council directive 2002 89 ec of 28 november 2002 amending directive 2000 29 ec on protective measures against the introduction into the community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the community 16 pages published in all ec official languages . the overall aim of the ec plant health legislation is to ensure protection against harmful organisms that affect plants or plant products. the benefits of the amended directive notified hereby with a view of international trade facilitation is to strengthen import clearance procedures and to set enhanced conditions for co-operation between customs authorities and official phytosanitary bodies in member states. it also ensures better information for importers and the establishment of a harmonised system of fees charged for carrying out import checks. in addition building on experience new scientific evidence and international instruments several provisions are completed and updated to technical progress. in particular the provisions concerning format for the phytosanitary certificates to be used by member states under the international plant protection convention role of the single authority of each member state for co-ordination and contact in plant health matters procedures for the adoption of derogation decisions or of emergency measures and plant health checks organised by the commission. the amended directive also adjusts regulatory provisions to clarify procedures for the commission to exercise the implementing powers that have been conferred on it. finally in accordance with obligations under the agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures the amended directive specifies procedures for recognising the equivalence of phytosanitary measures of other parties to that agreement. note this text is notified as a matter of information and to facilitate trade in order to allow time for adaptation to exporting countries before the ec member states apply the provisions necessary to comply with directive 2002 89 ec. see under paragraph 11