(1)

Article 7 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (2), in conjunction with Annex VI to that Regulation, establishes a list of plants, plant products and other objects whose introduction into the Union territory is prohibited, together with the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries to which the prohibition applies, as provided for in Article 40(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

(2)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 (3) lays down measures in respect of fruits of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf., and their hybrids, other than fruits of Citrus aurantium L. and Citrus latifolia Tanaka, originating in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa or Uruguay, to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa (‘the specified pest’).

(3)

In May, June, July and first week of August 2020, Member States recurrently notified the Commission of the interceptions of the specified pest on fruits of Citrus limon (L.) N. Burm.f. and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck originating in Argentina (‘the specified fruits’), as a result of their import inspections.

(4)

Those recurring interceptions demonstrate that the phytosanitary safeguards currently in place in Argentina are insufficient to prevent the introduction of the specified pest into the Union. Thus, there is an unacceptable phytosanitary risk due to the presence of the specified pest on the specified fruits, and that risk cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by any of the measures set out in points 2 and 3 of Section 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

(5)

As a result, the introduction into the Union of the specified fruits should be temporarily prohibited, regardless whether they are destined exclusively for industrial processing into juice or not.

(6)

That temporary prohibition should apply until 30 April 2021 to address the ongoing risk of the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the specified pest, to allow Argentina to upgrade its certification system and to be audited by the Commission. That date should be reviewed as necessary, based on the audit findings.

(7)

Annex VI to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 should be therefore amended accordingly, while Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 should continue applying to all other fruits and third countries concerned.

(8)

Due to the urgent need to address the phytosanitary risk caused by the specified pest and specified fruits, this Regulation should enter into force on the second day following that of its publication.

(9)

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