The control of harmful organisms within the Community is an important part of the Community plant health regime. The harmful organisms which may be targeted by specific control measures are either:

• Harmful organisms listed in Annexes I and II (Part A, Section I) to Directive 2000/29/EC which are found within the Community for the first time; or
• Harmful organisms listed in Annexes I and II (Part A, Section II) to Directive 2000/29/EC which are found in Member States’ territory where their presence was previously unknown; or
• Other harmful organisms previously unknown to occur in the Community, which are not listed specifically in Directive 2000/29/EC but which are of potential economic importance.

Member States have an obligation to notify the Commission and other Member States of the presence within their territory of these harmful organisms and are obliged to take measures to eradicate or, if this is not possible, prevent the spread of the harmful organism concerned.

Where a Member State considers there is an imminent danger of introduction or spread of a harmful organism, it should notify the Commission and other Member States of the measures it would like to see taken and may temporarily take additional measures. Where the danger comes from consignments of plants, plant products or other objects originating in third countries, the Member State must immediately take action to protect the territory of the Community from that danger, and inform the Commission and other Member States thereof. Temporary (emergency) measures may be taken by the Community in these cases.

The Commission has an obligation to examine the situation as soon as possible (through the Standing Committee on Plant Health) and Community control measures may be adopted.

Long-term control Directives exist containing control measures against potato-ring rot (Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus) and potato brown rot (Ralstonia solanacearum), both of which occur in some parts of the Community.

Legislation

• Community control measures for potato ring rot
• Community control measures for potato brown rot
• Community control measures for the Pinewood nematode
• Community control measures for the Pepino mosaic virus
• Emergency measures: potatoes from Egypt
• Emergency measures: wood from China (excluding Hong Kong)
• Emergency measures: coniferous wood packing from Canada, China, Japan and the USA
• Emergency measures: sudden oak death