Answer given by Vice-President Katainen on behalf of the European Commission
8.5.2019
The requirements for issuing the plant passports to be used for the movement of certain plants, plant products or other objects within the Union are laid down under Commission Directive 92/105/EEC[1]. However, more detailed requirements are laid down under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 789/2015[2] as regards the movement of Xylella host plants within the Union territory, and more particularly plants of Coffea, Lavandula dentata, Nerium oleander, Olea europea, Polygala myrtifolia and Prunus dulcis, originating in areas known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa. Those provisions require that movement of Xylella host plants can only take place if those plants are accompanied by a plant passport and grown in a site that is subject to annual official inspection, sampling and testing, to confirm the absence of the pest. These detailed requirements have been updated on several occasions taking into account technical developments on the ground and are considered to provide the necessary phytosanitary guarantees against this quarantine pest.
If the presence of Xylella fastidiosa is confirmed immediately after the introduction of those plants at the place of destination (thus excluding possible infection in that new area), trace-back activities to evaluate the source of the infection and whether additional measures are appropriate will be carried out by the Member States concerned.