Short report of the meeting held on 20 - 21 November 2000 [00/12]

Chairman: Mr Vereecke

All Member States present, except L.

For the purpose for the votes L mandates B.

1. Commission Decision on the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments for 2000

The Commission would establish the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in the French overseas departments for 2000, as presented by the relevant French authorities.

Voting: favourable opinion by unanimity

2. Commission Decision on the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in Madeira for 2000.

The Commission would establish the Community's financial contribution to a programme for the control of organisms harmful to plants and plant products in Madeira for 2000, as presented by the relevant Portuguese authorities.

Voting: favourable opinion by unanimity

3. Commission Decision on a Community financial contribution to cover expenditure incurred by Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Portugal for the purpose of combating organisms harmful to plants or plant products.

The Decision would establish the Community financial contribution to cover expenditure incurred by Spain, France, Italy, Austria and Portugal for the purpose of combating organisms harmful to plants or plant products.

Voting: favourable opinion: 82 votes for and 5 votes abstention

4. Further discussion on "Guidelines for the submission of a solidarity dossier under Article 23 of Council Directive 2000/29/EC".

The Commission (DG Health and Consumer Protection - SANCO E.1) presented modified draft "Guidelines for the submission of a solidarity dossier under Article 23 of Council Directive 2000/29/EC (rev6)".

The Committee considered this draft document very positively and supported, in general, the suggestions introduced in this modified version.

The Committee accepted that the elements thereof would form the basis for any future submission of a solidarity dossier.

5. Commission Decision authorizing Member States temporarily to provide for derogations of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of potatoes, other than potatoes intended for planting, originating in Cuba.

The Commission would authorise Member States to continue to import potatoes, other than potatoes intended for planting, in the periods between 1 March 2001 and 30 April 2001, and 1 March 2002 and 30 April 2002, originating in Cuba, under certain conditions to prevent the risk of harmful organisms spreading.

Voting: favourable opinion by unanimity

6. Presentation of draft Commission Regulation establishing detailed rules for the implementation of the provisions relating to the allocation of a Community financial contribution for Member States in order to strengthen inspection infrastructures for plant health checks on plants and plant products coming from non-member Countries.

The Commission (SANCO E.1) presented a draft Commission Regulation establishing detailed rules for the implementation of the provisions relating to the allocation of a Community financial contribution for Member States in order to strengthen inspection infrastructures for plant health checks on plants and plant products coming from non-member countries.

In general, the Committee considered this draft Commission Regulation positively; however the Committee asked for more time to study in detail the document. Consequently, the above draft Commission Regulation will be discussed in a forthcoming meeting of the Standing Committee on Plant Health.

7. Report of mission carried out by DG Health and Consumer Protection - SANCO F.4 to Portugal in respect of Pinewood Nematode.

The Commission (SANCO F.4) presented a report on a mission to Portugal in respect of Pinewood Nematode. Emphasis was made on the results of implementation of the Commission Decision 2000/58/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Bührer) Nickle et al. as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is known not to occur.

P submitted additional information on the eradication, monitoring and control of PWN and its vectors in the genus Monochamus.

The Committee supported the suggestion of the Commission (SANCO E.1) to study the above information in a forthcoming Working Group scheduled for December.

8. Miscellaneous

The Committee noted the information on the situation of wart disease in Canada.

List of participants

Comité phytosanitaire permanent (organismes nuisibles) Date : 20-21 nov. 2000