The responsible official bodies of the importing Member States shall take a sample of at least 200 tubers per lot of 25 tonnes or less from each of the non-bulk lots of seed potatoes intended to be imported pursuant to this Decision for official examination in respect of Clavibacter michiganensis in accordance with the method for the detection and diagnosis of Clavibacter michiganensis as laid down in Council Directive 93/85/EEC.

The lots of seed potatoes shall remain separate under official control and may not be marketed or used until it has been established that the presence of Clavibacter michiganensis was not suspected or detected in the examinations referred to in paragraph 1. The total lots imported shall not exceed an amount which is adequate for the examinations, taking into account the facilities available for that purpose.

The samples referred to in paragraph 1 shall be kept available for subsequent examination by other Member States. F1The responsible official bodies of a Member State making use of this derogation shall, by 15 April of each calendar year in which importation takes place, inform the Commission, with a view to organising that examination and the recording thereof.