Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632 of 13 April 2022 setting out temporary measures in respect of specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe to prevent the introduction into, and the spread within, the Union territory of the pest Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa
Date: 2022-04-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: citrus fruit, health certificate, import (EU), import restriction, originating product, pest, plant disease, plant health control, surveillance concerning imports, third country




L_2022117EN.01001101.xml










19.4.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 117/11








            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/632
of 13 April 2022
         
setting out temporary measures in respect of specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe to prevent the introduction into, and the spread within, the Union territory of the pest Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC (1), and in particular Article 41(2) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 (2) lays down measures in respect of fruits of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf., and their hybrids other than fruits of Citrus aurantium L. and Citrus latifolia Tanaka (‘the specified fruits’) originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union territory of Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa (‘the specified pest’). That Implementing Decision expires on 31 March 2022.












(2)


Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (3) lays down, in Part A of Annex II, the list of Union quarantine pests not known to occur in the Union territory. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 seeks to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of those pests in the Union territory.












(3)


The specified pest is listed as a Union quarantine pest in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. It is also listed as a priority pest in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1702 (4).












(4)


Since 2016, Member States have reported, several non-compliances due to the presence of the specified pest in imports into the Union of the specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay. As a result, it is necessary to maintain and update the measures set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 for each of those countries and, for reasons of clarity, lay them down in a Regulation.












(5)


Moreover, a high number of non-compliances due to the presence of the specified pest on the specified fruits originating from Zimbabwe was observed in 2021. This high number of non-compliances from Zimbabwe indicates that the measures set up in point 60 of Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 are not sufficient to ensure freedom from the specified pest on specified fruits from Zimbabwe and it is therefore necessary to include the specified fruits originating from Zimbabwe in the scope of the temporary measures against the specified pest set up in this Regulation.












(6)


To ensure a more effective prevention of the entry of the specified pest into the Union territory, and considering the experience gained with the application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715, it is necessary to lay down additional measures for the specified fruits originating from Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.












(7)


Those measures are necessary to ensure that the specified fruits originate from places and sites of production registered with, and approved by, the National Plant Protection Organisations (‘the NPPOs’) of Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay or Zimbabwe. They are also necessary to ensure that those fruits are accompanied by a traceability code allowing, where necessary due to the detection of the specified pest, to trace back to the site of production. Those measures are also necessary to ensure that specified fruits originate from sites of production where the specified pest has not been found during the preceding and current trade seasons.












(8)


The NPPOs of Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay or Zimbabwe should also verify the correct application of the treatments in the field, as this has proven to be the most effective way to ensure the absence of the specified pest from the specified fruits.












(9)


The specified fruits should also be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of inspection, the number of packages from each site of production and the traceability codes. Member States should indicate the traceability codes when notifying non-compliances in the electronic notification system.












(10)


Following the revision of the import requirements for the specified fruits originating in Argentina in 2021 which resulted in the amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/682 (5), the sampling to confirm the correct application of plant protection products in the field should be based on the non-compliances identified upon inspections in the field or at the packing facilities prior to export, or upon checks carried out on consignments at the border control posts in the Union. This is necessary to ensure that sampling is risk based.












(11)


Given the high number of non-compliances on specified fruits originating in South Africa, which Member States notified in 2021, it is necessary to increase the requirements for sampling, compared to the respective requirements set out in Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715, to detect the specified pest on the specified fruits along different stages in the packing house, until they are ready for export.












(12)


Given that since 2019 the number of non-compliances notified by Member States on specified fruits originating in Brazil and Uruguay has been low, the application of the measures provided for in Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 by these countries has prevented the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Phyllosticta citricarpa. Therefore, those measures should continue to apply to those two countries. However, it is no longer necessary to maintain the obligation for Uruguay to carry out latency testing for Valencia oranges, because the number of non-compliances of the specified pest on those specified fruits has decreased significantly since 2016.












(13)


In the light of the European Food Safety Authority’s pest risk assessment (6), imports of specified fruits destined exclusively for processing present a lower risk of transferring the specified pest to a suitable host plant, as they are subject to official controls within the Union and are to comply with specific requirements on movement, processing, storage, containers, packages and labelling. Therefore, it is possible to allow such imports under less strict requirements.












(14)


After the physical checks referred to in Article 49 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and the Council (7) have been carried out, the specified fruits, destined exclusively for processing, should directly and without delay be transported to the processing premises or to a storage facility, to ensure the lowest possible phytosanitary risk.












(15)


In order to allow the NPPOs, competent authorities and professional operators concerned sufficient time to adapt to the requirements laid down in this Regulation, and to ensure that those requirements apply immediately after the expiration of Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715, this Regulation should apply from 1 April 2022.












(16)


In order to allow for sufficient time for operators in Brazil, Uruguay and Zimbabwe to adjust to the new rules, the requirement that the specified fruits are produced in a site of production where the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits during the preceding growing and export season, or during official inspections in those countries or during the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union during that growing and export season, should only apply from 1 April 2023 in the cases of the specified fruits originating from those countries. Such deferred application is not necessary for Argentina or South Africa, which have confirmed that they already apply such a requirement.












(17)


The phytosanitary risk, caused by the presence of the specified pest in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe, and caused by the import of the specified fruits from those third countries into the Union, is still varying every year per third country of origin for the specified fruits. It should thus be further assessed on the basis of the latest technical and scientific developments on the prevention and control of the specified pest. This Regulation should therefore be temporary and expire on 31 March 2025 to allow for its review.












(18)


In view of the fact that Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 expires on 31 March 2022, and in order for the trade of the specified fruits to take place in accordance with the rules of this Regulation immediately after that expiration, this Regulation should enter into force on the third day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.












(19)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



CHAPTER I


GENERAL PROVISIONS



Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation lays down measures in respect of specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay and Zimbabwe to prevent the introduction into, and the spread within, the Union territory of Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa.


Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:






(1)


‘specified pest’ means Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa;










(2)


‘specified fruits’ means fruits of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf., and their hybrids, other than fruits of Citrus aurantium L. and Citrus latifolia Tanaka.







CHAPTER II


INTRODUCTION INTO THE UNION TERRITORY OF SPECIFIED FRUITS, OTHER THAN FRUITS DESTINED EXCLUSIVELY FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING



Article 3

Introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits, other than fruits destined exclusively for industrial processing

By way of derogation from point 60(c) and 60(d) of Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, the specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay or Zimbabwe, other than fruits destined exclusively for industrial processing, may only be introduced into the Union territory in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of this Regulation and if all the conditions laid down in Annexes I to V to this Regulation for the respective country have been fulfilled.


Article 4

Prior notification of the consignments of specified fruits for import into the Union

The professional operators shall submit the Common Health Entry Document only for the consignments of the specified fruits with the traceability codes of the sites of production included in the updated lists referred to in Annex I, point 9, Annex II, point 7, Annex III, point 9, Annex IV, point 7, and Annex V, point 8.


Article 5

Inspection of the specified fruits within the Union, other than fruits destined exclusively for industrial processing


1.   Member States shall ensure that, under their official supervision and through the updated lists referred to in Annex I, point 9, Annex II, point 7, Annex III, point 9, Annex IV, point 7, and Annex V, point 8, the professional operators present for import only consignments originating from the sites of production referred to in Annex I, points 11(a), (b) (c) and (d), and point 12, Annex II, points 9(a), (b), (c) and (d), Annex III, points 11(a) (b), (c) and (d), Annex IV, points 9(a) (b), (c) and (d), and Annex V, points 10(a) (b), (c) and (d).


2.   Physical checks shall be carried out on samples of at least 200 fruits of each species of the specified fruits by batches of 30 tonnes, or part thereof, selected on the basis of any possible symptom of the specified pest.


3.   Where symptoms of the specified pest are detected during the physical checks referred to in paragraph 2, the presence of that pest shall be confirmed or refuted by testing the specified fruits showing symptoms.




CHAPTER III


INTRODUCTION INTO AND MOVEMENT WITHIN THE UNION OF SPECIFIED FRUITS DESTINED EXCLUSIVELY FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING



Article 6

Introduction into and movement within the Union territory of specified fruits destined exclusively for industrial processing

By way of derogation from point 60(e) of Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, the specified fruits originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay or Zimbabwe, destined exclusively for industrial processing, shall only be introduced into, and moved, processed and stored within, the Union territory in accordance with Articles 6 to 10 and if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:






(a)


the specified fruits have been produced in one of those countries in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the National Plant Protection Organisation (‘the NPPO’) of that country;










(b)


the specified fruits have been harvested in approved sites of production and no symptoms of the specified pest have been detected throughout an appropriate physical check carried out during packaging;










(c)


the specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes all of the following elements:






(i)


the number of packages from each site of production;










(ii)


the identification numbers of the containers;










(iii)


the relevant traceability codes of the sites of production indicated on the individual packages, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’ the following statements: ‘The consignment complies with Article 6 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’ and ‘Fruits destined exclusively for industrial processing’;














(d)


they are transported in individual packages in a container;










(e)


a label is attached to each individual package referred to in point (d), bearing the following information:






(i)


the traceability code of the site of production on each individual package;










(ii)


the declared net weight of the specified fruit;










(iii)


the statement: ‘Fruit destined exclusively for industrial processing’.










Article 7

Movement of the specified fruits within the Union territory


1.   The specified fruits shall not be moved to a Member State, other than the Member State through which they have been introduced into the Union territory, unless the competent authorities of the Member States concerned agree to such movement.


2.   After the physical checks referred to in Article 49 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 have been carried out, the specified fruits shall directly and without delay be transported into the processing premises referred to in Article 8(1) or to a storage facility. Any movement of the specified fruits shall be carried out under the supervision of the competent authority of the Member State where the point of entry is situated and, where appropriate, of the Member State where the processing will take place.



Article 8

Processing of the specified fruits


1.   The specified fruits shall be processed at premises situated in an area where no citrus fruit is produced. The premises shall be officially registered and approved for that purpose by the competent authority of the Member State in which the premises are situated.


2.   Waste and by-products of the specified fruits shall be used or destroyed in the territory of the Member State where those fruits have been processed, in an area where no citrus fruit is produced.


3.   The waste and by-products shall be destroyed by deep burial or used by a method approved by the competent authority of the Member State where the specified fruits have been processed, and under the supervision of that competent authority, in a way to prevent any risk of spreading the specified pest.


4.   The processor shall keep records of the specified fruits that are processed and make them available to the competent authority of the Member State where the specified fruits have been processed. Those records shall indicate the numbers and distinguishing marks of containers, the volumes of the specified fruits imported, the volumes of waste and by-products used or destroyed and detailed information on their use or destruction.



Article 9

Storage of the specified fruits


1.   Where the specified fruits are not processed immediately, they shall be stored at a facility registered and approved for that purpose by the competent authority of the Member State where the facility is situated.


2.   The batches of the specified fruits shall remain separately identifiable.


3.   The specified fruits shall be stored in a way, which prevents any risk of spreading of specified pest.




CHAPTER IV


FINAL PROVISIONS



Article 10

Notifications

When notifying non-compliances, due to the presence of the specified pest on the specified fruits, to the electronic notification system, Member States shall indicate the traceability code of the respective site of production as provided for in Annex I, point 10, Annex II, point 8, Annex III, point 10, Annex IV, point 8, and Annex V, point 9.


Article 11

Date of expiration

This Regulation shall expire on 31 March 2025.


Article 12

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 April 2022. However, Annex II, point 9(d), Annex IV, point 9(d), and Annex V, point 10(d), shall apply from 1 April 2023.





This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 13 April 2022.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 317, 23.11.2016, p. 4.

(2)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 of 11 May 2016 setting out measures in respect of certain fruits originating in certain third countries to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa (OJ L 125, 13.5.2016, p. 16).

(3)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 (OJ L 319, 10.12.2019, p. 1).

(4)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1702 of 1 August 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the list of priority pests (OJ L 260, 11.10.2019, p. 8).

(5)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/682 of 26 April 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 as regards specified fruits originating in Argentina (OJ L 144, 27.4.2021, p. 31).

(6)  EFSA PLH Panel (EFSA Panel on Plant Health), 2014. Scientific Opinion on the risk of Phyllosticta citricarpa (Guignardia citricarpa) for the EU territory with identification and evaluation of risk reduction options. EFSA Journal 2014;12(2):3557, 243 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3557.

(7)  Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1).




ANNEX I
Conditions for the introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits originating in Argentina as provided for in Article 3

1.   

The specified fruits have been produced in places of production, consisting of one or more sites of production, which have been identified as unique and physically distinct parts of a place of production, and both the place of production and its sites of production have been approved by the NPPO of Argentina for the purpose of export to the Union.



2.   

The approved places of production and the sites of production thereof have been registered by the NPPO of Argentina under their respective traceability codes.



3.   

The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest, at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the NPPO of Argentina.



4.   
The verification referred to in point 3 is accompanied by sampling to confirm the application of treatments, where those treatments consist of the application of plant protection products, and the sampling has taken into account the non-compliances identified during the preceding growing and export season:






(a)


upon inspections in the field or at the packing facilities, prior to export; or










(b)


upon checks carried out on consignments at the border control posts in the Union.






5.   

Official inspections, consisting of physical checks and, if symptoms are detected, sampling to test for the presence of the specified pest, have been carried out in the approved sites of production since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and the specified pest has not been detected on the specified fruits.



6.   
A sample has been taken:






(a)


upon arrival to the packing facilities, prior to processing, of 200-400 fruits per lot of specified fruits, defined upon arrival in the packing facility;










(b)


along the line between arrival and packing in the packing facilities, of at least 1 % per lot of specified fruits defined in the packing line;










(c)


before departure from the packaging facility, of at least 1 % per lot of specified fruits, defined after packing;










(d)


prior to export, as part of the final official inspection to issue the phytosanitary certificate, of at least 1 % per lot of specified fruits prepared for export.






7.   

All of the specified fruits referred to in point 6 have been sampled, as far as possible, on the basis of any symptom of the specified pest, and all of the sampled fruits referred to in point 6(a) have been found free from that pest on the basis of visual inspections, whereas all of the sampled fruits referred to in points 6(b), 6(c) and 6(d), which showed symptoms of the specified pest, have been tested and found free from that pest.



8.   

The specified fruits have been transported in packages, with each package bearing a label with the traceability code of the site of production from which they originate.



9.   

Before the start of the export season of the specified fruits, the NPPO of Argentina has communicated to the relevant professional operators and to the Commission the list of traceability codes of all approved sites of production per place of production, and any updates to that list have been immediately communicated to the Commission and to the relevant professional operators.



10.   

The specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of the last inspection and the number of packages from each site of production, the relevant traceability codes, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’, the following statement: ‘The consignment complies with Annex I of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’.



11.   
The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production:






(a)


where, during the official inspections referred to in point 5, the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits;










(b)


which is the origin of the specified fruits as referred to in point 6, on which the specified pest has not been found;










(c)


which is the origin of consignments of the specified fruits, on which the specified pest has not been found during the official checks carried out when entering the Union during the same growing and export season; and










(d)


which is the origin of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found, during the preceding growing and export season, in official inspections in Argentina or the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union.






12.   

Where the specified fruits originate in a site of production located in the same place of production as a site of production where the presence of the specified pest has been confirmed, during the same growing and export season, on the samples referred to in point 6 or during the checks carried out on consignments on entry to the Union, those specified fruits have been exported only after that site of production has been confirmed to be free from the specified pest.







ANNEX II
Conditions for the introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits originating in Brazil as provided for in Article 3

1.   

The specified fruits have been produced in a place of production consisting of one or more sites of production, which have been identified as unique and physically distinct parts of a place of production, and both the place of production and its sites of production have been officially approved by the NPPO of Brazil for the purpose of export to the Union.



2.   

The approved places of production and the sites of production thereof, have been registered by the NPPO of Brazil under their respective traceability codes.



3.   

The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the NPPO of Brazil.



4.   

Official inspections consisting of physical checks and, if symptoms are detected, sampling to test for the presence of the specified pest, have been carried out in the approved sites of production since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and the specified pest has not been detected in the specified fruits.



5.   

A sample has been taken along the line between arrival and packaging in the packing facilities of at least 600 fruits of each species per batch of 30 tonnes, or part thereof, selected as much as possible on the basis of any symptom of the specified pest, and all sampled fruits showing symptoms have been tested and found free of that pest.



6.   

The specified fruits have been transported in packages, with each package bearing a label with the traceability code of the site of production from which they originate.



7.   

Before the start of the export season of the specified fruits, the NPPO of Brazil has communicated to the relevant professional operators and to the Commission the list of traceability codes of all approved sites of production per place of production, and any updates to that list, have been immediately communicated to the Commission and to the relevant professional operators.



8.   

The specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of the last inspection and the number of packages from each site of production, the relevant traceability codes, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’, the following statement: ‘The consignment complies with Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’.



9.   
The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production:






(a)


where, during official inspections referred to in point 4, the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits,










(b)


which is the origin of the specified fruits as referred to in point 5, on which the specified pest has not been found;










(c)


which is the origin of consignments of the specified fruits, on which the specified pest has not been found during the official checks carried out when entering the Union during the same growing and export season; and










(d)


which is the origin of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found, during the preceding growing and export season, in official inspections in Brazil or the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union.










ANNEX III
Conditions for the introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits originating in South Africa as provided for in Article 3

1.   

The specified fruits have been produced in a place of production consisting of one or more sites of production which have been identified as unique and physically distinct parts of a place of production, and both the place of production and its production sites have been approved by the NPPO of South Africa for the purpose of export to the Union.



2.   

The approved places of production and the sites of production thereof have been registered by the NPPO of South Africa under their respective traceability codes.



3.   

The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest, at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the NPPO of South Africa.



4.   

Official inspections, including testing in the case of doubts, have been carried out in the approved sites of production since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation by inspectors accredited by the NPPO for the detection of the specified pest, and the specified pest has not been detected in the specified fruits.



5.   
A sample has been taken:






(a)


upon arrival to the packing facilities, prior to processing, of at least 200-400 fruits per lot of specified fruits;










(b)


along the line between arrival and packing in the packing facilities, of at least 1 % of specified fruits;










(c)


before departure from the packing facility, as part of the final official inspection to issue the phytosanitary certificate, of at least 2 % of specified fruits.






6.   

All of the specified fruits referred to in point 5 have been found free from the specified pest on the basis of inspections carried out by accredited inspectors and in the case of doubts of the presence of the specified pest, by testing.



7.   

In the case of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ‘Valencia’, in addition to the samples referred to in points 5 and 6, a representative sample per batch of 30 tonnes, or part thereof, has been tested for latent infection and found free from the specified pest.



8.   

The specified fruits have been transported in packages, with each package bearing a label with the traceability code of the site of production from which they originate.



9.   

Before the start of the export season of the specified fruits, the NPPO of South Africa has communicated to the relevant professional operators and to the Commission the list of traceability codes of all approved sites of production per place of production, and any updates to that list, have been immediately communicated to the Commission and to the relevant professional operators.



10.   

The specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of the last inspection and the number of packages from each site of production, the relevant traceability codes, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’, the following statement: ‘The consignment complies with Annex III of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’.



11.   
The specified fruits are produced in an approved site of production:






(a)


where, during the official inspections referred to in point 4, the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits;










(b)


which is the origin of the specified fruits as referred to in point 5, on which the specified pest has not been found;










(c)


which is the origin of consignments of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found during the official checks carried out when entering the Union during the same growing and export season; and










(d)


which is the origin of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found, during the preceding growing and export season, in official inspections in South Africa or the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union.










ANNEX IV
Conditions for the introduction into the Union of specified fruits originating in Uruguay as provided for in Article 3

1.   

The specified fruits originate in a place of production consisting of one or more sites of production which have been identified as unique and physically distinct parts of a place of production, and both the place of production and its sites of production have been approved by the NPPO of Uruguay for the purpose of export to the Union.



2.   

The approved places of production and the sites of production thereof have been registered by the NPPO of Uruguay under their respective traceability codes.



3.   

The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest, at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the NPPO of Uruguay.



4.   

Official inspections, consisting in physical checks and, if symptoms are detected, sampling to test for the presence of the specified pest, have been carried out in the approved sites of production since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and the specified pest has not been detected in the specified fruits.



5.   

A sample has been taken along the line between arrival and packaging in the packing facilities of at least 600 fruits of each species per batch of 30 tonnes, or part thereof, selected as much as possible on the basis of any symptom of the specified pest, and all sampled fruits showing symptoms have been tested and found free of that pest.



6.   

The specified fruits have been transported in packages, with each package bearing a label with the traceability code of the site of production from which they originate.



7.   

Before the start of the export season of the specified fruits, the NPPO of Uruguay has communicated to the relevant professional operators and to the Commission the list of traceability codes of all approved sites of production per place of production, and any updates to that list, have been immediately communicated to the Commission and to the relevant professional operators.



8.   

The specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of the last inspection and the number of packages from each site of production, the relevant traceability codes, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’, the following statement: ‘The consignment complies with Annex IV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’.



9.   
The specified fruits are produced in an approved site of production:






(a)


where, during official inspections referred to in point 4, the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits;










(b)


which is the origin of the specified fruits as referred to in point 5, on which the specified pest has not been found;










(c)


which is the origin of consignments of the specified fruits, on which the specified pest has not been found during the official checks carried out when entering the Union during the same growing and export season; and










(d)


which is the origin of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found, during the preceding growing and export season, in official inspections in Uruguay or the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union.










ANNEX V
Conditions for the introduction into the Union of specified fruits originating in Zimbabwe as provided for in Article 3

1.   

The specified fruits have been produced in a place of production consisting of one or more sites of production which have been identified as unique and physically distinct parts of a place of production, and both the place of production and its sites of production have been approved by the NPPO of Zimbabwe for the purpose of export to the Union.



2.   

The approved places of production and the sites of production thereof have been registered by the NPPO of Zimbabwe under their respective traceability codes.



3.   

The specified fruits have been produced in an approved site of production, which has undergone treatments and cultural measures effective against the specified pest, at the appropriate time since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and their application has been verified under the official supervision of the NPPO of Zimbabwe.



4.   

Official inspections, consisting of physical checks and, if symptoms are detected, sampling to test for the presence of the specified pest, have been carried out in the approved sites of production since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation, and the specified pest has not been detected in the specified fruits.



5.   
A sample has been taken:






(a)


upon arrival to the packing facilities, prior to processing, of at least 200-400 fruits per lot of specified fruits;










(b)


along the line between arrival and packing in the packing facilities, of at least 1 % of specified fruits;










(c)


before departure from the packaging facility, of at least 1 % of specified fruits;










(d)


prior to export, as part of the final official inspection to issue the phytosanitary certificate, of at least 1 % of specified fruits prepared for export.






6.   

All of the specified fruits referred to in point 5 have been sampled, as far as possible, on the basis of any symptom of the specified pest, and all of the sampled fruits referred to in point 5(a) have been found free from that pest on the basis of visual inspections, whereas all of the sampled fruits referred to in points 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d), which showed symptoms of the specified pest, have been tested and found free from that pest.



7.   

The specified fruits have been transported in packages, with each package bearing a label with the traceability code of the site of production from which they originate.



8.   

Before the start of the export season of the specified fruits, the NPPO of Zimbabwe has communicated to the relevant professional operators and to the Commission the list of traceability codes of all approved sites of production per place of production, and any updates to that list, have been immediately communicated to the Commission and to the relevant professional operators.



9.   

The specified fruits are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which includes the date of the last inspection and the number of packages from each site of production, the relevant traceability codes, and under the heading ‘Additional Declaration’, the following statement: ‘The consignment complies with Annex V of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/632’.



10.   
The specified fruits are produced in an approved site of production:






(a)


where, during the official inspections referred to in point 4, the specified pest has not been found on the specified fruits;










(b)


which is the origin of the specified fruits as referred to in point 5, on which the specified pest has not been found;










(c)


which is the origin of consignments of the specified fruits, on which the specified pest has not been found during the official checks carried out when entering the Union during the same growing and export season; and










(d)


which is the origin of the specified fruits on which the specified pest has not been found, during the preceding growing and export season, in official inspections in Zimbabwe or the checks carried out on consignments entering the Union.