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 Community, and in particular the third sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Guignardia citricarpa Kiely (all strains pathogenic to Citrus) is listed in point (c)11 of Section I of Part A of Annex II to Directive 2000/29/EC as a harmful organism not known to occur in the Union. Since 2011, following the approval of a new code for fungal nomenclature by the International Botanical Congress, that organism has been referred to as Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa, hereinafter ‘Phyllosticta citricarpa’.
(2)
Due to the recurrent high number of interceptions on citrus fruits originating in Brazil and in South Africa, citrus fruits have been subject to specific measures for introduction into the Union. Those measures have been put in place by Commission Decision 2004/416/EC for citrus fruits originating in Brazil, and by Commission Implementing Decision 2014/422/EU for citrus fruits originating in South Africa.
(3)
In view of the recurrent interceptions of Phyllosticta citricarpa on citrus fruits originating in Brazil, appropriate conditions should be set out concerning registration and documentation prior to export of those fruits. Those conditions should apply in the case where the citrus fruits have been produced in a place where no symptoms of Phyllosticta citricarpa have been observed.
(4)
Recurrent high number of interceptions of Phyllosticta citricarpa has been notified by Member States in 2015, as a result of imports of citrus fruits originating in Uruguay. It is therefore necessary to adopt measures for those fruits originating in Uruguay, which should be similar to the measures adopted for such fruits originating in South Africa. Given that many of those interceptions have been on fruits of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ‘Valencia’, those fruits should be subject to testing for latent infection in addition to the measures applying to all citrus fruits.
(5)
In light of the European Food Safety Authority pest risk assessment, the import of citrus fruits destined exclusively for processing into juice present less risk of transfer of Phyllosticta citricarpa to a suitable host plant as it is subject to official controls within the Union establishing specific requirements concerning the movement, processing, storage, containers, packages and labelling. Therefore, import may be allowed under less strict requirements.
(6)
In order to be introduced into the Union the complete traceability of the specified fruits should be ensured. The field of production, packing facilities and operators participating in the handling of the specified fruits should be subject to official registration. Throughout their movement from the field of production to the Union, the specified fruits should be accompanied by documents issued under the supervision of the relevant National Plant Protection Organisation.
(7)
For reasons of clarity, the requirements laid down in Decision 2004/416/EC and Implementing Decision 2014/422/EU should be replaced by a new set of requirements for citrus fruits originating in Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay in one act. Decision 2004/416/EC and Implementing Decision 2014/422/EU should therefore be repealed.
(8)
The measures set out in this Decision should apply from 1 June 2016 to allow the National Plant Protection Organisations, responsible official bodies and operators concerned sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements.
(9)
This Decision should apply until 31 March 2019.
(10)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: