Criteria to be fulfilled by professional operators authorised to issue plant passports
Article 1
Professional operators shall fulfil the following criteria in order to be eligible for authorisation in relation to the issuance of plant passports: (a) they have demonstrated to the competent authority the necessary knowledge of the applicable rules relevant to the examinations carried out in accordance with Article 87 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 concerning the Union quarantine pests, pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, protected zone quarantine pests and Union regulated non-quarantine pests that could affect the plants, plant products and other objects concerned; (b) they have demonstrated to the competent authority the necessary knowledge of the best practices, measures and other actions required to prevent the presence and spread of the pests referred to in point (a); (c) they have an effective plan to be followed in case of any suspected occurrence or findings of the pests referred to in point (a) that affect or are likely to affect their plants, plant products or other objects; (d) they have demonstrated to the competent authority the necessary knowledge and competence, for the performance of the required examinations of the plant, plant product or other object for the relevant pests and to take the measures referred to in point (b); (e) they have demonstrated to the competent authority that they possess or have access to the necessary equipment and facilities for the performance of the required examinations of the plant, plant product or other object, and also possess the capacity to take the measures referred to in point (b); (f) they have appointed a contact person responsible for the communication with the competent authority with respect to the provisions of this Regulation, and have communicated to the competent authority the contact details thereof.