No L 80/48 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 3. 88 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 9 February 1988 approving derogations provided for by Greece, Italy and Portugal from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of seed potatoes ‘ originating in Canada (Only the Greek, Italian and Portuguese texts are authentic) (88/176/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EU_ROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Member States of organisms " harmful to plants or plant products ('), as last amended by Directive 87/298/EEC (3, and in particular Article 14 (2) and Annex IV, part A’ (24), thereof, Whereas, pursuant to Directive 77/93/EEC, potato tubers originating in the American continent may not, in principle, be brought into the Community unless their faculty of germination has been suppressed, in view of the risk of the introduction of potato spindle tuber viroid, and unless — if they originate in a country where Corynebac- terium sepedonicum is known to occur — provisions recognized as equivalent to the Community provisions on combating this harmful organism have been complied with in the country of origin; 4 Whereas, nevertheless, Article 14 (1)(c) (iii) of the abovementioned Directive permits Member States .to provide for derogations with regard to the rule relating to the suppression of the faculty of germination, provided that there is no risk of harmful organisms spreading; whereas these derogations are subject to approval, under () OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. (3 O No L 151, 11. 6. 1987, p. 1. certain conditions, in accordance wifh Article 14 (2) and must also comply -with the conditions laid down in Annex IV, part A (24); Whereas in Greece, Italy and Portugal the growing of potatoes of certain North American varieties has been an established practice ; whereas part of the supply of seed potatoes of these varieties has been ensured by imports from Canada; Whereas, by  Decisions  86/120/EEC() and 87/154/EEC (), as amended by Decision 87/311/EEC (), the Commission approved derogations based on the concept of ‘areal freedom’ and subject to certain technical conditions to prevent the risk of harmful organisms spreading ; whereas that approval expired on 31 March 1987 ; whereas the Commission also laid down that these derogations would provide for the opportunity to seek confirmation of the proper functioning of the concept of ‘areal freedom’; Whereas Greece, Italy and Portugal have stated that they intend to provide for derogations for the current seed-potato marketing seasons ; Whereas it is known that Canada is still not free from potato spindle tuber viroid or from Corynebacterium sepedonicum ; () OJ No L 99, 15. 4. 1986, p. 31. (9 OJ No L 65, 10. 3. 1987, p. 12. () OJ No L 159, 19. 6. 1987, p. 19.