18. 10. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 259/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993 on the control of potato ring rot THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas potato production occupies an important place in Community agriculture; whereas the potato vyield is constantly threatened by harmful organisms; Whereas, through the protection of potato cultivation against such harmful organisms, not only should productive capacity be maintained but agricultural productivity should also be increased; Whereas protective measures to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into the territory of a Member State would have only a limited effect were such organisms not controlled simultaneously and methodically throughout the Community and not prevented from spreading; (1) OJ No C 93, 2. 4. 1993, p. 12. (2) O] No C 176, 28. 6. 1993, p. 210. (3) OJ No C 161, 14. 6. 1993, p. 18. Whereas one of the harmful organisms on potatoes is Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieckermann et Kotthoff) Davis et al., the pathogenic agent of the potato ring rot disease; whereas this disease has occurred in some parts of the Community and some limited sources of infection still exist; Whereas there is a considerable risk to potato cultivation throughout the Community if effective measures are not taken to locate this disease and determine its distribution, to prevent it from occurring and spreading, and, if found, to prevent its spread and to control it with the aim of eradication; Whereas, in order to ensure this, certain measures must be taken within the Community; whereas Member States must, in addition, be able to take additional or stricter measures where necessary, provided that there is no hindrance to the movement of potatoes within the Community, except in so far as laid down in 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 (4); whereas such measures must be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission; Whereas Council Directive 80/665/EEC of 24 June 1980 on the control of potato ring rot (3), laid down minimum measures to be taken by the Member States against potato ring rot; 1 (%) O] No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 92/103/EEC (O] No L 363, 11. 12. 1992, p. 1). (5) O] No L 180, 14. 7. 1980, p. 30.