SHORT REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PLANT HEALTH (SCPH) HELD ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2004 [08/04]

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1 SHORT REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PLANT HEALTH (SCPH) HELD ON 7 SEPTEMBER 004 [08/04] Chairman: Mr. Flüh for point 7, Mr. Vereecke for the other points. All MS present except LU and EL. COMMISSION DECISION ON A COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR 004 TO COVER EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY PORTUGAL AND BELGIUM FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMBATING ORGANISMS HARMFUL TO PLANTS OR PLANT PRODUCTS. The Decision would establish the Community financial contribution ( solidarity ) for 004 to cover expenditure incurred or to incur by Belgium (in 003 and 004) and Portugal (in 003) for the purpose of combating organisms harmful to plants or plant products, in particular as regards Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera Le Conte) for Belgium and pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle et al.) for Portugal. Vote: favourable opinion by unanimity.. POTATOES ORIGINATING IN EGYPT: A) DISCUSSION ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY EGYPT ON THEIR INVESTIGATIONS ON POTATO BROWNROT INTERCEPTIONS BY EC DURING THE EXPORTING SEASON 003/004 B) DISCUSSION ON THE PEST FREE AREAS PROPOSED BY EGYPT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPORT OF POTATOES DURING THE SEASON 004/005. The Commission (SANCO E.) informed the Committee of the results of the discussion held in the ad hoc Working group of 3 September 004 which examined the information supplied by Egypt on their investigations on interceptions by EC of consignments of Egyptian potatoes contaminated by Ralstonia solanacearum (potato brown rot) which took place over the 003/004 import season and Egypt s proposed list of pest free areas(pfas) for the 004/005 season. As regards the interceptions, discussion mainly focused on the sources of contamination, and on the procedures and measures taken by Egypt to control the situation. As regards the list of PFAs, the Committee took note of Egypt s proposed lists and considered that the areas listed meet the provisions of FAO ISPM N 4 on Pest surveillance- Requirements for the Establishment of pest free Areas. Hence these PFAs should be considered eligible for growing potatoes intended for export to the EC. The Committee further agreed to the suggestion of the Commission (Sanco E.) to reopen the export possibility of potatoes originating in the above PFAs. It also briefly touched upon possible amendments of the current Commission Decision 004/4/EC, which refers to emergency measures for potatoes originating in Egypt It supported the additional actions which the Egyptian authorities announced, in particular the proposal to close and seal the bags and to introduce the use of bar codes for better traceability. The Commission will undertake the necessary legal drafting in order to re-open the possibility for Egypt to export potatoes to the EU in the 004/005 season. The

2 Commission will present such a text in one of the forthcoming meetings of the Standing Committee on Plant Health (SCPH). 3. REPORT ON MISSION CARRIED OUT BY FVO IN ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL AS REGARDS THE PHYTOSANITARY STATUS OF CITRUS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMISSION DECISION 004/46/EC. The Commission (SANCO F.4) presented orally the main conclusions of a mission carried out in Argentina and Brazil as regards the phytosanitary status of citrus and the implementation of Commission Decision 004/46/EC, which refers to emergency measures for citrus fruits originating in Argentina or Brazil. The mission mainly focused on the organisation of the production of citrus fruits in these countries, the phytosanitary status of major organisms harmful to citrus and the measures to control these harmful organisms. Specific aspects which were examined are: registration of the places of production, packing facilities and exporters, official control and examination by the plant health authorities, post harvest treatment measures and traceability of the production. As regards the harmful organisms, particular attention was given to Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri (citrus canker) and Guignardia citricarpa (citrus black spot). The status of Elsinoe (citrus scab) and fruit flies was also considered. For Argentina, the mission also examined the corrective measures implemented by this country as a result of EU interceptions of harmful organism on citrus fruits. The Committee made some preliminary comments on the presentation. Discussion will continue in one of the forthcoming meetings of the SCPH. 4. REPORT OF EC-MERCOSUR MEETING OF 9-0/7/04 ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES FOR CITRUS FRUITS. The report of a -days meeting between EU and Mercosur representatives on phytosanitary measures for citrus fruits, in presence of technical experts from both regions was presented by the Commission (SANCO E.). Attention was paid to the exchange of views on technical information contained in Risk assessments on citrus canker and black spot presented by Mercosur, in particular the probability of introduction and establishment of both pathogens at the place of destination in the EU as a result of international trade in fruit.. It was further announced that a more detailed discussion on the information provided by Mercosur will be held in one of the forthcoming meetings of the SCPH. 5. DISCUSSION ON PROTOCOL PREPARED BY FRANCE ON THE DETECTION OF PEPINO MOSAIC VIRUS. A discussion took place on a text of a protocol prepared by F for the testing of consignments of tomato seeds on the presence of PMV, as laid down in Commission Decision 004/00/EC. The protocol was recognized by the Committee as the formal testing protocol used by France for the implementation of the above Decision.

3 6. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON DRAFT COMMISSION DECISION AUTHORISING MEMBER STATES TEMPORARILY TO PROVIDE FOR DEROGATIONS FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 000/9/EC IN RESPECT OF SOIL CONTAMINATED BY PESTICIDES ORIGINATING IN THIRD COUNTRIES. Discussion continued on a draft Commission Decision authorizing Member States to import soil contaminated by pesticides or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) for treatment in appropriate facilities. The discussion focused on some technical elements and some proposed changes will be taken up in a revised text that will be submitted for further discussion and possible opinion during a next Committee meeting. 7. MISCELLANEOUS. The Committee welcomed the new Head of Unit of SANCO E. The Committee was informed by BE of two further findings of Diabrotica virgifera on its territory. FI informed the Committee that it has submitted documents supporting its application to have wood originating in Russia subjected to plant health checks at a reduced frequency. The Commission (SANCO E.3) presented an update on the state of play of the EU-Mercosur negotiations on the future Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement and on the discussions which will be held at the second Joint Management Committee (JMC) in October 004 in the framework of the EC-Chile SPS Agreement. The Commission (SANCO E.3) invited the Member States to submit urgently additional points on the phytosanitary side to be taken up in the agenda of the JMC. Alejandro Checchi Lang Director NB: The measures on which the Committee has given an opinion are subject to the appropriate procedure for final approval by the Commission. 3

4 Liste des participants à joindre au compte rendu bref Comité phytosanitaire permanent Date: 7/09/004 Etats Membres BE Ministère ou Organisme Service public fédéral Santé publique, Sécurité de la chaîne alimentaire et Environnement Nombre de personnes CZ State Phytosanitary Administration DK Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries DE Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft EE Ministry of Agriculture EL Ministry of Agriculture - ES Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion FR Ministère de l Agriculture et de la Pêche IE Department of Agriculture and Food IT Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali CY Ministry of Agriculture LV State Plant Protection Service LT State Plant Protection Service LU Ministère de l Agriculture - HU Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MT Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries NL Plantenziektenkundige Dienst AT Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft Amt der Tyrol PL Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development PT Direcçao-Geral de Protecçao das Culturas SI Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food SK Ministry of Agriculture FI Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food SE Swedish Board of Agriculture UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 4

5 Commission DG SANCO.E. DG SANCO F.4 DG SANCO E.3 7 5