2004/200/EC: Commission Decision of 27 February 2004 on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Pepino mosaic virus (notified under document number C(2004) 581)
Date: 2004-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: pip fruit, plant disease, plant health control, seed

2.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 64/43

COMMISSION DECISION

of 27 February 2004

on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Pepino
mosaic virus

(notified under document number C(2004) 581)

(2004/200/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 Com-
munity of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and
against their spread within the Community (1), and in particular
the third sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

In late 1999 and early 2000, Germany, France, the Neth-
erlands and the United Kingdom,
informed the other
Member States and the Commission of outbreaks of
Pepino mosaic virus on tomato crops in their countries
and of the measures taken to control it.

By Commission Decision 2003/64/EC (2), the Member
States were provisionally required to take measures
against the introduction into and the spread within the
Community of Pepino mosaic virus. That Decision has
ceased to apply on 31 January 2004.

Pepino mosaic virus is currently not listed in Annex I or
Annex II to Directive 2000/29/EC. However, a preli-
minary pest risk analysis carried out by several Member
States based on available scientific information has
demonstrated that Pepino mosaic virus and its damaging
effects could be of significant plant health concern to the
Community, in particular for protected tomato produc-
tion. The scientific work performed on the Pepino
mosaic virus has still not yet provided sufficient clarifica-
tion to revise
risk analysis,
that preliminary pest
although more information has become available in par-
ticular as regards the damage by Pepino mosaic virus on
tomato plants intended for planting.

Accordingly, as Decision 2003/64/EC has expired, it is
necessary to provide for provisional measures against
Pepino mosaic virus.

As a result of official surveys carried out under Decision
2003/64/EC, and based on recent information on the
the role of
damage caused by Pepino mosaic virus,
tomato seed as a significant source of infection is now
ascertained.

(6)

(7)

(8)

The measures set out in this Decision should apply to
the introduction or the spread within the Community of
Pepino mosaic virus, the inspection of seeds of tomato
originating in third countries and the movement of
seeds of tomato. They should also include more general
monitoring for the presence of Pepino mosaic virus in
the Member States.

It is appropriate that the results of such measures be
continually assessed, and possible subsequent measures
be considered in the light of the results of that assess-
ment. The subsequent measures should also take into
account the information to be provided and the scientific
opinion to be delivered by the Member States.

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

The introduction into and movement within the Community of
seeds of tomato, Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw.,
contaminated by Pepino mosaic virus shall be prohibited.

Article 2

Seeds of tomato originating in third countries may only be
imported into the Community if they meet the conditions laid
down in point 1 of the Annex. They shall be inspected, and
tested when appropriate, on entry into the Community for the
in accordance with Article
presence of Pepino mosaic virus,
13(1)(i) of Directive 2000/29/EC, mutatis mutandis.

Article 3

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commis-

sion Directive 2003/116/EC (OJ L 321, 6.12.2003, p. 36).

(2) OJ L 24, 29.1.2003, p. 15.

1.
Seeds of tomato, originating in the Community, may only
be moved within the Community if they meet the conditions
laid down in point 2 of the Annex.

L 64/44

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

2.3.2004

Paragraph 1 shall not apply to movement of seeds
2.
intended for sale to final consumers not involved in profes-
sional plant production, provided that the packaging of the
seeds or other indications clearly show that they are intended
for sale to such consumer.

Article 4

Member States shall conduct official surveys on premises
involved in the production of tomato plants and tomato fruits,
for the presence of Pepino mosaic virus.

Without prejudice to respectively Article 16(2) and 13c(8) of
Directive 2000/29/EC, the results of the surveys provided for in
the first paragraph and the results of the inspections and tests
provided for in Article 2 shall be notified to the Commission
and to the other Member States by 30 November 2004.

Article 5

The Commission shall review the operation of this Decision by
31 December 2004 at the latest.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 27 February 2004.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Conditions laid down in Articles 2 and 3

1. Seeds of tomato, originating in third countries, shall be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate as referred to in
Article 13(1)(ii) of Directive 2000/29/EC, stating that they have been obtained by means of an appropriate acid
extraction method, and:

(a) that they originate in areas in which Pepino mosaic virus is known not to occur; or

(b) that no symptoms of Pepino mosaic virus have been observed on the plants at the place of production during

their complete cycle of vegetation; or

(c) that they have undergone official testing for Pepino mosaic virus, on a representative sample and using appro-

priate methods, and have been found, in these tests, free from Pepino mosaic virus.

2. Seeds of tomato, originating in the Community, may only be moved within the Community if they have been

obtained by means of an appropriate acid extraction method, and:

(a) that they originate in areas in which Pepino mosaic virus is known not to occur; or

(b) that no symptoms of Pepino mosaic virus have been observed on the plants at the place of production during

their complete cycle of vegetation; or

(c) that they have undergone official testing for Pepino mosaic virus, on a representative sample and using appro-

priate methods, and have been found, in these tests, free from Pepino mosaic virus.