2004/836/EC: Commission Decision of 6 December 2004 amending and correcting Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (notified under document number C(2004) 4602)
Date: 2004-12-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Egypt, health control, import policy, originating product, plant disease, plant health legislation, potato

L 360/30

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.12.2004

COMMISSION DECISION

of 6 December 2004

amending and correcting Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take
emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as
regards Egypt

(notified under document number C(2004) 4602)

(2004/836/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

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
their spread within the Community (1), and in
and against
particular Article 16(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

Under Commission Decision 2004/4/EC (2),
tubers of
Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, must not in
principle be introduced into the Community. However
for the 2003/2004 import season the entry into the
Community of such tubers is permitted from ‘pest-free
areas’ and subject to specific conditions.

During the 2003/2004 import season, a number of
interceptions of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith
were recorded and Egypt itself decided to ban all exports
of Egyptian potatoes to the Community as of 9 April
2004.

destined for

situation was

reassessed. Egypt

informed the
The
Commission that stringent measures are taken against
producers,
inspectors, exporters and packing stations
which violate Egyptian instructions on the export of
potatoes
the Community. Additional
measures were taken with regard to the identification
of the pest-free areas, the reduction of the period of
validity of the Phytosanitary Certificate from 15 to 7
days, an increase of the number of inspectors, stricter
rules on the labelling of bags and stringent rules on
to the
companies who want
Community.

to export potatoes

spreading Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith with
tubers of Solanum
the entry into the Community of
tuberosum L.
from pest-free areas of Egypt, provided
that specific conditions are satisfied. The entry into the
tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., origi-
Community of
nating in Egypt, should therefore be permitted for the
2004/2005 import season.

(5)

In addition, certain textual errors should be corrected.

(6)

(7)

Decision 2004/4/EC should therefore be
accordingly.

amended

The measures provided for
accordance with
Committee on Plant Health,

the

in this Decision are in
Standing
the

of

opinion

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 2004/4/EC is amended as follows:

1. Article 2 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, ‘2003/2004’ is replaced by ‘2004/2005’;

(b) in paragraph 2,

‘2003/04’

is replaced by ‘2004/2005’;

2.

in Article 3, ‘2003/2004’ is replaced by ‘2004/2005’;

3.

in Article 4,
2005’;

‘30 August 2004’

is replaced by ‘30 August

4.

in Article 7,
September 2005’;

‘30 September 2004’

is

replaced by ‘30

5. the Annex is amended as follows:

(4)

In the light of the information provided by Egypt, the
there is no risk of
Commission has established that

(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Com-
mission Directive 2004/102/EC (OJ L 309, 6.10.2004, p. 9).

(2) OJ L 2, 6.1.2004, p. 50.

(a)

in point 1(a),
Commission’ are deleted;

the words

‘as

established by

the

(b) in point 1(b)(iii),

‘2003/04’ is replaced by ‘2004/2005’;

7.12.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 360/31

(c)

in point 1(b)(iii), second indent,
replaced by ‘1 January 2005’;

‘1 January 2004’

is

(f)

in point 5, second subparagraph,
by ‘2004/2005’.

‘2003/04’ is replaced

(d) point 1(b)(x) is replaced by:

‘(x) clearly labelled on each bag which is sealed, under
the control of the competent Egyptian authorities,
with an indelible indication of the relevant official
code number as given in the list of “approved pest-
free areas” compiled under Article 2 of this Decision,
and of the relevant lot number;’

(e)

in point 1(b)(xii),
‘1 January 2005’;

‘1 January 2004’

is

replaced by

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 December 2004.

For the Commission

Markos KYPRIANOU
Member of the Commission