Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1942 of 13 October 2022 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as regards certain plants for planting of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet originating in Uganda, amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 as regards the phytosanitary measures for the introduction of those plants for planting into the Union territory and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 as regards the phytosanitary measures for the introduction of certain plants for planting of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet originating in Israel, into the Union territory

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC⁽¹⁾, and in particular Article 42(4), third subparagraph, thereof,

Whereas:

1. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019⁽²⁾ establishes, on the basis of a preliminary risk assessment, a list of high risk plants, plant products and other objects.

2. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2018⁽³⁾ lays down specific rules concerning the procedure to be followed in order to carry out the risk assessment referred to in Article 42(4) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 for high risk plants, plant products and other objects.

3. Following a preliminary assessment, 34 genera and one species of plants for planting originating from all third countries were included in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as high risk plants. That Annex includes the genus Jasminum L.

4. The list of plants, plant products or other objects, removed from the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 and that may only be introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory if special requirements are fulfilled is provided for in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213⁽⁴⁾.

5. On 4 December 2019, Uganda submitted to the Commission a request for export to the Union of unrooted cuttings of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet. That request was supported by the relevant technical dossier.

6. On 31 March 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) adopted a scientific opinion regarding the commodity risk assessment of unrooted cuttings of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet from Uganda⁽⁵⁾. The Authority identified Bemisia tabaci (non-European populations), Coccus viridis, Diaphania indica, Pulvinaria psidii, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Selenaspidus articulatus as pests relevant for those plants for planting.

7. The Authority evaluated the risk mitigation measures described in the dossier for Bemisia tabaci (non-European populations), Coccus viridis, Diaphania indica, Pulvinaria psidii, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Selenaspidus articulatus and estimated the likelihood of freedom of the commodity from those pests.

8. On the basis of that opinion, the phytosanitary risk from introduction into the Union territory of unrooted cuttings of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet originating in Uganda is considered to be reduced to an acceptable level, provided that appropriate mitigation measures are applied to address the risk of pests related to those plants for planting. As a consequence, unrooted cuttings of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet originating in Uganda should no longer be considered high risk plants.

9. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 should therefore be amended accordingly.

10. The measures described by Uganda in the dossier are considered sufficient to reduce to an acceptable level the risk from introduction into the Union territory of the commodity. Those measures should therefore be adopted as phytosanitary import requirements to ensure the phytosanitary protection of the Union territory from introduction of that commodity into it.

11. Bemisia tabaci (non-European populations) and Scirtothrips dorsalis are listed as Union quarantine pests in Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072⁽⁶⁾. Coccus viridis, Pulvinaria psidii and Selenaspidus articulatus are not yet included in the list of Union quarantine pests, but may fulfil the conditions to be included once a complete risk assessment has been carried out.

12. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 should therefore be amended accordingly.

13. The Authority’s opinion indicates that, no records of Diaphania indica associated with Jasminum polyanthum Franchet as host are available so far. For this reason, no import requirements are necessary with respect to that pest.

14. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/419⁽⁷⁾ amended Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 by specifying that it is prohibited to introduce into the Union plants for planting of Jasminum L., other than unrooted cuttings of plants for planting of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet originating in Israel. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 was amended to include the phytosanitary import requirements necessary to ensure that the risk from introduction of those plants for planting into the Union from Israel is acceptable. Those phytosanitary requirements erroneously included measures regarding a Union quarantine pest Scirtothrips dorsalis. Since pursuant to Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 Union quarantine pests are prohibited from introduction into, movement within, or holding, multiplication or release in, the Union territory, it was unnecessary to include any measures for Scirtothrips dorsalis in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213.

15. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 should therefore be corrected accordingly.

16. In order to comply with the Union obligations deriving from the World Trade Organization agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures⁽⁸⁾, the import of unrooted cuttings of Jasminum polyanthum Franchet from Uganda should resume within the shortest possible time. Therefore, this Regulation should enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

17. The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: