control of crops and plants created with imported seed.

2. Phytosanitary control on the production of plants and plant products and effective monitoring throughout the country in terms of quarantine pests in plants and plant products under the provisions of EU Directive 2000/29, Decree № 1 for Phytosanitary control and the Law on Plant Protection.

• Registration and maintaining an official register for phytosanitary control of the producers of plants and plant products, stores and auction markets under Article 33 of Ordinance № 1 on phytosanitary control.
• Quarantine inspections of registered enterprises under Item 1 in the production of plants and plant products.
• Release of phytosanitary plant passport of goods from local production, in the assurance that they meet the phytosanitary requirements under the EU legislation and regulations.
• Implementation of events for the elimination of outbreaks of infection down from quarantine pests.
• Registration of areas infected with quarantine pests and maintaining records thereof.
• Verification and issuance of documents for compliance with programmes to help farmers under national and European Union programmes.

3. Providing export of plants and plant products under the phytosanitary requirements of import countries.

• Collect and maintain a register of phytosanitary requirements of third countries with which Bulgaria has trade relations.
• Observations during the growing season in the manufacture or storage of goods intended for export.
• Release of plant export certificate in compliance with all requirements of the importing country.
• Release of phytosanitary certificate for Reeksport compliance with all requirements of the importing country.

4. Development and implementation of plant health monitoring programs in different plant species to identify and prevent promptly the spread of quarantine pests in Bulgaria and the EU fully comply with EU directives.

• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in potatoes
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in fruit
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in vineyards
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in greenhouses
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in strawberries
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in forest species
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
• Phytosanitary monitoring programs in ornamental plant species
• Long-term national strategy for potato Globodera rostochensis

5. Building and strengthening laboratory diagnostic network for diagnostics and identification of quarantine pests.

6. Exchange of information and data through the EU "EUROFIT" network for the rapid exchange of information on outbreaks in quarantine pests or pests captured on external EU borders.

Important information for importers and exporters under Standard 15: Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade.

After the date of accession of Bulgaria to the European Union - on 01.01.2007, Bulgaria became a full-fledged member country and the movement of goods within the EU, it is not required to be transported in wooden packing material that shall be treated and marked in accordance with Standard 15 due to internal movement within the European Community. Appropriate treatment and marking of wood packaging material is required only if the export and import in Bulgaria in trade with third countries.

All the details related to the activities of The National Plant Protection Service can be found at the site of The National Plant Protection Service at: www.nsrz.government.bg