The aim of the Community plant health regime is to prevent the introduction into the community of organisms harmful to plants and plant products or their spread within the Community.

The Community plant health regime is established by Council Directive 2000/29/EC (which is a consolidated version of Directive 77/93/EEC). The general principles are based upon provisions laid down in the International Plant Protection Convention concluded at the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organisation and, in the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

In order to meet the above aim, rights and obligations are placed upon Member States to regulate the movement of plants or plant products within their territory and to regulate the introduction of plants or plant products into the Community from third countries. Obligations are placed upon third countries which want to export plants or plant products to the Community.