Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
612. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if procedures exist to address minor administrative or clerical errors in phytosanitary documentation where there is no identified biosecurity risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53048/26]
View answerMy Department is the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) for Ireland responsible for implementing plant protection measures in accordance with the International Plant Protection Convention.
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are standards adopted by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
The International Standard for Phytosanitary Standard 12 (ISPM 12) sets down the principles and procedure for both the issuance and acceptance of phytosanitary certificates in international trade.
Under this standard NPPOs should not accept phytosanitary certificates that are determined to be invalid or fraudulent; examples of invalid phytosanitary certificates include incomplete or incorrect information, or conflicting and inconsistent information among others.
In the case of an invalid certificate resulting from a clerical administrative error, the NPPO may address this scenario, through a request for a replacement phytosanitary certificate. The subsequent release of a consignment is then dependant on the satisfactory completion of all necessary documentary, identity or physical checks.
