(1)

In order to prevent the introduction into the Union territory of Davidsoniella virescens (R.W. Davidson) Z.W. de Beer, T.A. Duong & M.J. Wingfield, the pathogen causing sapstreak disease of maple, of the tea shot-hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato, and of Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in ‘t Veld (non-EU isolates) (‘the specified pests’), wood of several species of Acer L., originating in Canada (‘the specified wood’), may only be introduced into the Union territory if it fulfils the special requirements of points 85, 86, 102 and 111 of Annex VII to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (2). The species of the specified wood concerned are Acer saccharum Marsh, Acer macrophyllum Pursh, Acer buergerianum Miq., Acer negundo L., Acer palmatum Thunb., Acer paxii Franch., and Acer pseudoplatanus L., as referred to in the respective points of that Annex.

(2)

In June 2021, Canada submitted to the Commission a request for a derogation from the special requirements laid down in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 for the introduction of the specified wood in the form of veneer into the Union territory. This request was accompanied by a dossier containing technical and scientific information about the production process of veneer, including maple veneer, in that country and its impact on pests relevant to the specified wood, and in particular on the specified pests. That process includes steps such as heat treatment of the round wood, debarking, trimming, cutting and high-heat drying. That dossier was supplemented by additional information in January 2022.

(3)

Canada submitted the dossier to the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) in January 2022. The Authority analysed the dossier and concluded in its opinion (3) that the measures described in it are able to reduce the presence of Union quarantine pests associated with maple veneer in the specified wood to a very low level or to completely remove the specified pests. The production process for wood intended for the production of veneer in Canada therefore provides for the same level of protection against the introduction of the specified pests as the specific requirements provided for in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 for the introduction into the Union territory of the specified wood originating from Canada.

(4)

Given that the production process of the specified wood intended for the production of veneer can effectively reduce the risk of introduction of the specified pests and other Union quarantine pests into the Union territory to an acceptable level, the specified wood should be allowed to be introduced into the Union territory under certain requirements. Those requirements should include examinations and treatments of both the logs used for the production of veneer and the veneer itself.

(5)

As no introduction of the specified wood from Canada, produced following the production process mentioned above, into the Union territory has taken place to date and there is no experience with that trade yet, the specified wood presents a phytosanitary risk which is not yet fully assessed. Therefore, this Regulation should have a temporary duration to allow for a full assessment of the respective risk.

(6)

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

(a)

‘specified wood’ means wood of Acer saccharum Marsh, Acer macrophyllum Pursh, Acer buergerianum Miq., Acer negundo L., Acer palmatum Thunb., Acer paxii Franch. or Acer pseudoplatanus L., in the form of veneer of a thickness of 6 mm or less and originating in Canada;

(b)

‘specified pests’ means Davidsoniella virescens (R.W. Davidson) Z.W. de Beer, T.A. Duong & M.J. Wingfield, Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato and Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in ‘t Veld (non-EU isolates).

(a)

the requirements laid down in point 1 of Annex I to this Regulation are fulfilled;

(b)

the National Plant Protection Organisation of Canada has submitted to the Commission, by 31 March of each year, an annual report on the activities carried out during the previous calendar year, containing all the elements set out in point 2 of Annex I to this Regulation.