{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2015-1849/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2015-1849/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2015/1849",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1849 of 13 October 2015 on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of harmful organisms as regards certain vegetables originating in Ghana (notified under document C(2015) 6858)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2015-1849",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1849\nof 13 October 2015\non measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of harmful organisms as regards certain vegetables originating in Ghana\n(notified under document C(2015) 6858)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving 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,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nPlant health checks carried out by Member States on consignments of certain plants and plant products originating in Ghana revealed that a high number of these plants and plant products were infested with harmful organisms, mainly non-European Tephritidae, like Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Thrips palmi Karny or Bemisia tabaci (Genn.). The number of consignments from Ghana intercepted with harmful organisms in the Union has shown a significant upward trend since 2009. Most of the interceptions concern plants other than seeds, of Capsicum L., Lagenaria Ser., Luffa Mill., Momordica L. and Solanum L. other than S. lycopersicum L. (hereinafter ‘the specified commodities’).\n(2)\nAudits carried out by the Commission in Ghana in 2012 and 2015 revealed shortcomings in the phytosanitary export certification system. Despite assurances and action announced by the competent authorities of Ghana, the number of interceptions increased further.\n(3)\nIn the light of the outcome of those audits and the number of interceptions, the Commission concluded that the current phytosanitary safeguards of Ghana are insufficient to ensure that consignments of plants and plant products originating in Ghana are free from harmful organisms or to avoid the risk of introduction of harmful organisms into the Union through the import of the specified commodities.\n(4)\nMeasures should be taken to address the risk posed by the import into the Union of the specified commodities. Consequently, the introduction into the Union of the specified commodities should be prohibited.\n(5)\nThe measures should remain in place until 31 December 2016 in order to address the ongoing risk of introduction, while allowing Ghana to upgrade its certification system.\n(6)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2015/1849/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:14:11.873874+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}