COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/...
of 2.6.2025
amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659 as regards the time limit of the application of equivalent requirements for the introduction into the Union of fruits of Citrus sinensis Pers., originating from Israel in view of the risks posed by Thaumatotibia leucotreta
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC 1 , and in particular Article 44(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659 2 lays down the requirements for the introduction into the Union territory of fruits of Citrus sinensis Pers. originating in Israel (‘the specified fruits’) that are considered equivalent to the ones set out in point 62.1(d) of Annex VII to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 3 .
(2)Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659 expires on 31 May 2025.
(3)Since the application of that Implementing Regulation, there have been no notifications of non-compliances due to the presence of Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (‘the specified pest’) on the specified fruits.
(4)In addition, an audit by the Commission services took place in Israel from 18 to 30 January 2023 to evaluate the system of official controls for the export of certain plants and plant products to the Union, including the specified fruits. The audit found that procedures have been established and implemented for the official control of the specified pest on the specified fruits, that official controls are implemented in line with Union legislation and that the National Plant Protection Organisation of Israel (the ‘NPPO’) and production and processing facilities have sufficient staff and infrastructure to rectify deficiencies and apply Union requirements in full. Furthermore, the audit’s recommendation regarding the controls at production sites for the specified fruits, was addressed satisfactorily by the NPPO.
(5)As a result, it is appropriate that Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659 continues to apply without specific time limitation.
(6)Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Amendment of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659
In Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1659, Article 4 is replaced by the following:
‘Article 4