(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 assessment, 34 genera and one species of plants for planting originating from third countries were provisionally listed in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as high risk plants. That list includes the genus Ligustrum L.

(4)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 (4) sets out the phytosanitary measures for the introduction into the Union territory of certain plants, plant products and other objects, which have been removed from the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019, but for which phytosanitary risks are not yet fully assessed. This is because one or more pests hosted by those plants are not yet included in the list of Union quarantine pests of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (5), but they may fulfil the conditions to be included following a further complete risk assessment.

(5)

On 3 December 2021, the United Kingdom (6) submitted to the Commission, a request for export to the Union of large topiary evergreen plants of Ligustrum delavayanum grafted onto Ligustrum japonicum rootstocks grown in pots that are up to 20 years old and having a maximum diameter of 18 cm at the base of the stem. That request was supported by the relevant technical dossier.

(6)

On 28 September 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) adopted a scientific opinion covering the risk assessment of plants for planting of Ligustrum delavayanum and of plants for planting of Ligustrum japonicum, in growing medium, that are up to 20 years old and with a maximum diameter of 18 cm at the base of the stem, irrespective of whether they are grafted or not (‘the relevant plants’) (7). The Authority identified Bemisia tabaci, Diaprepes abbreviatus, Epiphyas postvittana and Scirtothrips dorsalis as pests relevant for those plants and estimated the likelihood of freedom of the commodity from the pests.

(7)

On the basis of that opinion, the phytosanitary risk from the introduction into the Union territory of the relevant plants is considered to be reduced to an acceptable level, provided that appropriate measures are applied to address the risk of pests related to those plants and the corresponding special requirements of Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 are complied with.

(8)

The measures described by the United Kingdom in the technical dossier are considered sufficient to reduce the risk from the introduction into the Union territory of the relevant plants to an acceptable level. Those measures should therefore be adopted as phytosanitary import requirements to ensure the phytosanitary protection of the Union territory from introduction of the relevant plants into it.

(9)

Consequently, the relevant plants should no longer be considered high risk plants.

(10)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

Bemisia tabaci is listed as a protected zone quarantine pest in Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and Scirtothrips dorsalis is listed as a Union quarantine pest in Annex II to that Implementing Regulation.

(12)

Diaprepes abbreviatus is not yet included in the list of Union quarantine pests of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, therefore the measures for that pest are based on those described by the United Kingdom in the dossier. When a complete risk assessment on that pest becomes available, it will be established if that pest fulfils the conditions to be listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and the relevant plants in Annex VII to that Regulation, together with the respective measures.

(13)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(14)

Epiphyas postvittana is not included in the list of Union quarantine pests. The pest is present in a number of Member States and no official control measures are applied. Furthermore, the impact of the pest in the Union is not considered to be significant. For these reasons, no import requirements are necessary with respect to that pest.

(15)

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