Date: 2019-09-27Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1598 of 26 September 2019 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 establishing emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (notified under document C(2019) 6818)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary:
This Commission Implementing Decision EU 2019/1598 amends Implementing Decision EU 2018/638 concerning emergency measures against the introduction and spread of Spodoptera frugiperda within the Union. The amendment expands the geographic scope to include all third countries and extends the application of the measures until 30 June 2021. It applies from 1 October 2019.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendment of Implementing Decision EU 2018/638:**
* Article 1(b) is replaced, broadening the scope of "specified plants" originating in third countries other than Switzerland. These plants include fruits of Capsicum L., Momordica L., Solanum aethiopicum L., Solanum macrocarpon L. and Solanum melongena L., and plants, other than live pollen, plant tissue cultures, seeds and grains, of Zea mays L.
* Article 8 is replaced, extending the application of the Decision until 30 June 2021.
* **Scope Expansion:** The emergency measures now apply to all third countries due to the rapid spread of Spodoptera frugiperda.
* **Effective Date:** This Decision is effective from 1 October 2019.
* **Addressee:** The Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Impact Analysis:
* **Responsible Official Bodies:**
* Impact: Must enforce the amended emergency measures against Spodoptera frugiperda from all third countries.
* Action Required: Adapt to the revised scope and extended timeline for the emergency measures.
* **Professional Operators:**
* Impact: Subject to the amended restrictions on specified plants originating from all third countries.
* Action Required: Comply with the updated regulations regarding the import and handling of specified plants to prevent the introduction and spread of Spodoptera frugiperda.
* **Third Countries:**
* Impact: Affected by the expanded geographic scope of the emergency measures.
* Action Required: Adapt to the regulations regarding the export of specified plants to the Union to prevent the introduction and spread of Spodoptera frugiperda.
* **Member States:**
* Impact: Must implement and enforce the decision.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with the decision within their respective territories.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Spodoptera frugiperda Smith: A harmful organism, also known as Fall Armyworm, which is the subject of emergency measures to prevent its introduction into and spread within the European Union.
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2018/638: A European Commission Implementing Decision establishing emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda Smith.
Council Directive 2000/29/EC: A Council Directive of the European Community on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community.
Asia: Continent where Spodoptera frugiperda Smith has been introduced and continues to spread.
Brussels: The city where the decision was adopted.
Vytenis Andriukaitis: Member of the European Commission.
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed: A committee providing opinion in accordance with the measures of the decision
L 248/86 EN Official Journal of the European Union 27.9.2019
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2019/1598
of 26 September 2019
amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 establishing emergency measures to prevent the
introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda
(Smith)
(notified under document C(2019) 6818)
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 (1), and in
particular the third sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 (2) establishes emergency measures to prevent the
introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (‘the
specified organism’), which is listed in point 22 of Section I(a) of Part A of Annex I to Directive 2000/29/EC as
a harmful organism not known to occur in the Union.
(2) Since the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638, the specified organism has been introduced to
Asia, where it continues to spread. Given the fast spread, the geographic scope specified in Implementing
Decision (EU) 2018/638 should be enlarged to include all third countries, as there is no certainty in relation to
the spread of that organism worldwide.
(3) Given the pace of the spread of the specified organism, the date of expiration of the emergency measures should
be extended until 30 June 2021 to allow its review before that time.
(4) This Decision should apply from 1 October 2019, in order to allow the concerned responsible official bodies,
professional operators and third countries to adapt to those requirements.
(5) Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) 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:
Article 1
Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 is amended as follows:
(1) point (b) of Article 1 is replaced by the following:
‘(b) “specified plants” means fruits of Capsicum L., Momordica L., Solanum aethiopicum L., Solanum macrocarpon L. and
Solanum melongena L., and plants, other than live pollen, plant tissue cultures, seeds and grains, of Zea mays L.
originating in third countries other than Switzerland;’;
(1) OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1.
(2) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 of 23 April 2018 establishing emergency measures to prevent the introduction into
and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (OJ L 105, 25.4.2018, p. 31).27.9.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 248/87
(2) the text of Article 8 is replaced by the following:
‘This Decision shall apply until 30 June 2021.’.
Article 2
This Decision shall apply from 1 October 2019.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 26 September 2019.
For the Commission
Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS
Member of the Commission