Page 1 of 7 Based on Article 75(1) of the Plant Health Act (UL RS1 62/2007 – official 
consolidated text, 36/10 and 40/14 – ZIN-B), the Director General of the Administration of the 
Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (AFSVSPP) is 
issuing hereby the following 
DECISION 
on emergency measures against the introduction and spread of viroid hop stunt 
diseases  
I 
(Content) 
In order to prevent the introduction and spread of the hop stunt disease caused by 
the Hop Stunt Viroid (hereinafter referred to as HSVd) and the severe hop stunt disease caused by the Citrus Bark Cracking Viroid (hereinafter referred to as CBCVd), this Decision is defining the host plants, prohibiting the introduction and spread to the territory of the 
Republic of Slovenia, defining the delimitation of the regulated area, laying down the 
identification of the health status of hop plants, laying down the measures of preventing the introduction and spread, the obligations of hop garden owners, and conditions for the pest free hop production sites. 
II 
(Host Plants) 
The HSVd and CBCVd host plants under this Decision include the hop plants 
(Humulus lupulus  L.; hereinafter referred to as hop).  
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the measure referred to in the third 
indent of paragraph 1 of Section IX of this Decision refer also to: 
- Other HSVd host plants, including: pear ( Pyrus communis  L.), peach ( Prunus persica  L.), 
apricot ( Prunus armeniaca  L.), plum ( Prunus domestica  L.), almond ( Prunus dulcis  L.), 
jujube ( Zizypus jujuba  L.), vines ( Vitis vinifera  L.), cucumber ( Cucumis sativus  L.), and 
citrus ( Citrus  sp.), and  
 - CBCVd host plants, including: citrus ( Citrus  sp.), kumquat ( Fortunella margarita ), 
cucumber ( Cucumis sativus  L.), tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum  L.), eggplants ( Solanum 
melongena  L.), and chrysanthemum ( Chrysanthemum  sp.). 
III 
(Prohibition of Introduction and Spread) 
The introduction and spread of HSVd and CBCVd on hop plants shall be 
prohibited, and as introduction shall be deemed any intentional or unintentional introduction 
into the territory of the Republic of Sloveni a from a third country or another European Union 
Member State.  
                                                
 
1 UL RS − Uradni list Republike Slovenije  − Official Gazette of t he Republic of Slovenia Page 2 of 7 IV 
(Regulated area) 
The entire territory of the Republic of Slovenia shall be deemed a regulated area, 
where the hop plant health shall be safeguarded by identifying the health status of hop plants and by implementing the measures required by this Decision.  
Within the regulated area, the hop propagating and planting material shall be 
produced in pest free hop production sites only, according to Section XIII of this Decision. 
V 
(Plant Health Inspection and Diagnostic Testing) 
The plant health status of hop plants is identified by the plant health inspections 
conducted by the holders of public authorisations according to the Act governing plant health (hereinafter referred to as authorised bodies), which include the visual hop inspection and, in case of suspected HSVd or CBCVd infection, the official sampling of hop plants for 
diagnostic testing.  
Diagnostic testing of samples as referred to in the preceding paragraph for the 
confirmation of HSVd or CBCVd infection shall be conducted by laboratories authorised 
according to the Act governing plant health (hereinafter referred to as designated laboratories).  
Hop plants shall be deemed infected in the case of a positive diagnostic test result 
or if growing in the same hop production site, where hop infection has been confirmed by 
diagnostic testing and where the hop plants are showing symptoms of disease as referred to in Section VI of this Decision. 
VI 
(Symptoms of Disease) 
The HSVd or CBCVd hop infection shall be suspected where one or more 
symptoms of disease are found, including: - Growth retardation with stunted growth of primary hops,  - Short internodes of primary and lateral shoots,  - Plants do not reach their full height and shoot apexes bend away from the support, 
- Disturbed development of leaves, which are partly covered with blisters, with their edges 
turned downwards, 
- Cracking of the epithelium of primary hops and poorer emergence of lateral shoots, - In certain hop varieties, the infected plants flower eight to ten days before non-infected 
plants, 
- Hop cones remain smaller and lighter with a significantly decreased number of lupoline 
glands, 
- Dry rottenness and dieback of the root system. 
The HSVd or CBCVd hop infection shall be suspected also in the absence of 
visible symptoms of hop diseases as referred to in the preceding paragraph where hops are growing in the same row  and within two metres from the infected hop plant. Page 3 of 7 VII 
(Infected Zone) 
As an infected zone, making part of the regulated area, shall be deemed a hop 
garden with the presence of HSVd or CBCVd confirmed by diagnostic testing. 
 The infected zone shall be identified with a unique Land Parcel Identification 
System identification number (hereinafter referred to as LPIS-ID No.), measured in square metres of the geographic coordinate system, and enter ed on a list of infected zones that shall 
be made accessible to the public via the website of the Administration of the Republic of 
Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (hereinafter referred to as 
Administration). 
An infected zone shall regain its non-infected status after two consecutive cycles 
of vegetation have elapsed without the manifestation of symptoms of disease as referred to in Section VI of this Decision.  
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, an infected zone 
intended for the hop propagating or planting material cultivation shall regain its non-infected status only after three consecutive cycles of vegetation have elapsed without the manifestation of symptoms of disease as referred to in Section VI of this Decision.  
In cases as referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Section, the authorised 
person shall notify Administration of the finding that the infected zone is henceforth to be 
regarded as pest free, and Administration shall provide for the erasure of the particular zone 
from the list of infected zones. 
VIII 
(Obligations of Hop Garden Owners) 
Hop garden owners shall: 
- Regularly inspect the hop plants and at suspected HSVd or CBCVd infection 
immediately notify thereof the authorised body or phytosanitary inspector,  
- Keep the document on the provenance of planting material for a period of three years.  
In the infected zone, hop garden owners shall implement measures as laid down 
in Sections IX and X of this Decision. 
IX 
(Measures in Infected Zone) 
After the HSVd or CBCVd infection has been confirmed by diagnostic testing, the 
phytosanitary inspector shall immediately order the following measures: - Destruction of hop plants in which the infection has been confirmed, and of hop plants 
growing in the same row  in a two metre distance,  
- Destruction of hop plants on which the symptoms of disease as referred to in Section VI 
of this Decision have been found, and of hop plants growing in the same row  in a two metre distance, 
- Prohibition of planting of host plants as referred to in Section II of this Decision within 
three consecutive cycles of vegetation at the hop plant destruction location,  
- Prohibition of redelivery of hop plants or parts of plants and other waste from the infected 
zone into the hop gardens,  Page 4 of 7 - Removal of green or composted hop plants or parts of plants from the infected zone to 
the grassland, agricultural land or authorised disposal site only, using methods defined 
by phytosanitary inspector, so as to avoi d littering parts of plants during transport,  
- Cleaning and disinfection of tools, machinery, tractor tyres, footwear and other 
equipment used in the infected zone, prior to reusing them in other hop gardens within the same place of production, according to the applicable guidelines on the measures of hygiene in preventing viroid infections, which are accessible at Administration website, 
- Keeping of records on the implementation of measures of hygiene as referred to in the 
preceding indent, which shall comprise at least the data on implementation, agents used, 
purpose of implementation, and objects under control that were subjected to the measures of hygiene.  
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, phytosanitary inspector shall require the 
destruction of all the hop plants in the hop garden or part thereof, where more than 20 % of 
hop plants in that particular hop garden or hop garden part have been infected with HSVd or 
CBCVd. The extent of destruction of hop plants shall be ordered on the basis of risk assessment prepared by Administration. 
The types and periods of duration of measures instituted under this Section shall 
be maintained in the Phytosanitary Information System according to the regulation governing the notification and publishing of data on the occurrence and prevalence of plant pests in the 
Republic of Slovenia. 
X 
(Measures in Infected Place of Production) 
A place of production is an agricultural holding with the relevant KMG-MID 
identification number. 
An infected place of production is a holding or a group of land plots with all 
pertaining facilities, machinery and equipment, which includes one or more infected hop gardens, identified as the infected zone.  
Should the machinery and equipment from the infected place of production be 
used without the phytosanitary inspector’s authorisation in a different place of production, 
Administration may extend the measures laid down in paragraph 5 of this Section also to 
these other place of production.  
Infected place of production shall be entered on the list of infected places of 
production, which is made accessible to the public via the Administration website.   
Phytosanitary inspector shall order the following measures in the infected place of 
production: 
- Prohibition of movement of hop propagating and planting material from the infected 
place of production, and  
- Prohibition of use of machinery and equipment outside the infected place of production 
without the authorisation by the phytosanitary inspector.  
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the prohibition of 
removal of hop propagating and planting material shall not apply to the hop propagating and 
planting material cultivated in a detached holding or group of land plots which are outside the infected zone, though appertaining to the same agricultural holding, which comprises several detached holdings or groups of land plots, and where the different machinery and equipment are used than in the holding within the infected zone.  Page 5 of 7 The type and duration of measures instituted under this Section shall be 
maintained in the Phytosanitary Information System according to the regulation governing 
the notification and publishing of data on the occurrence and prevalence of plant pests in the 
Republic of Slovenia. 
XI 
(Destruction of Individual Hop Plants) 
Destruction of individual hop plants shall be conducted by cutting the bines and as 
first removing from the hop garden the aboveground plant parts and destroying them by 
burning or burial. The infected plant destruction location shall be appropriately marked. The 
underground plant parts shall be treated chemically  by coating the cut bine points with a non-
selective systemic herbicide, thus pr eventing any regrowth and outgrowth.  
Underground plant parts shall be unearthed no sooner than fourteen days after 
coating and no later than 4 months after harvesting. The underground plant parts shall be 
destroyed by burning or burial. Any offshoots springing up before the underground plant 
parts are unearthed shall be destroyed with a non-selective systemic herbicide.  
XII 
(Destruction of Infected Hop Garden or Part Thereof) 
Where the HSVd or CBCVd infected plants cover a major hop garden area and the 
localised destruction of individual plants is rendered impossible, the aboveground plant parts 
shall be destroyed by burning or burial within a deadline defined by the phytosanitary 
inspector. The underground plant parts shall be treated chemically by coating the cut bine points with a non-selective systemic herbicide,  thus preventing any regrowth and outgrowth. 
Underground plant parts shall be unearthed no sooner than fourteen days after 
coating and no later than 4 months after harvesting. The underground plant parts shall be 
destroyed by burning or burial. Any offshoots springing up before the underground plant 
parts are unearthed shall be destroyed with a non-selective systemic herbicide.  
Using a non-selective systemic herbicide, the hop garden owner shall provide for 
the regular eradication of any newly sprung up offshoots in the stubbed-out hop garden. 
XIII 
(Conditions for Pest free  Hop Propagating and Planting Material Production Site) 
A hop propagating and planting material production site as laid down in the 
regulation governing the marketing of hop propagating and planting material shall be deemed an pest free production site, making part of the regulated area under this Decision, provided that: - It is part of a hop garden that has been free from HSVd or CBCVd infection within three 
full consecutive past cycles of vegetation, and 
- A 20-metre buffer zone around the production site has been free from HSVd or CBCVd 
infection within last three full consecutive cycles of vegetation.  
Authorised body shall at least once a year conduct the health inspection of hops in 
the production site intended for hop propagating and planting material cultivation, and in the 
20-metre buffer zone around the production site.  Page 6 of 7 The hop garden owner shall report to the authorised body on the cultivation of hop 
planting material that is not intended for movement according to the procedure referred to in 
the regulation governing the marketing of hop propagating and planting material. Once a 
year, the authorised body shall conduct the health inspection, at the hop garden owner’ expense, and issue a certificate on compliance with the conditions for the cultivation of planting material in the relevant hop production site, provided that hop plants are cultivated in a production site as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Section and free from the HSVd or CBCVd infection. The certificate on compliance with conditions for the cultivation of planting 
material in the relevant hop production site shall be drawn up in compliance with a template, 
which is accessible at Administration and via its website.  
Notwithstanding the provisions of the second indent of paragraph 1 of this Section, 
a protected area shall be deemed an infection-free production site, provided that it safeguards the hop plants against infections from the environment, and that it: 
- Comprises at least a 2-metre buffer zone around the protected zone, which shall be 
devoid of any plants, or grass-covered and regularly mown, and  
- Complies with the guidelines on the protected area intended for the cultivation of hop 
propagating and planting material, which are accessible at Administration and via its website.  
In carrying out any operations in the protected area, the hop plant owner shall 
conduct the measures of hygiene as set out in the guidelines referred to in the preceding 
paragraph.  
Should the hop plant owner intend to subsequently introduce into the protected 
area as referred to in paragraph 3 of this Section any new hop plants, the freedom from the HSVd and CBCVd infection in the official samples of each hop plant shall be confirmed by 
the additional diagnostic testing in a designated laboratory. 
XIV 
(Transitional Provisions) 
Zones entered on the list of infected zones kept by Administration according to 
Section V of Decision on emergency measures for preventing the introduction and spreading 
of Hop Stunt Viroid / Odlo čba o nujnih ukrepih za prepre čevanje vnosa in širjenja viroidne 
zakrnelosti hmelja (UL RS 64/2011) shall be considered as infected zones according to Section VII of this Decision.  
Administrative acts issued by phytosanitary inspectors on the basis of Decision on 
emergency measures for preventing the introduction and spreading of Hop Stunt Viroid / Odločba o nujnih ukrepih za prepre čevanje vnosa in širjenja viroidne zakrnelosti hmelja (UL 
RS 64/2011) shall remain in force. 
XV 
(Repeal) 
 
As from the date of entry into force of this Decision, the Decision on emergency measures for preventing the introduction and spreading of Hop Stunt Viroid (UL RS 64/2011) shall be 
repealed. 
XVI 
(Entry into Force) Page 7 of 7 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the 
Uradni list Republike Slovenije . 
No. 343-1/2015 
Ljubljana, 17 March 2015 EVA 2015-2330-0070 
Dr. Janez Posedi,  m.p. 
Director General