Introductory text

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^f1, and in particular the fourth sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Article 9(8) of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789^f2 sets out conditions for the movement of certain host plants which have never been grown inside the demarcated areas, and more specific conditions for certain host plants, including plants for planting of Polygala myrtifolia L.

Experience has shown that plants for planting of Polygala myrtifolia L. have proven to be particularly susceptible to Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) (the ‘specified organism’). In order to ensure higher phytosanitary protection of the Union territory, it is appropriate to require that visual inspection, sampling and testing be carried out as close to the time of their first movement out of their production site as possible. The same requirement should apply to plants for planting of Polygala myrtifolia L. introduced into the Union which are originating in a third country where the specified organism is not present.

Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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: