96/153/EC: Commission Decision of 9 February 1996 authorizing Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Thrips palmi Karny as regards the Netherlands

COMMISSION DECISION of 9 February 1996 authorizing Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Thrips palmi Karny as regards the Netherlands (96/153/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 introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 95/66/EC (2), and in particular Article 15 (3) thereof,
Whereas, where a Member State considers that there is an imminent danger of the introduction into its territory of Thrips palmi Karny, from another Member State, it may temporarily take any additional measures necessary to protect itself from that danger;
Whereas the Netherlands informed the other Member States and the Commission on 19 June 1995 that in some nurseries producing ornamental Ficus plants, infestation with Thrips palmi was identified; whereas complementary reports supplied by the Netherlands indicated that more nurseries showed infestation by Thrips palmi; whereas however the Netherlands informed the other Member States and the Commission that these infestations have been eradicated;
Whereas Sweden and Denmark, on the basis of the abovementioned information from the Netherlands, had adopted on 27 October 1995 and 13 November 1995, respectively, certain additional measures applicable to Ficus plants coming from the Netherlands, with a view to strengthening protection against the introduction of Thrips palmi from the Netherlands;
Whereas these additional measures include special inspection or treatment requirements;
Whereas it has not yet been possible to identify the source of contamination in the Netherlands;
Whereas it is therefore justified for the Member States to adopt additional measures to protect themselves against that danger;
Whereas the additional measures adopted by the abovementioned Member States should be brought into line with Community safeguard measures;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,