(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 all third countries were included in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as high risk plants. That Annex includes the genera Malus Mill. and Berberis L.

(4)

The list of plants, plant products or other objects, removed from the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 and that may only be introduced into, or moved within, the Union territory if special requirements are fulfilled, is provided for in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 (4).

(5)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1213 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.

(6)

On 9 August 2019, Türkiye submitted to the Commission, a request for export to the Union of Malus domestica plants for planting consisting of up to one-year-old budwood and scions that are free of leaves, and of rootstocks and grafted plants that are bare-rooted, dormant, free of leaves and with a maximum stem diameter of 3 cm. That request was supported by the relevant technical dossier.

(7)

On 31 March 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) adopted a scientific opinion regarding the commodity risk assessment of Malus domestica plants from Türkiye (6). The Authority identified Anoplophora chinensis, Calepitrimerus baileyi, Cenopalpus irani, Cicadatra persica, Diplodia bulgarica, Erwinia amylovora, Hoplolaimus galeatus, Lopholeucaspis japonica, Malacosoma parallela, Pratylenchus loosi, Pyrolachnus pyri and Tomato ringspot virus as pests relevant for those plants for planting.

(8)

On 7 November 2022, the Authority amended the scientific opinion to include Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Euzophera semifuneralis, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Pochazia shantungensis and Russellaspis pustulans as relevant pests for those plants for planting.

(9)

The Authority evaluated the risk mitigation measures described in the dossier for Calepitrimerus baileyi, Cenopalpus irani, Cicadatra persica, Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Diplodia bulgarica, Euzophera semifuneralis, Hoplolaimus galeatus, Lopholeucaspis japonica, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Malacosoma parallela, Pochazia shantungensis, Pratylenchus loosi, Pyrolachnus pyri and Tomato ringspot virus and estimated the likelihood of freedom of the commodity from those pests. The Authority evaluated whether Türkiye applies the emergency measures, set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2095 (7) to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Anoplophora chinensis and whether, concerning Erwinia amylovora, the special requirements for the introduction into and movement within the specified protected zones listed in point 9 of Annex X to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, of plants of Malus Mill., other than fruits and seeds, are fulfilled. It concluded that Türkiye does apply those emergency measures and that the requirements listed in point 9 of Annex X to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 were not fulfilled. The risk mitigation measures for Russellaspis pustulans were not evaluated by the Authority. However, a Scientific opinion on the pest categorisation of Russellaspis pustulans (8) published earlier by the Authority, indicates risk mitigation measures that are effective against the pest.

(10)

On 27 November 2019, Türkiye submitted to the Commission, a request for export to the Union of two to three-year-old potted plants of Berberis thunbergii, that are 20 to 40 cm tall. That request was supported by the relevant technical dossier.

(11)

On 19 May 2022, the Authority adopted a scientific opinion regarding the commodity risk assessment of Berberis thunbergii potted plants from Türkiye (9). The Authority identified Bemisia tabaci and Malacosoma parallela as pests relevant for those plants for planting, evaluated the risk reduction measures described in the dossier and estimated the likelihood of freedom of the commodity from those pests.

(12)

Following official confirmation concerning the absence of Malacosoma parallela in Türkiye, the pest is no longer considered relevant for the Malus domestica and Berberis thunbergii commodities originating in that country.

(13)

On the basis of those opinions, and the additional information from Türkiye with regards to Malacosoma parallela, the phytosanitary risk from the introduction into the Union territory of Malus domestica plants for planting consisting of up to one-year-old budwood and scions that are free of leaves and of rootstocks and grafted plants that are bare-rooted, dormant, free of leaves and with a maximum stem diameter of 3 cm, originating in Türkiye, is considered to be reduced to an acceptable level, provided that appropriate mitigation measures are applied to address the risk of pests related to those plants for planting, and that the requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2095, the special requirements listed in point 9 of Annex X to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and the corresponding special requirements in Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 are complied with.

(14)

Moreover, the phytosanitary risk arising from the introduction into the Union territory of up to three-year-old potted plants of Berberis thunbergii that are maximum 40 cm tall, originating in Türkiye, is considered acceptable, provided that the corresponding special requirements set out in Annex VII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 are complied with, while no further requirements are considered necessary.

(15)

As a consequence, Malus domestica plants for planting consisting of up to one-year-old budwood and scions that are free of leaves and rootstocks and grafted plants that are bare-rooted, dormant, free of leaves and with a maximum stem diameter of 3 cm, originating in Türkiye, should no longer be considered as high risk plants.

(16)

Similarly, up to three-year-old potted plants of Berberis thunbergii that are maximum 40 cm tall, originating in Türkiye, should no longer be considered as high risk plants.

(17)

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

(18)

The measures described by Türkiye in the dossier concerning Malus domestica are considered sufficient to reduce the risk from the introduction into the Union territory of that commodity 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 those plants into it.

(19)

Anoplophora chinensis, Bemisia tabaci, Lopholeucapsis japonica and Tomato ringspot virus are listed as Union quarantine pests in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Erwinia amylovora is listed as a protected zone quarantine pest in Annex III to that Implementing Regulation, and as a Union regulated non-quarantine pest in Annex IV to that Implementing Regulation. Special requirements are also set out in point 9 of Annex X to that Implementing Regulation, to prevent the entry and spread of that pest within the specified protected zones.

(20)

By contrast, Calepitrimerus baileyi, Cenopalpus irani, Didesmococcus unifasciatus, Diplodia bulgarica, Euzophera semifuneralis, Hoplolaimus galeatus, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Pochazia shantungensis and Pratylenchus loosi are not yet included in the list set out in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, but may fulfil the conditions to be included once a complete risk assessment has been carried out. Therefore, phytosanitary measures are necessary concerning those pests until a complete risk assessment is carried out. The pest categorisation of Russellaspis pustulans indicates that the pest satisfies the conditions to be listed as a Union quarantine pest. Therefore, phytosanitary measures are necessary concerning that pest until it is listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

(21)

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

(22)

Cicadatra persica and Pyrolachnus pyri are not yet included in the list of Union quarantine pests. Nevertheless, given that no significant impact has been observed on host plants infected by those pests in the Union, no import requirements are necessary with respect to those pests.

(23)

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