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News
11/01/2010 10:32
Position of DG SANCO on the control of imports into the EU of Egyptian ware potatoes
Since 1996, Community emergency measures are in place for Egyptian potatoes exported to the European Union (EU) because of multiple interceptions of the brown rot bacterium,Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum. These measures lay down an intensive inspection regime and stipulate that an import ban for all potato exports from Egypt is imposed after six interceptions of lots of potatoes infected with brown rot within the sameexport season (usually from January to June).
Egypt recently informed the Commission that, in order to reduce the risk of reaching the threshold for the ban, it will no longer ship asconsignments individual lots of 25 tonnesfrom one basin. All potatoes from one basin will now be identified under the same lotnumber.
Having discussed this with the Member States in the Standing Committee on PlantHealth, the Commission has confirmed to Egypt that it accepts the new system on condition that each lot - irrespective of the quantity of potatoes - is shipped as a single consignmentto the EU (in line with PPC definitions) and has recalled that the same intensity of phytosanitary inspection at arrival is maintained as in previous years. This means that,upon arrival in the EU, consignments will continue to be sampled and inspected at thelevel of 200 tubers per 25 tonnes of potatoes.
For phytosanitary purposes, each lot in a consignment needs to be handled as a singleunit. If found infested, the whole lot will be intercepted irrespective of the quantity ofpotatoes involved.
D. André - Head of Unit EU Commission
DG SANCO - safety of the food chain - biotechnology and plant health
