88/429/EEC: Commission Decision of 1 July 1988 authorizing the Member States to provide for derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC, in respect of growing medium originating in third countries

COMMISSION  DECISION
of 1 July 1988
authorizing the Member States to provide for derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC, in respect of growing medium originating in third countries
(88/429/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Member States of organisms harmful to plants or plant products (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 88/272/EEC (2), and in particular Article 14 (3) thereof,
Having regard to requests made by the Member States,
Whereas, under the provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC, growing medium as such, as defined in Annex V, item 5 (a) thereof, may not in principle be introduced into the Community, because of the risk of introducing soil-borne harmful organisms, if it originates in Turkey, the USSR or third countries outside the European continent other than Algeria, Cyprus, Israel, Malta, Morocco and Tunisia;
Whereas, however, Article 14 (3) of the said Directive permits derogations from that rule, provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms;
Whereas it is evident that in certain cases it may be desirable for soil or other growing medium to be introduced from such third countries for the purpose of scientific work in the Member States;
Whereas the introduction of such potentially dangerous material should only be permitted provided that certain conditions are complied with;
Whereas the Member States should be authorized to provide for derogations in respect of the introduction of growing medium, as defined in Directive 77/93/EEC, Annex V, item 5 (a), for the purpose of scientific work and under specified conditions;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,