Proposal for a Council Directive on the control of potato cyst nematodes
Date: 2005-04-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: plant disease, plant health control, plant health legislation, plant health treatment, potato

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 20.4.2005 
COM(2005) 151 final 

2005/0058 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 

on the control of potato cyst nematodes 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

• 

Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

Revision and updating of Council Directive 69/465/EEC of 8 December 1969 
on control of Potato Cyst Eelworm. 

• 

General context 

General  measures  to  be  taken  within  the  Member  States  against  potato  cyst 
nematodes in order to determine their distribution, to prevent their spread and 
to control them. 

• 

Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

Revision  of  current  EU-legislation  which  has  been  found  insufficient  and  not 
up to date. 

• 

Consistency with other policies 

In  line  with  other  current  directives  on  the  control  of  harmful  organisms  of 
potatoes. 

2. 

CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 

• 

Consultation of interested parties 

Consultation  methods,  main  sectors 
respondents. 

targeted  and  general  profile  of 

Four  meetings  of  informal  consultation  with  national  experts  of  relevant 
Member States. 

Exchange of information and comments by e-mail between EC and the national 
experts of the Member States. 

A meeting with representatives of European Seed Association (ESA). 

A meeting with representatives of the Committee of Agricultural Organisations 
in the European Union (COPA) and the General Confederation of Agricultural 
Co-operatives in the European Union (COCEGA). 

The main organisations mentioned above (ESA/COPA/COGECA) did not raise 
any substantive issues over the proposed text. They questioned the likely cost 
of  the  measures  for  producers  and  the  Commission  explained  that  this  would 
not vary substantially from the measures already in force. 

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Summary of responses and how they have been taken into account. 

National experts were consulted on the whole of the draft text and particularly 
on the harmonised sampling and testing procedures. Their responses have been 
taken into account where appropriate. 

• 

Collection and use of expertise 

Scientific/expertise domains concerned. 

Nematologists and plant health experts. 

Methodology used. 

Written and oral consultations. 

Main organisations/experts consulted. 

National  experts  from  the  competent  authorities  of  relevant  Member  States. 
Independent  scientific  advice  from  the  scientific  panel  on  plant  health  of  the 
European Food Safety Authority was not sought because the  Authority  is  not 
currently in a position to respond to matters in the plant health field. 

Level of scientific certainty: high. 

Advice received and used. 

The  experts  advised  on  updated  and  harmonised  sampling  and  testing 
procedures. 

Means used to make the expert advice publicly available. 

None but legislation reflecting the expertise will be made public. 

• 

Impact assessment 

In  general,  the  impact  is  considered  relatively  neutral  because  the  proposed 
Directive  is  replacing  existing  legislation  on  the  control  of  potato  cyst 
nematodes. On one hand, there is no longer the obligation  to eradicate potato 
cyst nematodes but to determine their distribution and prevent their spread and 
to control them.  

On the other hand the testing for potato cyst nematodes before planting certain 
plants intended for the production of plants for planting is a new aspect that is 
introduced.  This  is  required  because  of  the  high  risk  of  spreading  potato  cyst 
nematodes  by  contaminated  plants  for  planting  through  the  associated  soil. 
Therefore  certain  plants  grown  in  rotation  with  potatoes  will  be  subject  to 
control measures. 

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3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

• 

Summary of the proposed action 

General  measures  to  be  taken  by  the  Member  States  against  potato  cyst 
nematodes such as: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

official investigations to ensure that no potato cyst nematodes are present 
in  fields  in  which  seed  potatoes  intended  for  the  production  of  seed 
potatoes,  and  certain  plants,  intended  for  the  production  of  plants  for 
planting, are held or planted; 

official  surveys  to  be  carried  out  annually  in  fields  used  for  the 
production  of  potatoes  other  than  those  used  for  the  production  of  seed 
potatoes; 

control measures if potato cyst nematodes are found; 

decontamination measures; 

notifications by the Member States to the EC. 

• 

Legal basis 

Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community 

• 

Subsidiarity principle 

The subsidiarity principle applies insofar as the proposal does not fall under the 
exclusive competence of the Community. 

The objectives of the proposal cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member 
States for the following reason(s). 

If potato cyst nematodes were not controlled simultaneously and methodically 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  Community,  protective  measures  to  prevent  the 
introduction  of  such  harmful  organisms  into  the  territory  of  a  Member  State 
would only have limited effect. 

Community  action  will  better  achieve  the  objectives  of  the  proposal  for  the 
following reason(s). 

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Potato  production  occupies  an  important  place  in  Community  agriculture  and 
potato  yields  are  constantly  threatened  by  harmful  organisms.  If  such 
organisms were not controlled simultaneously and methodically throughout the 
Community,  protective  measures  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  such  harmful 
organisms into the territory of a Member State would only have limited effect. 
In  order  to  ensure  this,  general  measures  to  be  taken  by  the  Member  States 
against  potato  cyst  nematodes  are  necessary.  Member  States  can  take 
additional  or  stricter  measures  where  necessary  provided  that  there  is  no 
hindrance to the movement of potatoes within the Community. 

The proposal therefore complies with the subsidiarity principle. 

• 

Proportionality principle 

The  proposal  complies  with  the  proportionality  principle  for  the  following 
reason(s). 

The  proposed  Directive  contains  general  measures  to  be  carried  out  by  the 
Member States. 

Nevertheless, the proposed Directive leaves scope for national decisions within 
a  given  framework  on  the  definition  of  "field",  "area  of  production", 
"probability  of  the  presence  of  potato  cyst  nematodes",  the  content  of  an 
official control programme. 

Not applicable; revision of current EU-legislation. 

• 

Choice of instruments 

Proposed instruments: directive. 

Other means would not be adequate for the following reason(s). 

The  proposed  text  contains  general  measures  to  ensure  the  control  and  to 
prevent  the  spread  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  in  the  Community  requiring  the 
national  plant  protection  organisations  to  establish  national  procedures  to 
implement the text, hence the use of the Directive. 

Other means than a Directive would not be adequate in this case 

4. 

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS 

No implication for the budget. 

5. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• 

Repeal of existing legislation 

The adoption of the proposal will lead to the repeal of existing legislation. 

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• 

Correlation table 

The Member States are required to communicate to the Commission the text of 
national provisions transposing the proposed Directive as well as a correlation 
table between those provisions and this Directive. 

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2005/0058 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 

on the control of potato cyst nematodes 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 37 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

Since the adoption of Council Directive 69/465/EEC of 8 December 1969 on control 
of  Potato  Cyst  Eelworm3  there  have  been  significant  developments  in  the 
nomenclature,  biology  and  epidemiology  of  potato  cyst  nematode  species  and 
populations and their distribution pattern. 

Potato  cyst  nematodes  (Globodera  pallida  (Stone)  Behrens  (European  populations) 
and  Globodera  rostochiensis  (Wollenweber)  Behrens  (European  populations))  are 
recognised as harmful organisms of potatoes. 

The provisions of Directive 69/465/EEC have been re-examined and, as a result of this 
re-examination,  have  been  found  insufficient.  Therefore  the  adoption  of  more 
comprehensive provisions is necessary. 

The  provisions  should  take  into  account  that  official  investigations  are  necessary  to 
ensure  that  no  potato  cyst  nematodes  are  found  in  fields  in  which  seed  potatoes 
intended  for  the  production  of  seed  potatoes,  and  certain  plants  intended  for  the 
production of plants for planting, are held or planted.  

Official  surveys  should  be  carried  out  annually  on  fields  used  for  the  production  of 
potatoes other than those used for the production of seed potatoes. 

Sampling  and  testing  procedures  should  be  set  out  for  conducting  such  official 
investigations and surveys. 

1 
2 
3 

OJ C 
OJ C 
OJ L 323, 24.12.1969, p. 3. 

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(7) 

Account should be taken of the means of spread of the pathogen. 

(8) 

(9) 

The  provisions  should  take  into  account  that  the  control  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  is 
traditionally  by  crop  rotation  as  it  is  recognized  that  several  years  in  the  absence  of 
potato  cultivation  will  reduce  the  population  of  nematodes  by  a  significant  degree. 
More  recently  crop  rotation  has  been  supplemented  by  the  use  of  resistant  potato 
varieties. 

Furthermore,  Member  States  should  be  able  to  take  additional  or  stricter  measures 
where  necessary,  provided  that  there  is  no  hindrance  to  the  movement  of  potatoes 
within the Community, except insofar as laid down in 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  and  against  their  spread  within  the 
Community4.  Such  measures  should  be  notified  to  the  Commission  and  to  the  other 
Member States. 

(10)  Directive 69/465/EEC should therefore be repealed. 

(11)  Since the objectives of the action to be taken, namely to determine the distribution of 
potato  cyst  nematodes,  to  prevent  their  spread  and  to  control  them,  cannot  be 
sufficiently  achieved  by  the  Member  States  and  can  therefore  by  reason  of  the  scale 
and effects of the action be better achieved at Community level, the Community may 
adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 
of  the  Treaty.  In  accordance  with  the  principle  of  proportionality,  as  set  out  in  that 
Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those 
objectives. 

(12)  The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in 
accordance  with  Council  Decision  1999/468/EC  of  28  June  1999  laying  down  the 
procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission5, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 

Chapter I 

Subject-matter and definitions 

Article 1 

This Directive establishes the measures to be taken by the Member States against Globodera 
pallida (Stone) Behrens (European populations) and Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) 
Behrens (European populations), hereinafter referred to as “potato cyst nematodes”, in order 
to determine their distribution, to prevent their spread and to control them. 

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OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2005/16/EC (OJ L 57, 
3.3.2005, p. 19). 
OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. 

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For the purpose of this Directive the following definitions shall apply: 

Article 2 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

1. 

official  or  officially  means  established,  authorised  or  performed  by  the  responsible 
official  bodies  of  a  Member  State  as  defined  in  Article  2(1)(g)  of  Directive 
2000/29/EC;  

resistant  potato  variety  means  a  variety  that  when  grown  significantly  inhibits  the 
development of a particular population of potato cyst nematodes; 

investigation means a methodical procedure to determine the presence of potato cyst 
nematodes in a field; 

survey  means  a  methodical  procedure  conducted  over  a  defined  period  of  time  to 
determine the presence of potato cyst nematodes in the territory of a Member State. 

Article 3 

The responsible official bodies of the Member State shall define what constitutes a 
field  for  the  purposes  of  this  Directive  in  order  to  ensure  that  phytosanitary 
conditions  within  a  field  are  homogenous  as  regards  the  risk  of  potato  cyst 
nematodes.  In  doing  so,  they  shall  take  into  account  sound  scientific  and  statistical 
principles,  the  biology  of  the  potato  cyst  nematode  and  the  particular  production 
systems  of  the  host  plants  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  in  that  Member  State.  The 
detailed  criteria  for  the  definition  of  a  field  shall  be  officially  notified  to  the 
Commission and to the other Member States. 

2. 

Further provisions related to the criteria for the definition of a field may be adopted 
in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 17(2). 

Chapter II 

Detection 

Article 4 

1. 

2. 

Member States shall prescribe that an official investigation for the presence of potato 
cyst nematodes shall be carried out on the field in which the plants listed in Annex I, 
intended for the production of plants for planting, or seed potatoes intended for the 
production of seed potatoes, are to be held or grown.  

The  official  investigation  provided  for  in  paragraph  1  shall  be  carried  out  either 
immediately prior to planting or earlier, in which case documentary evidence of the 
results of that investigation shall be available confirming that potatoes and other host 
plants listed in point 1 of Annex I were not present at the time of the investigation 
and have not been grown since the investigation.  

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3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Results  of  official  investigations  other  than  those  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  and 
carried  out  before  1  January  2007  may  be  considered  as  evidence  as  referred  to  in 
paragraph 2. 

If the responsible official bodies of a Member State have established that there is no 
risk  of  spreading  potato  cyst  nematodes,  the  official  investigation  referred  to  in 
paragraph 1 shall not be required for: 

(a) 

the  planting  of  plants  listed  in  Annex  I,  intended  for  the  production  of  plants 
for  planting  for  non-commercial  use  within  a  single  place  of  production 
situated in an officially defined area, 

(b) 

the  planting  of  seed  potatoes,  intended  for  the  production  of  farm  saved  seed 
within a single place of production situated in an officially defined area. 

Member  States  shall  ensure  that  the  results  of  the  investigations  referred  to  in 
paragraphs  1  and  3  are  held  in  an  official  register  and  are  accessible  to  the 
Commission. 

Article 5 

In the case of seed potatoes intended for the production of seed potatoes and of the 
plants listed in point 1 of Annex I, intended for the production of plants for planting, 
the official investigation referred to in Article 4(1) shall involve sampling and testing 
for the presence of potato cyst nematodes in accordance with Annex II. 

In the case of the plants listed in point 2 of Annex I, intended for the production of 
plants for planting, the official investigation referred to in Article 4(1) shall involve 
sampling  and  testing  for  the  presence  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  in  accordance  with 
Annex II or verification as set out in Section I of Annex III. 

Article 6 

Member  States  shall  provide  that  official  surveys  are  carried  out  annually  for  the 
presence of potato cyst nematodes on fields used for the production of potatoes, other 
than those intended for the production of seed potatoes. 

The official surveys shall involve sampling and testing for the presence of potato cyst 
nematodes  in  accordance  with  point  2  of  Annex  II  and  shall  be  carried  out  in 
accordance with Section II of Annex III. 

The  results  of  the  official  surveys  shall  be  notified  in  writing  each  year  to  the 
Commission by 31 December at the latest. 

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Article 7 

If,  as  a  result  of  the  official  investigation  referred  to  in  Article  4(1)  and  the  other  official 
investigations referred to in Article 4(3) no potato cyst nematodes are found, the responsible 
official bodies of a Member State shall ensure that a document is issued stating that the field 
has been investigated and no potato cyst nematodes have been found. 

Article 8 

1. 

2. 

3. 

When  potato  cyst  nematodes  are  found  in  the  official  investigation  referred  to  in 
Article  4(1)  the  responsible  official  bodies  of  a  Member  State  shall  ensure  that  a 
document  is  issued  stating  that  the  field  has  been  investigated  and  potato  cyst 
nematodes  have  been  found.  Details  of  fields  found  infested  with  potato  cyst 
nematodes during the official investigation shall be entered into the official register 
referred to in Article 4(5). 

When  potato  cyst  nematodes  are  found  in  a  field  during  the  official  annual  survey 
referred  to  in  Article  6(1),  the  responsible  official  bodies  of  a  Member  State  shall 
ensure that a document is issued stating that the field has been surveyed and potato 
cyst  nematodes  have  been  found.  Details  of  fields  found  infested  with  potato  cyst 
nematodes during the annual survey shall be entered into the official register referred 
to in Article 4(5). 

Potatoes or plants listed in Annex I which come from a field for which a document as 
referred  to  in  paragraph  1  or  paragraph  2  has  been  issued,  or  have  been  in  contact 
with  soil  in  which  potato  cyst  nematodes  have  been  found  shall  be  officially 
designated as contaminated. 

Chapter III 

Control Measures 

Article 9 

1. 

Member States shall prescribe that in a field for which a document as referred to in 
Article 8(1) or 8(2) has been issued: 

(a) 

no potatoes intended for the production of seed potatoes, including farm saved 
seed, shall be planted, and 

(b)  no plants listed in Annex I, intended for replanting, shall be planted or stored. 
However,  plants  listed  in  point  2  of  Annex  I  may  be  planted  in  that  field 
provided that these plants are to be subject to the officially approved measures 
referred to in section III(A) of Annex III, such that there is no identifiable risk 
of spreading potato cyst nematodes. 

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2. 

In the case of fields to be used for planting potatoes, other than those intended for the 
production of seed potatoes, for which a document has been issued as referred to in 
Article  8(1)  or  8(2),  the  responsible  official  body  of  the  Member  States  shall 
prescribe that these fields shall be subject to an official control programme aiming at 
the suppression of potato cyst nematodes.  

Taking account of the particular production and marketing system for host plants of 
potato  cyst  nematodes  in  the  relevant  Member  State  and  the  characteristics  of  the 
population of potato cyst nematodes present, this programme shall include the use of 
resistant potato varieties of the highest levels of resistance available as specified in 
Section  I  of  Annex  IV.  This  programme  shall  be  notified  in  writing  to  the 
Commission  and  to  the  other  Member  States  with  a  view  to  ensuring  comparable 
levels of assurance between the Member States. 

The  degree  of  resistance  of  potato  varieties  shall  be  quantified  according  to  the 
standard  scoring  notation  table  set  out  in  Section  I  of  Annex  IV.  Testing  for 
resistance shall be carried out according to the protocol set out in Section II of Annex 
IV. 

1. 

Member  States  shall  prescribe  that  for  potatoes  or  plants  listed  in  Annex  I,  which 
have been designated as contaminated under Article 8(3) 

Article 10 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

in the case of seed potatoes, including farm saved seed potatoes, they shall not 
be planted unless they have been decontaminated under the supervision of the 
responsible  official  bodies  of  a  Member  State  using  an  appropriate  method 
adopted under paragraph 2, based on scientific evidence that there is no risk of 
spreading potato cyst nematodes, 

in the case of potatoes intended for industrial processing or grading, they shall 
be subject to officially approved measures in accordance with Section III(B) of 
Annex III, 

in  the  case  of  plants  listed  in  Annex  I,  they  shall  not  be  planted  unless  they 
have been subject to the officially approved measures as referred to in Section 
III(A) of Annex III, such that they are no longer contaminated. 

Specifications  of  the  methods  referred  to  in  paragraph  1(a)  shall  be  adopted  in 
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 17(2).  

Article 11 

Without  prejudice  to  Article  16(1)  of  Directive  2000/29/EC,  Member  States  shall 
ensure that the suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of potato cyst nematodes 
in  their  territory  resulting  from  a  breakdown  or  change  in  the  effectiveness  of  a 
resistant potato variety which relates to an exceptional change in the composition of 
a  nematode  species,  pathotype  or  virulence  group,  shall  be  reported  to  their  own 
responsible official bodies.  

2. 

1. 

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2. 

3. 

4. 

For all cases reported under paragraph 1, Member States shall provide that the potato 
cyst  nematode  species  and,  where  applicable,  the  pathotype  or  virulence  group 
involved, are investigated and confirmed by appropriate methods. 

The  details  of  the  confirmations  referred  to  in  paragraph  2  shall  be  sent  in  writing 
each year by 31 December at the latest to the Commission and to the other Member 
States. 

The  appropriate  methods  referred  to  in  paragraph  2  may  be  adopted  in  accordance 
with the procedure referred to in Article 17(2). 

Article 12 

Member States shall notify in writing to the Commission and to the other Member States each 
year by 31 December at the latest, a list of all the varieties of potatoes accepted by them for 
marketing  in  the  following  year  and  which  they  have  found  by  official  investigation  to  be 
resistant  to  potato  cyst  nematodes.  They  shall  state  the  pathotypes  or  virulence  groups  to 
which  the  varieties  are  resistant,  the  degree  of  resistance  and  the  year  of  its  determination 
against the pathotype or virulence group. 

Article 13 

If, after the officially approved measures referred to in Section III(C) of Annex III have been 
taken, the presence of potato cyst nematodes is not confirmed, the responsible official bodies 
of the Member State shall ensure that the official register referred to in Article 4(5) is updated 
and any restrictions imposed on the field are revoked.  

Article 14 

Without prejudice to Articles 3 and 5 of Directive 2000/29/EC, Member States may authorise 
derogations from the measures referred to in Articles 9 and 10 of this Directive in accordance 
with  the  provisions  laid  down  in  Commission  Directive  95/44/EC6  for  trial  or  scientific 
purposes and for work on varietal selections. 

Chapter IV 

General and final provisions 

Article 15 

Member  States  may  adopt  in  relation  to  their  own  production  such  additional  or  stricter 
measures as may be required to control potato cyst nematodes or to prevent them spreading in 
so far as they are in compliance with Directive 2000/29/EC. 

6 

OJ L 184, 3.8.1995, p. 34.  

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Those  measures  shall  be  notified  in  writing  to  the  Commission  and  to  the  other  Member 
States.  

Article 16 

Amendments  to  the  Annexes,  to  be  made  in  the  light  of  developments  in  scientific  or 
technical knowledge, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 
17(2).  

Article 17 

1. 

2. 

The  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  the  Standing  Committee  on  Plant  Health, 
hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Articles  5  and  7  of  Decision 
1999/468/EC shall apply. 

The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three 
months. 

3. 

The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure. 

Article 18 

1. 

Member States shall adopt and publish by 31 December 2006 at the latest the laws, 
regulations  and  administrative  provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  this  Directive. 
They  shall  forthwith  communicate  to  the  Commission  the  text  of  those  provisions 
and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive. 

They shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2007. 

When  Member  States  adopt  those  provisions,  they  shall  contain  a  reference  to  this 
Directive  or  be  accompanied  by  such  a  reference  on  the  occasion  of  their  official 
publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.  

2. 

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions 
of national law, which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. 

Directive 69/465/EEC is repealed with effect from 1 January 2007. 

Article 19 

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This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Union. 

Article 20 

This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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List of plants referred to in Articles 4(1), 4(2), 4(4), 5(1), 5(2), 8(3), 9(1)(b), and 10(1) 

ANNEX I 

1. 

Host plants with roots: 

Capsicum spp., 

Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw., 

Solanum melongena L. 

2. (a)  Other plants with roots: 

Allium porrum L., 

Beta vulgaris L., 

Brassica spp., 

Fragaria L.. 

2. (b)  Bulbs, grown in soil and intended for planting, other than those for which there shall 
be evidence by their packaging or by other means that they are intended for sale to 
final consumers not involved in professional plant or cut flower production, of: 

Allium ascalonicum L., 

Allium cepa L., 

Dahlia spp., 

Gladiolus Tourn. Ex L., 

Hyacinthus spp., 

Iris spp., 

Lilium spp., 

Narcissus L., 

Tulipa L.. 

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1. 

With reference to the sampling and testing for the official investigation referred to in 
Article 5(1) and 5(2): 

ANNEX II 

(a) 

sampling  shall  involve  a  soil  sample  with  a  standard  size  of  at  least  1500  ml 
soil/ha collected from at least 100 cores/ha preferably in a rectangular grid of 
not less than 5 meters in width and not more than 20 meters in length between 
sampling points covering the entire field. The whole sample shall be used for 
further  examination,  i.e.  extraction  of  cysts,  species  identification  and,  if 
applicable, pathotype/virulence group determination; 

(b) 

testing  shall  involve  methods  for  the  extraction  of  potato  cyst  nematodes 
described  in  Appendix  1  of  the  ‘Phytosanitary  procedures  for  Globodera 
pallida  and  Globodera  rostochiensis:  Soil  sampling  methods’  (PM  3/30  (1), 
EPPO standards), or the bioassay method. 

2. 

With  reference  to  the  sampling  and  testing  for  the  official  survey  referred  to  in 
Article 6(2): 

(a) 

sampling shall be: 

– 

or 

– 

or 

– 

the sampling described in point 1 with a minimum sample size of soil of 
at least 400 ml/ha; 

targeted  sampling  of  at  least  400  ml  of  soil  after  visual  examination  of 
roots where there are visual symptoms; 

sampling  of  at  least  400  ml  of  soil  associated  with  the  potatoes  after 
harvesting  provided  that  the  field  where  the  potatoes  were  grown  is 
traceable; 

(b) 

testing shall be the testing referred to in point 1. 

3. 

By  way  of  derogation  the  sample  size  referred  to  in  point  1  may  be  reduced  to  a 
minimum of 400 ml of soil/ha provided that:  

there  is  documentary  evidence  that  no  potatoes  or  other  host  plants  listed  in 
point  1  of  Annex  I  have  been  grown  and  were  present  in  the  field  in  the  six 
years prior to the official investigation; 

(a) 

or 

(b)  no  potato  cyst  nematodes  have  been  found  during  the  last  two  successive 
official  investigations  in samples of  1500  ml  soil/ha  and  no  potatoes  or  other 
host plants listed in point 1 of Annex I have been grown and were present after 
the first of these two official investigations; 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
 
 
or 

(c) 

no  cysts  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  (with  or  without  live  content)  have  been 
found in the last official investigation which must have consisted of a sample 
size  of  at  least  1500  ml  soil/ha  and  no  potatoes  or  other  host  plants  listed  in 
point 1 of Annex I, have been grown and were present in the field since the last 
official investigation. 

Results  of  other  official  investigations  carried  out  before  the  entering  into  force  of 
this  Directive  may  be  considered  as  official  investigations  as  referred  to  in 
subparagraph b and c. 

The  use  of  the  reduced  sample  size  may  be  continued  in  the  subsequent  official 
investigations referred to in Article 4(1) until potato cyst nematodes have been found 
in the field concerned. 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
ANNEX III 

Section I 

Verification 

With  reference  to  Article  5(2),  the  official  investigation  referred  to  in  Article  4(1)  shall 
establish that at the time of verification one of the following criteria are met: 

– 

– 

no history of potato cyst nematodes in the field during the last 12 years, based on the 
results of appropriate officially approved testing  

or 

a known cropping history in which no potatoes or other hosts plants listed in point 1 
of Annex I have been grown in the field in the past 12 years. 

Section II 

Surveys 

The official surveys referred to in Article 6(1), shall be conducted on at least 0.5% of the area 
of production of potatoes, other than that intended for the production of seed potatoes. 

Section III 

Official Measures 

(A) 

The  officially  approved  measures  referred  to  in  Article  9(1)(b)  and  in  Article 
10(1)(c) are: 

(B) 

(C) 

1. 

2. 

disinfestation by appropriate methods such that there is no identifiable risk of 
the potato cyst nematodes spreading 

removal of soil by washing or brushing until practically free of soil such that 
there is no identifiable risk of the potato cyst nematodes spreading. 

The  officially  approved  measures  referred  to  in  Article  10(1)(b)  are  direct  and 
immediate  delivery  to  a  processing  or  grading  plant  with  appropriate  and  officially 
approved waste disposal facilities  for  which it has been established that there is no 
risk of the potato cyst nematodes spreading. 

The officially approved measures referred to in Article 13 are an official re-sampling 
of  the  field  for  which  a  document  as  referred  to  in  Article  8(1)  or  8(2)  has  been 
issued, and testing using one of the methods specified in Annex II, after a minimum 
period of 6 years counting from the positive confirmation of potato cyst nematodes, 
or counting from the growing of the last potato crop. This period may be reduced to a 
minimum of 3 years if appropriate officially approved measures have been taken. 

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
ANNEX IV 

SECTION I 

DEGREE OF RESISTANCE 

The  degree  of  susceptibility  of  potatoes  to  potato  cyst  nematodes  shall  be  quantified 
according to the following standard scoring notation as referred to in point (b) of Article 2. 

The score 9 indicates the highest level of resistance. 

Relative susceptibility (%) 

Score 

< 1 

1.1 – 3 

3.1 – 5 

5.1 – 10 

10.1 – 15 

15.1 – 25 

25.1 – 50 

50.1 – 100 

> 100 

9 

8 

7 

6 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

EN 

20 

   EN 

 
 
SECTION II 

PROTOCOL FOR RESISTANCE TESTING 

The test shall be performed in a quarantine facility either outside, in glasshouses, or 
in climate chambers. 

The  test  shall  be  performed  in  pots  each  containing  at  least  one  litre  of  soil  (or 
suitable substrate). 

The soil temperature during the course of the test shall not exceed 25°C and adequate 
watering shall be provided. 

When planting the test or control variety one potato eye plug of each test or control 
variety shall be used. Removal of all stems except one is recommended. 

The potato variety ‘Desirée’ shall be used as a standard susceptible control variety in 
every  test.  Additional  fully  susceptible  control  varieties  of  local  relevance  may  be 
added as internal checks. The standard susceptible control variety may be changed if 
research indicates that other varieties are either more suitable or more accessible. 

The  following  standard  populations  of  potato  cyst  nematodes  shall  be  used  against 
pathotypes Ro1, Ro5, Pa1 and Pa3: 

Ro1: population Ecosse 

Ro5: population Harmerz 

Pa1: population Scottish 

Pa3: population Chavornay 

Other potato cyst nematode populations of local relevance may be added. 

The  identity  of  the  standard  population  used  shall  be  checked  using  appropriate 
methods.  It  is  recommended  that  at  least  two  resistant  varieties  or  two  differential 
standard clones of known resistance capacity are used in the test experiments.  

The potato cyst nematode inoculum (Pi) shall consist in total of 5 infective eggs and 
juveniles per ml of soil. It is recommended that the number of potato cyst nematodes 
to be inoculated per ml of soil is determined in hatching experiments. The potato cyst 
nematodes  may  be  inoculated  as  cysts,  or  combined  as  eggs  and  juveniles  in  a 
suspension.  

The viability of the potato cyst nematode cyst content used as the inoculum source 
shall be at least 70%. It is recommended that the cysts are 6-24 months old and are 
kept for at least 4 months at 4°C immediately prior to use.  

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

EN 

21 

   EN 

 
10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

There  shall  be  at  least  4  replicates  (pots)  per  combination  of  potato  cyst  nematode 
population and potato variety tested. It is recommended to use at least 10 replicates 
for the standard susceptible control variety. 

The  duration  of  the  test  shall  be  at  least  3  months  and  the  maturity  of  developing 
females shall be checked before breaking up the experiment. 

Potato  cyst  nematode  cysts  from  the  4  replicates  shall  be  extracted  and  counted 
separately for each pot. 

The final population (Pf) on the standard susceptible control variety at the end of the 
resistance  test  shall  be  determined  by  counting  all  cysts  from  all  replicates  and  the 
eggs and juveniles from at least 4 replicates. 

A  multiplication  rate  of  at  least  20x  (Pf/Pi)  on  the  standard  susceptible  control 
variety shall be achieved. 

The coefficient of variation (CV) on the standard susceptible control variety shall not 
exceed 35%. 

The  relative  susceptibility  of  the  tested  potato  variety  to  the  standard  susceptible 
control  variety  shall  be  determined  and  expressed  as  a  percentage  according  to  the 
formula: 

Pf test variety/ Pf standard susceptible control variety x 100%. 

If  a  tested  potato  variety  has  a  relative  susceptibility  of  more  than  3%,  cyst  counts 
will  suffice.  In  cases  where  the  relative  susceptibility  is  less  than  3%,  eggs  and 
juveniles shall be counted in addition to cyst counts. 

Where the results of tests in the first year indicate that a variety is fully susceptible to 
a pathotype, there is no requirement to repeat these tests in a second year. 

The  results  of  the  tests  shall  be  confirmed  by  at  least  one  other  trial  performed  in 
another year. The arithmetic mean of the relative susceptibility in the 2 years shall be 
used to derive the score according to the standard scoring notation.  

EN 

22 

   EN