Article 1Decision 2003/248/EC is amended as follows: the second paragraph of...
Article 2This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Commission Decision

of 2 February 2011

amending Decision 2003/248/EC as regards the extension of the duration of temporary derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of plants of strawberry (Fragaria L.), intended for planting, other than seeds, originating in Argentina

(notified under document C(2011) 447)

(2011/74/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community1, and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Under Directive 2000/29/EC, plants of strawberry (Fragaria L.), intended for planting, other than seeds, originating in non-European countries, other than Mediterranean countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the continental states of the United States of America, may not in principle be introduced into the Union. However, that Directive permits derogations from that rule, provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms.

(2)
Commission Decision 2003/248/EC2 authorises Member States to provide for temporary derogations from certain provisions of Directive 2000/29/EC to permit the import of plants of strawberry (Fragaria L.), intended for planting, other than seeds, originating in Argentina.
(3)

The circumstances justifying the authorisation provided for in Decision 2003/248/EC are still present and there is no new information giving cause for revision of the specific conditions.

(4)
By Commission Directive 2008/64/EC3 Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds was removed from point (c) of Section II of Part A of Annex II to Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore this organism should no longer be included in the Annex to Decision 2003/248/EC.
(5)

Based on the experience gained with the application of Decision 2003/248/EC it is appropriate to extend the period of validity of that authorisation for 10 years.

(6)

Decision 2003/248/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: