Digital version of plant passport number now available

The plant passport number has recently been copied into a digital version. For clock sales and direct sales, it can be attached digitally to the Electronic Delivery Form (EDF). This new version is a response to a commonly expressed wish of buyers. The digital plant passport is transferred for direct trade via the Electronic Clock Transaction (ECT) and DESADV (ECT for direct trade) to the buyer and on into the chain. This simplifies the checking and guarantee of the plant passports and improves the traceability of products. Along with supplying the plant passport numbers digitally, a paper plant passport must accompany each of the smallest sales units (for example, per tray/box /pot).

 

Legally required

The plant passport is legally required for certain plants and plant products marketed within the EU. This includes transport and handling within the Netherlands and shipping to other member states. Seeds and end products like fruits, cut flowers, and cut foliage are exempt. The aim of the plant passport is to be able to trace the original producer faster in cases of phytosanitary problems to prevent the spread of plant diseases. Starting in 2016 in connection with the outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa in the south of Italy and France, which causes e.g. Pierce’s disease in trees, measures were implemented. For example, additional host plants have been included in the list of plants for which a plant passport is mandatory, and more attention is being paid to the use of plant passports. Their correct use has thus become even more urgent. As Royal FloraHolland we want to remind you again of the mutual importance and the legal obligation to provide both a physical and a digital passport to keep the trade borders open for trade and to do our utmost to keep out Xylella and other diseases.

 

Recent inspections by NAK Tuinbouw

In April 2016, the NAK Tuinbouw (Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture) conducted passport inspections at Royal FloraHolland. These inspections revealed that the required plant passports were not included in all cases and that not all suppliers were registered. This means there is room for improvement. The NAK Tuinbouw will contact the suppliers who did not meet the legal requirements, and any lots with an incorrect passport or lacking one upon re-inspection will be withdrawn from the market.

 

For more information, please consult the websites of the NVWA (www.nvwa.nl) and the VBN (www.vbn.nl). For additional details about Xylella, read the newsletter from NAK Tuinbouw (newsletter). For instructions on how the digital plant passport should be included in the EDF, please consult the relevant software suppliers.

The choice of pre-treatments for Aster is being enlarged from June 15, 2016

Last year, Florissant had a new product checked for its effect as a vase life-extending agent for Aster. The Florissant product met all the conditions set, and thus it is being added to the mandatory aspects in the product specification for Aster.

 

Change:

  • The following product is added as permitted substance for pre-treatment of Aster:

o Florissant 810 = code 21 on the label.

 

Along with Florissant 810, the products with code 11 on the label (basis of sodium dichloroisocyanurate) are also permitted.

 

  • You must state the correct code of the pre-treatment product in your supply information. With this code the laboratory can check that the pre-treatment product is being used correctly.

o The grading code S65 pre-treatment must be added from today at position 6 in your EDF software package.

o For grading code S65 you must select the correct pre-treatment product by using code 21 on the product’s label = Florissant 810.

 

This product should be administered according to the instructions for use.

 

GRADING CODE

 

Product group no. Name SK1 SK2 SK3 SK4 SK5 SK6
1 01 081 Aster S20 S21 S05 L11 S65
    Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Pre-treatment

information code

 

S20 = Minimum stem length

S21 = Weight

S05 = Stage of maturity

L11 = Number of stems per bunch

S65 = Pre-treatment

 

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact:

Royal FloraHolland Laboratory

T 0174-632637 or 0174-632610

E laboratorium@royalfloraholland.com

Vigilance advised concerning Chrysanthemum white rust to Russia 2-5-2016

On the website of the Russian federation cases of Crysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana) are more frequently recorded in addition to the usual accounts of thrips in cut flowers. The requirements for companies regarding this organism are very strict in Russia; a company has to be free of contamination for 3 years. Additional attention in this matter is advised.

 

In 2006 the university of Wageningen published the following resources for controlling the disease (download publication).

For globe chrysanthemums the grading code S56 (cultivation method) will become mandatory from 1 May 2016.

This code has been advised since 2015.

The grading codes for globe chrysanthemums (group 202 004 03) are as follows from 1 May 2016:

Position Code Description Instruction
1 S01 Pot size Mandatory
2 S04 Minimum plant diameter Mandatory
3
4 S05 Stage of maturity Mandatory
5 S56 Cultivation method Mandatory
6 S02 Minimum plant height Mandatory

The grading code S56 has been made mandatory at the request of both suppliers and buyers. You can view the quality codes via the link given below:

Kenmerkcodes

 

The most common codes for S56 (cultivation method) are:

Code 001 under glass

Code 002 outdoors

Postpone entry date plant passport for Xylella March 31, 2016

The entry date to obligate a plant passport for approximately 30 plant species is postponed to 31 March 2016. As a result of outbreaks of the bacterial disease Xylella fastidiosa the European Commission requires the use of a plant passport within the EU for approximately 30 plant species. This obligation would take effect on February 1, 2016. Because more time is needed for the introduction, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) decided to postpone the introduction in the Netherlands to 31 March 2016. Other EU countries are informed about this decision. The date of introduction can be different per country or even regions per country. Information about this can be given by the responsible authorities in this country.

News report on Xylella plant passport 1 February 2016 

Mandatory plant passport for a number of plant species in connection with Xylella

Due to the outbreak of the bacterial disease Xylella fastidiosa in plants, the EU has imposed a number of measures.

One measure is the mandatory use of a plant passport within the EU for around 30 plant species. This obligation takes effect on 1 February 2016. This list is expected to be expanded in the near future.

 

For more information:

Information to suppliers cultivating plants, click here.

List of host plants, click here.