(1)

Under Directive 2000/29/EC, oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark attached (hereinafter: ‘the logs’), originating in the United States, may, in principle, not be introduced into the Union because of the risk of introducing Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, the cause of oak wilt.

(2)

Commission Decision 2005/359/EC (2) authorises Member States to provide for derogations from Article 5(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC and from the third indent of Article 13(1)(i) of that Directive with regard to Annex IV(A)(I)(3) to that Directive in respect of logs originating in the United States subject to specific conditions. That Decision will expire on 31 December 2010.

(3)

Since the circumstances justifying that authorisation still apply and there is no new information giving cause for revision of the specific conditions, the authorisation should be extended.

(4)

Based on the experience gained with the application of Decision 2005/359/EC, it is appropriate to extend the authorisation for 10 years.

(5)

Member States making use of the derogation should report to the Commission and the other Member States on its operation on an annual basis, thus allowing the Standing Committee on Plant Health to review the correct implementation of this Decision.

(6)

Decision 2005/359/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,