. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/EU/27 
23 July 2012  
 (12-4039) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION 
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-General 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Tubers of Solanum tuberosum  L. including those intended for planting. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  "Commission Implementing Decision of 16 May 2012 as 
regards emergency measures to prevent the in troduction into and the spread within the 
Union of Epitrix cucumeris  (Haris), Epitrix similaris  (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita  (Lec.) 
and Epitrix tuberis  (Gentner)"  Language(s):  English   Number of pages:  4 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/EEC/12_2823_00_e.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2012/sps/EEC/12_2823_00_f.pdf  
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/EEC/12_2823_00_s.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Emergency Measures against the introduction into and spread 
within the European Union of Epitrix cucumeris  (Haris), Epitrix similaris  (Gentner), 
Epitrix subcrinita  (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis  (Gentner) through the control of imports of 
potato tubers from third countries into the European Union where one or more of the 
specified organisms are known to be present.  Similarly for internal movements within the 
European Union. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.    
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  An assessment carried 
out by the European Commission on the basis of  a pest risk analysis has found that the 
specified organisms are harmful to tubers of Solanum tuberosum  L., which are produced 
throughout the European Union.  As these orga nisms are not listed in the basic plant health 
legislation Directive 2000/29/EC it is necessary to introduce emergency measures against 
their introduction and spread within the European Union. G/SPS/N/EU/27 
Page 2  
 
  9. Is there a relevant international standard ?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)  
 ISPM No.13 "Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency 
action", and ISPM No.4 "Requirements fo r the establishment of pest free areas" 
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
 [X] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   M o r e  
information on EU plant health regime for th e control of harmful organisms within the 
European Union is available at the link indicated below: 
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/organisms/emergency/index_en.htm  (available in English) 
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  23 May 2012   
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
European Commission  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral international relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels Tel:  +(32) 2 29 68185/59922 Fax:  +(32) 2 2998090 
E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission 
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral international relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels 
Tel:  +(32) 2 29 68185/59922 
Fax:  +(32) 2 2998090 E-mail: sps@ec.europa.eu