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WRITTEN
QUESTION P-0525/04
by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission
(12 February 2004)
Subject:
Potato ring rot
The
Commission will be aware that the recent outbreak of potato ring rot in
Wales gave serious concerns to potato growers in other parts of the United
Kingdom, including my own constituency, Scotland. The Commission may also
be aware that the National Union of Farmers in Scotland, together with
colleagues in Ireland, are keen to take action to prevent the spread of
this disease to their own crops by establishing "high health regions".
This would allow Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to
attain official designation as areas which are free from potato ring rot
and enable a ban to be imposed on the import of seed from non-designated
areas. This strategy would achieve the dual aims of stemming the spread of
the disease and ensuring that disease-free areas are able to cultivate
healthy potato crops.
Would the
Commission agree that measures such as those being proposed by the farmers
of Scotland and Ireland would assist in preventing the spread of this
disease and indicate what needs to be done at EU as well as at national or
devolved level of government to achieve these aims?
Answer
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission
(written question: P-0525/04)
(12 March 2004)
We are
well aware of the outbreak of potato ring rot to which the Honourable
Member refers and are carefully monitoring the situation, on which we are
regularly updated by the British authorities. On the proposals made by
Scottish and Irish farmers, we must point out that the Union already has
appropriate legislation in place for preventing appearance of this disease
on its territory and controlling it if it does occur. The legislation is
Directive 2000/29/EC(1), enacting health provisions in connection with
entry into the Union and movement within it of plants and plant products,
including potatoes, and Directive 93/85/EEC(2), which contains a set of
very detailed technical measures for thwarting the appearance of this
disease and controlling it. Under the Community provisions no movement of
potatoes is possible unless the plant health requirements have been met,
namely that they are free of ring rot, in the case of seed potatoes are
accompanied by a plant health passport attesting that fact, and in the
case of ware potatoes that the grower or packer is officially registered.
We do not see what further measures could be added. Moreover, under single
market rules once harmonised technical measures are in place no
prohibition for plant health reasons on movement within the Community is
permitted.
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(1)
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, OJ L 169,
10.7.2000. Last amended by Commission Directive 2003/116/EC, OJ L 321,
6.12.2003.
(2)
Council Directive 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993 on the control of potato
ring rot, OJ L 259, 18.10.1993. |
