The overall objective of the BTSF Training Programme on Plant health surveys is:

  • To provide a clear, comprehensive and harmonised understanding of the key elements for plant health surveillance in the EU: the new regulatory framework (new Plant Health Law and relevant implementing and delegated acts), available guidelines, recommendations and supporting tools from EFSA, relevant International Standards, new technologies for plant health surveillance and best practices for planning, executing, documenting and reporting of surveys.

To ensure that effective and efficient surveillance is carried out by all Member States in a harmonised way, the course aims at:

  • Building capacity at national level for the planning and implementation of plant healht surveys.
  • Improving knowledge on the new Plant Health Regime and Financial Framework, EFSA surveillance toolkit, relevant international standards, and new technologies.
  • Addresing practical real situations and examples through carefully composed case studies, site visits and practical activities.
  • Identifying gaps in knowledge ans skills that need to be filled. Receiving feedback on challenges at national level and future capacity building needs related to survey programmes to ensure effective and reliable surveys.
  • Providing opportunities for partnership to be built with a view to strengthening plant health systems.

The training course is mainly addressed to:

  • Senior officers from the EU Member States competent authorities, and experienced representatives from NPPOs, involved in official control activities with regards to plant health surveys in order to keep them up to date with all aspects of the EU law on Plant Health Surveys and ensure the exchange of best practices between the participants
  • Experienced staff responsible for planning, conduct, analysis, and reporting of surveys, from EU Member States, Candidate, potential Candidates and EEA/EFTA countries.
  • Participants that have the capacity to work and make interventions in the English language.
Phase II
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 30/01/2024 02/02/2024 Naples Italy
2 27/02/2024 01/03/2024 Munich Germany
3 09/04/2024 12/04/2024 Athens Greece
4 04/06/2024
07/06/2024
Riga Latvia
Phase I
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 20/09/2021 24/09/2021 Online Online
2 18/10/2021 22/10/2021 Online Online
3 06/12/2021 10/12/2021 Online Online
4 17/01/2022/td> 21/01/2022 Online Online
5 14/02/2022 18/02/2022 Online Online
6 14/03/2022 18/03/2022 Online Online
7 04/04/2022 08/04/2022 Online Online
8 03/05/2022 06/05/2022 Alicante Spain
8 03/05/2022 06/05/2022 Alicante Spain
9 13/06/2022 16/06/2022 Milan Italy
10 20/09/2022 23/09/2022 Riga Latvia
11 03/10/2022 06/10/2022 Nice France
12 08/11/2022 11/11/2022 Milan Italy
13 13/12/2022 16/12/2022 Munich Germany
14 13/02/2023 16/02/2023 Vigo Spain
15 13/03/2023 16/03/2023 Alicante Spain
Plant Health Surveys