In the spotlights: Plant Passport Tool helps companies meet legal requirements

In 2025, Naktuinbouw specialists and educators developed the Plant Passport Tool. The tool supports registered companies in obtaining and maintaining plant passport authorization. This allows companies to independently issue plant passports without prior approval from an inspector.

The requirements stem from EU regulations, such as the EU Plant Health Regulation 2016/2031 and other regulations.

Knowledge and skills

The EU Plant Health Regulation requires companies to have sufficient knowledge and skills regarding diseases and pests. The aim of the plant passport tool is to improve the assurance of plant passport authorization and to support companies in meeting the legal requirements. For example, companies learn how to conduct their own crop observations, where to find reliable information about organisms, and how to check critical production points that affect the phytosanitary status. The tool also helps with administrative maintenance and demonstrating crop traceability.

E-learning modules

The Plant Passport Tool is an e-learning module from our Naktuinbouw Academy and consists of several modules. Each module includes an explanation, references to reliable sources, and test questions to help the user understand the content. Example situations make the e-learning even more practical by challenging participants to make decisions based on reliable sources, such as organism data sheets. This gives participants a good understanding of how various factors interact in a situation and enables them to make sound decisions.

Development, testing and evaluation

Since May, Naktuinbouw has made the tool available for vegetable plant growers in a test phase. They could use the tool to prepare for their annual administrative inspection. We then wanted to expand the tool to other sectors. However, the evaluation in the autumn showed that the number of participating companies was lower than expected. This was partly because the tool's introduction took place during a busy period, which left growers less time to adopt a new working method. Therefore, at the end of 2025, we presented the plant passport tool extensively to the various advisory committees. The feedback was positive.

What's next for the tool?

We therefore have a clear plan for 2026. We will develop different versions of the tool for different target groups, ensuring the content is relevant to practical use. We will also relaunch the version for vegetable plant growers, providing additional support and communication. We want to make the tool more accessible and demonstrate the benefits it offers to the daily work of growers with plant passport authorization.