COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2015/1849 
of 13 Oct ober 2015 
on measures to prev ent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of harmful 
organisms as regards certain vegetabl es originating in Ghana 
(notifi ed under document C(2015) 6858) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Having regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Having regar d to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on prote ctive 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 the third senten ce of Article 16(3), thereof, 
Whereas: 
(1)  Plant health checks carried out by Member States on consignments of certain plants and plant products 
originating in Ghana revealed that a high number of these plants and plant products were infest ed with harmful 
organisms, mainly non-European Tephr itidae, like Ceratitis cosyr a (Walker ), Thrips palmi Karny or Bemisia tabaci 
(Genn.). The number of consignments from Ghana intercep ted with harmful orga nisms in the Union has shown a 
significant upward trend since 2009. Most of the interceptions concer n plants other than seeds, of Capsicum L., 
Lagenar ia Ser., Luffa Mill., Momor dica L. and Solanum L. other than S. lycopersicum L. (hereinaf ter ‘the specified 
commodities’). 
(2)  Audits carried out by the Commission in Ghana in 2012 and 2015 revealed shor tcomings in the phytosanitary 
expor t certification syste m. Despite assurances and action announced by the compet ent author ities of Ghana, the 
number of inter ceptions increased further . 
(3)  In the light of the outcome of those audits and the number of intercep tions, the Commission concluded that the 
current phytosan itary safeg uards of Ghana are insuffi cient to ensure that consignments of plants and plant 
products originating in Ghana are free from harmful organisms or to avoid the risk of introduction of harmful 
organisms into the Union through the impor t of the specif ied commodities. 
(4)  Measures should be taken to address the risk posed by the import into the Union of the specifi ed commodities. 
Consequently , the introduction into the Union of the specifi ed commodities should be prohibited. 
(5)  The measures should remain in place until 31 December 2016 in order to address the ongoing risk of 
introduction, while allowing Ghana to upgrade its certification syste m. 
(6)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
The introduction into the territory of the Union of plants other than seeds, of Capsicum L., Lagenaria Ser., Luffa Mill., 
Momor dica L. and Solanum L., other than S. lycopersicum L. originating in Ghana shall be prohibited. 
Article 2 
Article 1 shall apply until 31 December 2016. 15.10.2015 L 268/33 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(1)OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Article 3 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 13 October 2015. 
For the Commission 
Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS 
Member of the Commission  15.10.2015 L 268/34 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN