ANNEX

REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTS, AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 1

The derogation provided for in Article 1 shall apply in respect of potatoes fulfilling the requirements set out in points (1) to (9).

(1) Areas of production

The potatoes are produced in the regions of Akkar or Bekaa in areas that have been officially declared by the Lebanese plant protection organisation, in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No 4 on requirements for the establishment of pest free areas (1), to be free from the specified organism (‘pest free areas’) and communicated by Lebanon to the Commission annually.

(2) Surveys of pest free areas

The pest free areas are subject to systematic and representative annual surveys for the detection of the specified organism referred to in Article 4(1), carried out by the Lebanese authorities, throughout the five years before and during production.

The surveys take place on potato fields located in the pest free areas, and on potatoes harvested in those areas.

The surveys consist of the following elements:

(a) visual inspections of the fields during the growing season;

(b) visual examination of the harvested potatoes for symptoms of the specified organism on cut tubers;

(c) laboratory testing on symptomatic and asymptomatic potatoes.

The surveys do not result in any finding of the specified organism or of any other evidence which could indicate that the area is not a pest free area within the meaning of point (1). The results of the surveys are made available to the Commission upon request.

(3) Producers

The potatoes are grown by producers registered by the Lebanese plant protection organisation.

(4) Production from certified seed potatoes

The potatoes fulfil one of the following requirements:

(a) they are grown from seed potatoes certified in and imported from the Union into Lebanon;

(b) they are grown from seed potatoes imported into Lebanon from a third country or parts thereof, for which the entry into the Union of seed potatoes is not prohibited pursuant to Annex III to Directive 2000/29/EC, and certified in that third country.

(5) Fields of production

The potatoes are grown in fields where no potatoes, other than those referred to in point (4), have been grown during the previous five years.

(6) Handling

The potatoes are handled using machinery which fulfils one of the following conditions:

(a) it is only used for handling potatoes satisfying points (1) to (5);

(b) where it has been used for purposes other than those referred to in point (a), it has been cleaned and disinfected in an appropriate manner before being used for the purposes referred to in point (a).

(7) Storage

The potatoes are stored in storage facilities which fulfil one of the following conditions:

(a) they are only used for storing potatoes satisfying points (1) to (6);

(b) where they have been used for other purposes than those referred to in point (a), it is subjected to appropriate hygiene measures before being used for the purposes referred to in point (a).

(8) Packaging

The packaging material used for the potatoes is either new or cleaned and disinfected.

(9) Preparation of potatoes and lots for introduction into the Union

The potatoes satisfy the following conditions concerning their preparation:

(a) they are free from soil, leaves and other plant debris;

(b) they are presented for introduction into the Union as lots, each lot being made up of potatoes produced by a single producer and harvested in one single area as specified in point (1); and

(c) they are in bags, packages or other containers, each of which is labelled in accordance with Article 6.

(1) ISPM 4. 1995. Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas. Rome, IPPC, FAO.