COMMISSION DECISION
of 25 April 2008
amending Decision 2006/133/EC requiring Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode) as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which it is known not to occur
(notified under document number C(2008) 1580)
(2008/340/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to 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 (1), and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Commission Decision 2006/133/EC of 13 February 2006 requiring Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode - PWN) as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which it is known not to occur (2), Portugal has taken measures against the dissemination of the pine wood nematode.
(2)
Portugal has sent a report to the Commission on the execution of those measures in 2007 which shows that PWN has not spread beyond the demarcated areas, but continues to be present in those areas.
(3)
The implementation of the Portuguese measures in 2007 was evaluated by the Standing Committee on Plant Health in its meeting of 26-27 November 2007. It was concluded that the reduction of infection level in the demarcated area aimed at by Decision 2006/133/EC had not been fully achieved.
(4)
Therefore, Portugal should continue to take such measures in the form of an eradication plan until 31 March 2012, a realistic period to achieve a significant progress in the control of PWN.
(5)
To increase the efficiency of those measures in case of isolated outbreaks in the buffer zone of the demarcated area, a ‘focus zone’ should be established within the buffer zone where susceptible plants are removed. Around the focus zone there should be a zone where susceptible plants are inspected regularly (safety zone).
(6)
The requirements for the movement of susceptible wood in the form of packaging material originating in the demarcation area should be aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No 15 on Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade.
(7)
Decision 2006/133/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(8)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Decision 2006/133/EC is amended as follows:
1.
Article 2 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 2
Until 31 March 2012, Portugal shall ensure that the conditions laid down in the Annex are met in relation to susceptible wood, bark and plants, which are to be moved within or from demarcated areas in Portugal and defined as in accordance with Article 5, either to other areas in Portugal or to other Member States.
Until 31 March 2012, Portugal shall implement an eradication plan to control the spread of PWN with the aim of eradicating it. That plan shall include details on the management, within the demarcated area, of plant species known to be highly susceptible to PWN under the conditions in Portugal. This plan shall be reviewed annually by 31 December’.
2.
In the second paragraph of Article 4, the words ‘by 15 December 2006 and 15 December 2007’ are replaced by the words ‘annually by 15 December’.
3.
The Annex to Decision 2006/133/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 25 April 2008.