91996E1863

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1863/96 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (5 July 1996)

Subject: Phytosanitary protection measures and the agreement on the EU's common external borders

Rising imports of subtropical fruit such as mangos are not only causing problems to Community production; the sector is worried by lacklustre phytosanitary controls. The provinces of Granada and Málaga (Spain) have so far succeeded in remaining free from 'esternoquetus manguiferae' a pest which attacks mango seeds. Current legislation theoretically protects trade in seeds, but makes no reference to fresh fruit, which may be coming in already carrying the infection in its stones.

What measures could the Commission put forward to prevent this dangerous mango pest from infecting European crops?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1996)

As the Honourable Member points out, the Community plant-health arrangements set up by Council Directive 77/93/EEC, ((OJ L 26, 31.1.1977. )) as subsequently amended, provide protection against the mango weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae) entering the Community in seed. It should be pointed out in that connection that at the request of Spain and Portugal the Commission acknowledged the designation of a protected area, using the provisions of the Directive, after checking that the weevil was not present in the two countries.

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that these arrangements also provide that mangoes from outside the Community must undergo a plant-health inspection in their country of origin or dispatch before being allowed to enter. The main purpose is to prevent fruit-fly from being brought in. When the fruit is imported, the Member States are responsible for checking that the inspection has taken place and that the fruit is genuinely free of the fly.