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 fourth sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Despite the measures set out by the Commission Decision 2007/365/EC to prevent the introduction into and spread within the Union of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), it appears from the annual surveys carried out by the Member States pursuant to that Decision that the organism is now widespread throughout most parts of the endangered area.
(2)
As a result, it is not feasible to prevent its further introduction into and spread within most of the Union territory.
(3)
Decision 2007/365/EC should therefore be repealed.
(4)
This Decision should apply from the same date as Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2018/484 to ensure consistency with the provisions of that Directive.
(5)
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: