THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993(1) on the control of potato ring rot, and in particular Article 12 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) One of the important organisms harmful to potatoes is Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieckermann et Kotthoff) Davis et al., the pathogenic agent of the potato ring rot disease (hereinafter referred to as ‘the organism’).
(2) The organism still occurs in some parts of the Community.
(3) Council Directive 93/85/EEC has laid down detailed measures to be taken within the Member States against the organism in order to locate it and determine its distribution; prevent its occurrence and spread; and if found, to prevent its spread and to control it with the aim of eradication.
(4) Since then, there have been significant developments in the understanding of the biology, the detection and identification procedures of the organism; moreover practical experiences gained in controlling the organism calls for review of several technical provisions related to control measures.
(5) As a result of such developments, it appears necessary to review and update the measures included in the Annexes to Directive 93/85/EEC.
(6) As regards the detection and identification procedures, recently developed procedures like fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are incorporated as well as improvements of various technical elements of the current detection and identification procedure.
(7) As regards the technical elements of the control measures, improved provisions are made for: the way of conservation of tested samples in order to ensure trace back of the organism, the elements needed to determine the extent of the probable contamination, the details of the notification of any confirmed presence of the organism and of the relevant contaminated zone, measures to implement in places of production designated as contaminated and within the demarcated zones.
(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: