A4-0370/97

Proposal for a Council Directive on the control of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith (COM(97)0015 - C4-0066/97 - 97/0025(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 7

>Original text>

Whereas the measures have to take into account that systematic official surveys are necessary to locate the pathogen; whereas such surveys should include inspection procedures and, where appropriate, given that under certain environmental circumstances the disease can remain latent and unobserved both in the growing crop of tomatoes and potatoes and in stored potato tubers, should include sampling and testing procedures; whereas spread of the pathogen within the growing crop is not the most important factor, but whereas the pathogen can spread by surface water and certain associated wild solanaceous plants, and therefore the irrigation of potato and tomato crops using contaminated water appears to pose a risk for infection of such crops; whereas also

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the measures have to take into account that systematic official surveys are necessary to locate the pathogen; whereas such surveys should include inspection procedures and, where appropriate, given that under certain environmental circumstances the disease can remain latent and unobserved both in the growing crop of tomatoes and potatoes and in stored potato tubers, should include sampling and testing procedures; whereas spread of the pathogen within the growing crop is not the most important factor, but whereas the pathogen can spread by surface water and certain associated wild solanaceous plants, and therefore the irrigation of potato and tomato crops using contaminated water appears to pose a risk for infection of such crops; whereas also

>Original text>

the pathogen can exist through the winter in self-sown (volunteer) potato and tomato plants and these may be a source of infection being carried from one season to the next; whereas the pathogen is spread also by the contamination of potatoes or tomatoes through contact with infected potatoes or tomatoes and through contact with planting, harvesting and handling equipment or transport and storage containers which have become contaminated with the organisms by previous contact with infected potatoes or tomatoes; whereas spread of the pathogen can be reduced or prevented by decontamination of such objects; whereas any such contamination of seed potatoes poses a major risk for the spread of the pathogen; similarly the latent infection of seed potatoes poses a major risk for the spread of the pathogen and this can be prevented only by the use of seed potatoes produced in an officially approved programme whereby seed potatoes have been tested and found free from infection;

>Text following EP vote>

the pathogen can exist through the winter in self-sown (volunteer) potato and tomato plants and these may be a source of infection being carried from one season to the next; whereas the pathogen is spread also by the contamination of potatoes through contact with infected potatoes and through contact with planting, harvesting and handling equipment or transport and storage containers which have become contaminated with the organisms by previous contact with infected potatoes; whereas spread of the pathogen can be reduced or prevented by decontamination of such objects; whereas any such contamination of seed potatoes poses a major risk for the spread of the pathogen; similarly the latent infection of seed potatoes poses a major risk for the spread of the pathogen and this can be prevented only by the use of seed potatoes produced in an officially approved programme whereby seed potatoes have been tested and found free from infection;

(Amendment 2)

Article 4(2)(c)

>Original text>

(c) introduce appropriate additional precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk, particularly in relation to production of the listed plant material, in order to prevent any spread of the organism.

>Text following EP vote>

(c) introduce appropriate additional precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk, particularly in relation to production of the listed plant material and the movement of seed potato lots other than those referred to in subparagraph (a), if produced at the place of production from which the samples referred to in subparagraph (a) have been taken, in order to prevent any spread of the organism.

(Amendment 3)

Article 4(3)

>Original text>

3. In those cases of suspected occurrence where there is a risk of contamination of the listed plant material or surface water in another Member State(s), the Member State in which the suspected occurrence has been reported shall immediately notify, according to the risk identified, the details of the said suspected occurrence to the other Member State(s) concerned.

>Text following EP vote>

3. In those cases of suspected occurrence where there is a risk of contamination of the listed plant material or surface water in another Member State(s), the Member State in which the suspected occurrence has been reported shall immediately notify, according to the risk identified, the details of the said suspected occurrence to the other Member State(s) concerned, which shall cooperate as necessary. Member States thus notified shall take preventive measures in accordance with paragraph 2(c) and any other appropriate measures in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2.

(Amendment 4)

Article 5(2), 2nd subparagraph

>Original text>

The details of this notification shall be confidential. They may be submitted to the Committee.

>Text following EP vote>

The details of this notification shall be confidential. They shall be submitted to the Committee, which shall treat them as confidential.

(Amendment 5)

Article 10, 2nd paragraph

>Original text>

The additional measures mentioned in the first subparagraph may include the prescription that only seed potatoes or tomatoes may be planted that are either officially certified or officially inspected to meet the required plant health standards. The latter may apply in particular in cases where farmers are authorized to use, on their own holding, seed potatoes or tomatoes which they have obtained from their own harvest and in other cases where own-produced seed potatoes or tomatoes are planted.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 6)

Article 12(1), 1st subparagraph

>Original text>

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provision necessary to comply with this Directive with effect from 1 July 1997. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive with effect from 1 March 1998. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

(Amendment 7)

Annex I(I), 2nd entry

>Original text>

Plants, other than seeds, of Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw.

Tomato

>Text following EP vote>

Plants, other than seeds, and fruits of Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw. Tomato

(Amendment 8)

Annex I(II)(1)(ii)

>Original text>

(ii) in the case of tomato:

>Text following EP vote>

(ii) in the case of tomato:

>Original text>

- visual inspection of the growing crop at appropriate times,

>Text following EP vote>

- visual inspection, at appropriate times, of at least the growing crop of plants to be replanted for commercial uses.

>Original text>

and,

>Original text>

- in the case of tomato crops grown for seed production and where appropriate for other tomato crops, sampling for official or officially supervised laboratory testing, using the method set out in Annex II for the diagnosis, detection and identification of the organism.

(Amendment 9)

Annex I(II)(2)(ii)

>Original text>

(ii) in the case of surveys on tomatoes:

>Text following EP vote>

(ii) in the case of surveys of at least the growing crop of tomato plants to be replanted for commercial uses:

>Original text>

- estimated total area grown, in hectares, of outdoor crops and of crops grown under protection,

>Text following EP vote>

- estimated total quantity of plants,

>Original text>

- stratification by seed and fruit production and, where appropriate, region,

>Text following EP vote>

- number of visual inspections;

>Original text>

- number and timing of samples taken for testing,

>Original text>

- number of visual inspections in the field,

>Original text>

- number (and size of sample) of visual inspections;

(Amendment 10)

Annex II

>Original text>

The method for the listed plant material referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be in accordance with Commission Decision 97/.../EC detailing an interim test scheme for the diagnosis, detection and identification of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith (not yet adopted by the Commission).

>Text following EP vote>

The method for the listed plant material referred to in Articles 4 and 5 shall be in accordance with Commission Decision 97/647/EC(1) detailing an interim test scheme for the diagnosis, detection and identification of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith.

>Text following EP vote>

(1) OJ L 273, 6.10.1997, p. 1.

(Amendment 11)

Annex VI(2)(ii)

>Original text>

(ii) for tomato fruit,

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

>Original text>

- use of fruit for industrial processing and intended for direct and immediate delivery to a processing plant with appropriate waste disposal facilities, and disposal of plant debris including seed by appropriate means, or

>Original text>

- use of fruit for consumption and packed at sites with appropriate waste disposal facilities,

>Original text>

- some other use or disposal, provided that it is established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading;

(Amendment 12)

Annex VI(4.1)(a)(ii), 1st indent, 2nd subindent

>Original text>

- the field shall be established and maintained during the first three years either, in bare fallow or, in cereals excluding maize or, in permanent pasture with frequent close cutting or intensive grazing or, as grass for seed production, followed by planting in the succeeding two years with non-host plants of the organism for which there is no identified risk of the organism surviving or spreading,

>Text following EP vote>

- the field shall be established and maintained during the first three years either in bare fallow, or in cereals, depending on such risk as may have been determined, or in permanent pasture with frequent close cutting or intensive grazing, or as grass for seed production, followed by planting in the succeeding two years with non- host plants of the organism for which there is no identified risk of the organism surviving or spreading,

(Amendment 13)

Annex VI(4.1)(a)(ii), 2nd indent, 2nd subindent

>Original text>

- in the case of tomatoes, only tomato plants with an accompanying plant passport or plants raised from seed on the place of production and officially inspected and found free from the organism shall be planted,

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive on the control of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith (COM(97)0015 - C4-0066/97 - 97/0025(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0015 - 97/0025(CNS) ((OJ C 124, 21.4.1997, p. 12. )),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0066/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0370/97),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.