(1)

Council Directive 2000/29/EC (2) has been repealed and replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, while the provisions of its Annexes have been replaced by the provisions of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (3).

(2)

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is a pest listed in Annex II, Part A, to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 as an organism not known to occur in the Union. It is also listed as priority pest in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1702 (4).

(3)

Following the information collected in 2018 during two Commission audits in Canada and the United States the implementation of the conditions set out under option (b) of point 2.3 of Annex IV, Part A, Section I to Directive 2000/29/EC were not sufficiently verified prior to export. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1959 (5) therefore only allowed the introduction into the Union of wood of Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. and Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold and Zucc. originating in Canada and the United States (‘the specified wood’) under official statements referred to in options (a) and (c) of point 2.3 of Annex IV, Part A, Section I to Directive 2000/29/EC. Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1959 expired on 30 June 2020.

(4)

The provisions set out under point 87 of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establish special requirements to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the pest Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire through wood originating in certain third countries. The provisions of option (b) of point 2.3 of Annex IV, Part A, Section I to Directive 2000/29/EC are now reflected under option (b) of point 87 of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

(5)

In view of the results of the Commission audits carried out in Canada and the United States in 2018, it is still considered appropriate to only allow the introduction into the Union of wood of Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. and Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold and Zucc. originating in those third countries under official statements referred to in options (a) and (c) of point 87 of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

(6)

This Regulation should apply until 30 June 2023, to allow for the review of point 87 of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 on the basis of scientific and technical developments.

(7)

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