# CE2004084EN.01080501.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/805 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/805

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(2004/C 84 E/0900)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0525/04

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject:   Potato ring rot

Subject:

The Commission will be aware that the recent outbreak of potato ring rot in Wales gave serious concerns to potato growers in other parts of the United Kingdom, including my own constituency, Scotland. The Commission may also be aware that the National Union of Farmers in Scotland, together with colleagues in Ireland, are keen to take action to prevent the spread of this disease to their own crops by establishing ‘high health regions’. This would allow Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to attain official designation as areas which are free from potato ring rot and enable a ban to be imposed on the import of seed from non-designated areas. This strategy would achieve the dual aims of stemming the spread of the disease and ensuring that disease-free areas are able to cultivate healthy potato crops.

Would the Commission agree that measures such as those being proposed by the farmers of Scotland and Ireland would assist in preventing the spread of this disease and indicate what needs to be done at EU as well as at national or devolved level of government to achieve these aims?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

(12 March 2004)

We are well aware of the outbreak of potato ring rot to which the Honourable Member refers and are carefully monitoring the situation, on which we are regularly updated by the British authorities. On the proposals made by Scottish and Irish farmers, we must point out that the Union already has appropriate legislation in place for preventing appearance of this disease on its territory and controlling it if it does occur. The legislation is Directive 2000/29/EC (1), enacting health provisions in connection with entry into the Union and movement within it of plants and plant products, including potatoes, and Directive 93/85/EEC (2), which contains a set of very detailed technical measures for thwarting the appearance of this disease and controlling it. Under the Community provisions no movement of potatoes is possible unless the plant health requirements have been met, namely that they are free of ring rot, in the case of seed potatoes are accompanied by a plant health passport attesting that fact, and in the case of ware potatoes that the grower or packer is officially registered. We do not see what further measures could be added. Moreover, under single market rules once harmonised technical measures are in place no prohibition for plant health reasons on movement within the Community is permitted.

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(1)  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, OJ L 169, 10.7.2000. Last amended by Commission Directive 2003/116/EC, OJ L 321, 6.12.2003.

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(2)  Council Directive 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993 on the control of potato ring rot, OJ L 259, 18.10.1993.

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