EN Official Journal of the European Union L 32/35

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2017/204

of 3 February 2017

authorising Member States to provide for a temporary derogation from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of ash wood originating or processed in the United States of America, and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416 recognising certain areas of the United States of America as being free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire

(notified under document C(2017) 420)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

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 the first indent of Article 15(1) and points 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 of Section I of Part A of Annex IV thereto,

Whereas:

(1) Article 5(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC, in conjunction with point 2.3 of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to that Directive, provides for special requirements concerning the introduction into the Union of ash (Fraxinus L.) wood, as well as certain other wood species, originating in the United States of America.

(2) The United States of America have requested the recognition of a combination of procedures that together ensure the same level of phytosanitary protection as that required pursuant to point 2.3 of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC.

(3) It appears from the official information submitted by the United States of America that, through an integrated systems approach applied during wood processing, the risk of infestation from the harmful organism Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is eliminated.

(4) That approach should be complemented by certain requirements for facilities, pre-export inspections and labelling to ensure the elimination of such risk.

(5) Those procedures should therefore be recognized as an alternative option to point 2.3 of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC for imports from the United States of America, and a derogation from Article 5(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC, in conjunction with point 2.3, of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to that Directive should be provided for.

(6) In order to ensure effective controls, as well as an overview of imports of ash wood and of non-compliances related to those imports, requirements should be set out concerning phytosanitary certificates, reporting of importation and notification of non-compliances.

(7) It is appropriate to limit the duration of the derogation to 30 June 2018 in order to ensure a timely review of the appropriateness of the measures of this Decision.

(8) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416 (2) recognised certain areas of the United States of America as being free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire for the purposes of the introduction into the Union of wood of Fraxinus L., and certain other wood species.

(9) Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416 should be repealed since, based on information received from the United States competent authorities, the areas recognised as being free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire have proven not to be stable following the adoption of that Decision.

(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Authorisation to provide for derogation

By way of derogation from Article 5(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC in conjunction with point 2.3 of Section I of Part A of Annex IV to that Directive, Member States may authorise the introduction into their territory of wood of Fraxinus L. originating or processed in the United States of America (hereinafter: ‘specified wood’) which, prior to its movement out of the United States of America, satisfies the conditions set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

Phytosanitary certificate

1. The specified wood shall be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued in the United States of America, in accordance with Article 13a(3) and (4) of Directive 2000/29/EC, certifying freedom from harmful organisms after inspection.

2. The phytosanitary certificate shall include under the heading ‘Additional declaration’ the following elements:

(a) the statement ‘In accordance with European Union requirements laid down in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/204’;

(b) the bundle number(s);

(c) the name of the approved facility(ies) in the United States of America.

Article 3

Reporting of importation

The Member State of importation shall provide the Commission and the other Member States, by 31 December of each year, with information on the amounts of consignments of specified wood imported pursuant to this Decision during that year.

Article 4

Notification of non-compliance

Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member States of each consignment not complying with this Decision. That notification shall take place no later than two working days after the date of the interception of such a consignment.

Article 5

Repeal of Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416

Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416 is repealed.

Article 6

Date of expiry

This Decision shall expire on 30 June 2018.

Article 7

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 3 February 2017. For the Commission Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1.

(2) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2416 of 17 December 2015 recognising certain areas of the United States of America as being free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (OJ L 333, 19.12.2015, p. 128).