98/109/EC: Commission Decision of 2 February 1998 authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Thrips palmi Karny as regards Thailand
Date: 1998-02-02
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Thailand, floriculture, import policy, parasitology, plant health control

3. 2. 98

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EN

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Official Journal of the European Communities

L 27/47

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 2 February 1998

authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the
dissemination of Thrips palmi Karny as regards Thailand

(98/109/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21
December 1976 on protective measures against the intro-
duction into the Community of organisms harmful to
plants or plant products and against their spread within
the Community (1),
amended by Directive
last
97/14/EC (2), and in particular Article 15(3) thereof,

as

Whereas, where a Member State considers that there is an
imminent danger of the introduction into its territory of
Thrips palmi Karny from a third country, it may tempo-
rarily take any additional measures necessary to protect
itself from that danger;

Whereas as a result of
interceptions of Thrips palmi
Karny on cut flowers of orchidaceae originating in Thai-
land, several Member States took official measures in
order to protect the territory of the Community from the
danger of introduction of the said organism and set up
additional specific monitoring procedures for the said or-
ganism on the said commodity;

Whereas, on the basis of these continued interceptions of
Thrips palmi Karny emergency measures applicable to
the whole Community should be taken with a view to
ensuring more efficient protection against the introduc-
tion of Thrips palmi Karny into the Community from
the said country; whereas, these measures should include

(1) OJ L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20.
(2) OJ L 87, 2. 4. 1997, p. 17.

for a phytosanitary certificate for cut
the requirement
flowers of orchidaceae originating in Thailand combined
with an official statement that the place of production has
been found free from Thrips palmi Karny or the consign-
ment has undergone appropriate fumigation treatment to
ensure freedom from thysanoptera;

if

it becomes apparent

Whereas,
the emergency
measures referred to in Article 1 of this Decision, are not
sufficient to prevent the entry of Thrips palmi Karny or
have not been complied with, more stringent or alter-
native measures should be envisaged;

that

Whereas the effect of the emergency measures will be
assessed continually during 1997/1998 and possible
subsequent measures applicable to the introduction of cut
flowers of orchidaceae originating in Thailand, will be
considered in the light of the results of that assessment;

Whereas 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

Cut flowers of orchidaceae which originate in Thailand
may be introduced into the territory of the Community
only if the emergency measures as laid down it the Annex
to this Decision are complied with. The emergency
measures specified in the Annex shall apply only to
consignments leaving Thailand after the Commission has
informed the said country of these measures.

L 27/48

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Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 2. 98

Article 2

Article 4

The importing Member States shall provide the Commis-
sion and the other Member States, before 30 August 1998,
with information on the amounts imported pursuant to
this Decision and with a detailed technical report on the
official examination referred to in point 3 of the Annex.

Article 3

This Decision shall be reviewed by 30 September 1998 at
the latest.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 2 February 1998.

For the Commission
Franz FISCHLER

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

For the purpose of the provisions of Article 1, the following emergency measures shall be complied with:

1. Cut flowers of orchidaceae shall have been either,

(a) produced at a place of production which has been found free from Thrips palmi Karny on official

inspections carried out at least monthly during the three months prior to export, or

(b) as a consignment prior to export, subjected to an appropriate fumigation treatment to ensure freedom

from thysanoptera.

2. The cut flowers of orchidaceae shall be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued in Thailand in
accordance with Articles 7 and 12 of Directive 77/93/EEC, on the basis of the requirements specified
under point 1.

The certificate shall state, under the heading ‘Additional declaration’ which option, 1(a) or 1(b), has been
implemented and in addition, in those cases where option 1(b) has been implemented, under the heading
‘Disinfestation and/or disinfection treatment’, the specification of the fumigation treatment applied prior
to export.

3. The cut flowers of orchidaceae as regards their introduction into the Community shall be inspected ac-
cording to the provisions laid down in Article 12(1)(a) of Directive 77/93/EEC by the responsible official
bodies referred to in the said Directive.