(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 risk assessment, fruits of Momordica L. originating from third countries or areas of third countries where Thrips palmi Karny is known to occur and where effective mitigation measures for that pest are lacking, were included in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as high risk plants.

(4)

On 13 November 2019, Mexico submitted to the Commission a request for export to the Union of Momordica charantia L. fruits. That request was supported by the respective technical dossier.

(5)

On 27 November 2019, Honduras, Sri Lanka, and Thailand submitted to the Commission a request for export to the Union of Momordica charantia L. fruits. Their requests were supported by the respective technical dossier.

(6)

On 31 December 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) adopted scientific opinions regarding the commodity risk assessment of Momordica charantia L. fruits originating from Mexico (4), Honduras (5),Sri Lanka (6) and Thailand (7). Thrips palmi Karny was the only pest of concern analysed in those opinions. The Authority evaluated the risk mitigation measures described in the dossiers for that pest and estimated the likelihood of freedom from the pest.

(7)

On the basis of those opinions, the phytosanitary risk arising from the introduction of Momordica charantia L. fruits from Honduras, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Thailand into the Union can be addressed by means of phytosanitary import requirements in order to ensure that that risk is reduced to and kept at an acceptable level. Therefore, Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in those countries should be removed from the list of high risk plants, plant products and other objects in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019.

(8)

The risk mitigation measures applied by Sri Lanka are considered sufficient to keep the phytosanitary risk from the introduction into the Union of Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in that country at an acceptable level.

(9)

The Commission considers that the risk mitigation measures proposed by Honduras, Mexico and Thailand in the dossiers are not sufficient, by themselves, to reduce the phytosanitary risk resulting from the introduction into the Union of Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in those countries to an acceptable level. Therefore, the import into the Union of Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in those countries should fulfil specific import requirements: those fruits should originate from a pest free area, or from a site of production with complete physical protection, or from a site of production where several measures have been taken concerning the production, handling and inspection of those fruits.

(10)

Therefore, as Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (8) lists Thrips palmi Karny as a Union quarantine pest and point 71 of Annex VII to that Implementing Regulation provides for special import requirements for Momordica L. fruits originating from all third countries, specific import requirements for Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in Honduras, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Thailand should be added to Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

(11)

Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/2019 and (EU) No 2019/2072 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(12)

In order to comply with the obligations for the European Union resulting from the World Trade Organization agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (9), the import of Momordica charantia L. fruits originating in Honduras, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Thailand should resume within the shortest possible delay. Therefore, this Regulation should enter into force on the third day following that of its publication.

(13)

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