93/159/EEC: Commission Decision of 16 February 1993 authorizing Germany and the United Kingdom to provide for exceptions from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of potatoes for human consumption originating in South Africa (Only the German and English texts are authentic)

COMMISSION DECISION of 16 February 1993 authorizing Germany and the United Kingdom to provide for exceptions from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of potatoes for human consumption originating in South Africa (Only the  German and English texts are authentic)
(93/159/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 Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), as last amended by  Directive 92/103/EEC (2), and in particular Article 14 (3) thereof,
Having regard to the request made by Germany and the United Kingdom,
Whereas under the provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC, potato tubers for human consumption originating in South Africa may in principle not be introduced into the Community because of the risk of introducing exotic potato diseases unknown in the  Community;
Whereas information supplied by South Africa and collected in that country during a mission carried out in 1991 has shown that there is a good reason to believe that, in South Africa, potatoes can be grown under adequate health conditions and that, at  present, there are no sources for the introduction of exotic potato diseases; whereas South Africa has moreover implemented adequate health and quality standards in the potato production;
Whereas it can therefore be established, on the basis of the information available at present, that there is no risk of harmful organisms spreading, provided that certain special technical conditions are complied with; whereas the Commission will ensure  that the South African authorities make available all technical information which is necessary to monitor the functioning of the protective measures required under these technical conditions; whereas the potatoes are introduced at a time when they  cannot influence the health status of potato products in the Community;
Whereas the requesting Member States should therefore be authorized to provide for derogations in respect of potatoes for human consumption originating in South Africa, under the aforementioned special technical conditions, for the forthcoming potato  season; whereas this system will be reconsidered, on the basis of an assessment of the technical information to be provided by the South African authorities and of the results of monitoring to be carried out on potatoes introduced into the Community  pursuant to this Decision;
Whereas the provisions laid down in the annexes to Directive 77/93/EEC have been subjected to a review taking into account a pest risk assessment to adapt the relevant provisions to the Single Market concept;
Whereas the pest risk assessment has been the basis for an amendment and revision of the relevant provisions of the said Directive;
Whereas, however, according to the provisions of Council Directive 91/683/EEC (3) Member States shall bring into force the laws, reglations or administrative provisions necessary to comply with Directive 91/683/EEC six months after the revision of Annex  I to V to Directive 77/93/EEC;
Whereas it appears that the revision has been delayed;
Whereas the authorization is applicable without prejudice to the abolition of the intra-Community border controls from 1 January 1993;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,