90/505/EEC: Commission Decision of 21 September 1990 authorizing certain Member States to provide for derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of sawn wood of conifers originating in Canada

COMMISSION  DECISION
of 21 September 1990
authorizing certain Member States to provide for derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of sawn wood of conifers originating in Canada
(Only the Spanish, German, Greek, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese texts are authentic)
(90/505/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 90/490/EEC (2), and in particular Article 14 (3), second and third indents, thereof,
Having regard to the requests made by Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom,
Whereas under the provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC, because of the risk of introducing harmful organisms, wood of conifers which meets the descriptions in CN code ex 4407 10, originating in Canada, China, Japan, Korea or the USA may not be introduced into the Community, unless it is properly kiln-dried and identified as such;
Whereas, however, Article 14 (3), second indent, of Directive 77/93/EEC permits derogations from that rule, provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms;
Whereas, moreover, Article 14 (3), third indent, of the abovementioned Directive permits derogations from the rule requiring a phytosanitary certificate, if equivalent safeguards are given and provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms;
Whereas wood of conifers originating in Canada is currently introduced into the Community; whereas in the case of sawn wood, phytosanitary certificates are not generally issued in that country; whereas it appears that kiln-drying capacity is at present limited in Canada;
Whereas, in respect of Canada, the Commission has established, on the basis of the information available at present, that an officially approved and monitored programme of issuing 'certificates of debarking and grub hole control' has been set up to ensure proper debarking and to reduce the risk from harmful organisms; whereas the risk of spreading harmful organisms is reduced provided that the wood is accompanied by a 'Certificate of Debarking and Grub Hole Control' issued under that programme;
Whereas the Commission will ensure that Canada makes available all technical information necessary to assess the functioning of the Debarking and Grub Hole Control Certificate Programme;
Whereas the Member States should therefore be authorized to provide for derogations under Article 14 (3), second and third indents, of Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of sawn wood of conifers originating in Canada for a limited period;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,