Decision 2001/245/EC is amended as follows:

1. 1.

   Article 2 is replaced by the following:

   Article 2

   1

   Member States shall ensure that:

   a

   authorisations for plant protection products containing zineb are withdrawn within a period of six months from the date of adoption of the present Decision;

   b

   from the date of adoption of the present Decision no authorisations for plant protection products containing zineb are granted or renewed under the derogation provided for in Article 8(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC.

   2

   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, for the authorisations of plant protection products containing zineb, Bulgaria may maintain in force authorisations for plant protection products containing that substance for the use on horticultural crops, grapevine, tobacco, apples and stone fruit, provided that:

   a

   the continued use is only accepted so far as it has no harmful effects on human or animal health and no unacceptable influence on the environment;

   b

   such plant protection products remaining on the market are relabelled in order to match the restricted use conditions;

   c

   all appropriate risk mitigation measures are imposed to reduce any possible risks;

   d

   alternatives for such uses are being seriously sought.

   Bulgaria shall inform the Commission about the measures taken in application of this paragraph, and in particular about the actions taken pursuant to points (a) to (d), by 31 December of each year.

2. 2.

   In Article 3 a second paragraph is added:

   By way of derogation from the first paragraph, any period of grace granted by Bulgaria, in accordance with Article 4(6) of Directive 91/414/EEC, for the uses referred to in Article 2(2), shall be as short as possible and shall expire not later than 31 December 2009.