Protection against organisms harmful to plants (amend. Directive 77/93/EEC)

OBJECTIVE: to amplify the Community arrangements for the protection of plants against harmful organisms. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Directive 97/3/EC amending Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community. SUBSTANCE: The Directive introduces new provisions providing for: - a Community financial contribution to the expenses borne by a Member State to prevent infections by harmful organisms introduced through consignments of plants from another Member State; - repayment to the Community, by the Member State of dispatch, of the whole of the contribution if it is established that the examinations or inspections laid down by the Community plant-health regime have not been implemented with sufficient care by the competent official body concerned; - a Community financial contribution aimed at reinforcing the plant-health inspection infrastructure at the Community's external frontiers. Within five years from the date of adoption of the Directive, the Commission is required to examine the results of its application and submit to the Council a report, accompanied by any necessary proposals for amendments. DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE: 30 January 1997 DEADLINE FOR TRANSPOSITION: 1 April 1998. �