20071206

Commission Decision

of 6 December 2007

amending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt

(notified under document number C(2007) 5898)

(2007/842/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community [1], and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Under Commission Decision 2004/4/EC [2], tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, must not in principle be introduced into the Community. However, for the 2006/07 import season the entry into the Community of such tubers was permitted from "pest-free areas" and subject to specific conditions.

(2) During the 2006/07 import season, one interception of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith was recorded.

(3) Egypt has reacted to this interception in a satisfactory way. The respective area has been taken off the list of "pest free areas" for the 2007/08 import season.

(4) In the light of the information provided by Egypt, the Commission has established that there is no risk of spreading Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith with the entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. from "pest-free areas" of Egypt, provided that certain conditions are satisfied.

(5) The entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in "pest-free areas" of Egypt, should therefore be permitted for the 2007/08 import season.

(6) Decision 2004/4/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 2004/4/EC is amended as follows:

1. in Article 2 paragraph 1 "2006/07" is replaced by "2007/08";

2. in Article 4, " 31 August 2007" is replaced by " 31 August 2008";

3. in Article 7, " 30 September 2007" is replaced by " 30 September 2008";

4. the Annex is amended as follows:

(a) in point 1(b)(iii), "2006/07" is replaced by "2007/08";

(b) in the second indent of point 1(b)(iii), " 1 January 2007" is replaced by " 1 January 2008";

(c) in point 1(b)(xii), " 1 January 2007" is replaced by " 1 January 2008".

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 December 2007.

For the Commission

Markos Kyprianou

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2007/41/EC (OJ L 169, 29.6.2007, p. 51).

[2] OJ L 2, 6.1.2004, p. 50. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/749/EC (OJ L 302, 1.11.2006, p. 47).

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