Council Directive 2007/33/EC
of 11 June 2007
on the control of potato cyst nematodes and repealing Directive 69/465/EEC
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
Potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens (European populations) and Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens (European populations)) are recognised as harmful organisms of potatoes.
The provisions of Directive 69/465/EEC have been re-examined and, as a result of this re-examination, have been found insufficient. Therefore, the adoption of more comprehensive provisions is necessary.
The provisions should take into account that official investigations are necessary to ensure that no potato cyst nematodes are found in fields in which seed potatoes intended for the production of seed potatoes, and certain plants intended for the production of plants for planting, are planted or stored.
Official surveys should be carried out on fields used for the production of potatoes other than those used for the production of seed potatoes in order to determine the distribution of the potato cyst nematodes.
Sampling and testing procedures should be set out for conducting such official investigations and surveys.
Account should be taken of the means of spread of the pathogen.
The provisions should take into account that the control of potato cyst nematodes is traditionally by crop rotation as it is recognised that several years in the absence of potato cultivation will reduce the population of nematodes by a significant degree. More recently crop rotation has been supplemented by the use of resistant potato varieties.
Directive 69/465/EEC should therefore be repealed.
Since the objectives of this Directive, namely to determine the distribution of potato cyst nematodes to prevent their spread and to control them, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore by reason of the scale and effects of this Directive be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: