2020: International Year of Plant Health

The United Nations has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The year is a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development. International Year of Plant Health (IYPH)  #IYPH2020.

EFSA has launched a dedicated website highlighting the work it is doing with its partners to combat plant pests and protect Europe’s crops, parks and gardens.

2020 is not only the International Year of Plant Health, but also the year when the new Plant Health Law is implemented across the European Union. EFSA has embarked on several interconnected projects that support the European Commission’s efforts to protect the EU from plant pests and diseases and to help Member States prepare for future threats. Additionally, EFSA is planning a full year of activities in support of the IYPH which will also be highlighted on the new website.

EFSA’s dedicated microsite allows users to delve into several different topics and explore its work such as  horizon scanning, the work EFSA does to track of emerging pests; pest surveillance, for which EFSA provides a toolkit that includes pest survey cards, survey guidelines, and statistical tools; the 20 priority pests identified by the European Commission; the high-risk plants whose entry into the EU is prohibited; as well as pest risk assessments and pest categorisations.