The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched the #PlantHealth4Life programme, which will be carried out simultaneously and for the second consecutive year in 22 countries of the European Union (EU) until September.

The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness among EU citizens about the role that people play in the spread of plant pests, through everyday acts, such as travel or buying exotic plants. Precisely, one of the milestones of the campaign is aimed at raising awareness during the summer period, since it is the time of year with the greatest tourist and leisure activity.

The message that they want to get across is the prohibition of bringing plants, flowers and fruits from outside the continental EU, since there is a risk of entry of harmful organisms not present in the national territory. One of the most significant examples of a phytosanitary disaster is Xylella fastidiosa, a phytopathogenic bacterium with no known cure that arrived from America and has already affected large areas of crops such as olive trees, vines, almond trees or natural flora in several European countries.

Plants also need documentation to cross borders. In the European Union, it is the phytosanitary passport, a document with basic information on the origin, traceability and compliance with phytosanitary regulations for seeds, cuttings, bulbs, plants, trees or any vegetable. It is the passport used by professional operators, since plant health is also closely linked to international trade.

On the other hand, climate change, with rising temperatures and varying rainfall patterns, has also become an influential factor in creating favourable conditions for the spread of plant pests and diseases. Consequently, the growing concern in the European Union about the threat to plant health has led it to publish a list of 20 quarantine pests. The aim is to give priority to preventive measures as they are the most effective in avoiding destructive pests that can affect food safety, the economy and the environment.

In addition to the summer campaign aimed at the general public, the #PlantHealth4Life programme also has two other target audiences, namely people who are keen on gardening and families concerned about food, the environment and agriculture, as these are two types of population that can also contribute to protecting European plant health.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an EU agency created in 2002 to provide impartial scientific advice to risk managers, as well as to communicate about the risks associated with the food chain.