WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GEN/65
12March 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1073)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
SLOVAK PHYTOQUARANTINE MEASURE FOR THE IMPORT
OFWARE POTATOES
Submission bytheEuropean Community atthemeeting of12-13 March 1998
General comments
1. Theabove measure, which wasissued onthebasis ofthelawoftheNational Council ofthe
Slovak Republic N.285/95, wasnotified asanemergency measure andnumbered asG/SPS/N/SVK/9.
Thishasbeenalready thesubject ofdiscussions withtheSlovak authorities. TheEuropean Community
expressed concern thatthemeasure hasbeenintroduced without anypreliminary notification under
theSPSAgreement andthusthirdcountries, including theEuropean Community, hadnoopportunity
tocomment onthemeasure prior toitsadoption. Thenotification hasrecently beennotified asan
emergency measure: there would appear tobenojustification forthischoice ofnotification andit
gives alimited framework forformal consideration ofMember 'scomments.
Specific comments
2. Inrespect ofthisnotification theEuropean Community recognised thatphytosanitary measures
should betaken toprevent theintroduction andspread ofquarantine diseases ofpotatoes, particularly
Clavibacter michiganensis ssp.sepedonicus andRalstonia (Pseudomonas) solanaceraum, inrelation
toimports. However theEuropean Community isconcerned about thespecific measure proposed and
would wishtomake thefollowing points:
(a) Therequirement forimports ofconsumer potatoes tohave been treated against
germination using onenamed plantprotection product which hastohavebeenregistered
intheSlovak Republic, iscontrary totheprinciples oftheSPSAgreement. This
stipulates thatanyphytosanitary measure should bebased onscientific principles, and
inthiscasetherequirement foratreatment bytheexporting country withasprout
suppressantofferingequivalentguaranteesauthorisedinthatcountryshouldbesufficient.
IfaMember Statehasauthorised theuseofparticular products (containing particular
activeingredients)thentheSlovakauthoritiesshouldacceptsuchausewithoutrequiring
registration ofthese products intheSlovak Republic.
(b) TheEuropean Community accepts theconcern forresidues onpotatoes treated with
sprout suppressant products. However, thisconcern should beaddressed, asisthe
caseinEClegislation, bysetting maximum residue levels forpotatoes.
(c) TheEuropeanCommunitywouldlikeclarificationonthereferenceto"importlicences".
InearliercontactstheSlovakauthoritieshaveexplainedthe"importlicence"requirement
interms ofsimply the"normal official checking procedures onimportation". Itwould
behelpful tohavethisexplanation confirmed inwriting.
./.G/SPS/GEN/65
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Conclusion
3. Thelevelofprotection setbytheSlovak Republic could befulfilled bylesstrade restrictive
measures ifsprout-suppressant products, different fromthose currently authorised butcontaining either
thesameactive ingredient oradifferent active ingredient withanequivalent sprout suppressant action,
would beallowed. Therequirement appears tobeinbreach oftheprovisions oftheSPSAgreement,
inparticular Articles 2and4.
4. IntherecenttechnicaldiscussionsheldbetweenEuropeanCommunityandtheSlovakauthorities,
there wasanindication thattheSlovak authorities would reflect ontheapproach indicated under
points 3(a)and(b)above. TheEuropean Community islooking forward toanearly resolution of
thismatter inaccordance withtheprinciples oftheSPSAgreement.
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