No L 100/44 - Official Journal -of the European Communities 19. 4. 88 COMMISSION DECISION of 5 April 1988 " authorizing certain Member States to provide for exceptions from certain provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of potatoes for human consumption originating in Cuba (Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic) (88/223/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN 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 (9, and in particular Article 14 (3) thereof, Having regard to the requests made by Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, : Whereas under the provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC, potato tubers other than those officially certified as seed potatoes pursuant to other Community provisions, - originating in third countries not belonging to the continent of Europe, may in principle not be introduced into the Community because of the risk of introducing exotic potato diseases unknown in the Community ; Whereas, however, Article 14 (3) of the said Directive permits exceptions from that rule, provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms ; Whereas the early growing in Cuba of potatoes for human consumption from seed potatoes supplied by Member States has become an established practice ; whereas part of the early supply of potatoes for human consumption in the Community has been ensured by imports of such material from Cuba; Whereas information supplied by Cuba and collected in that country has shown that there are good reasons to believe that, in Cuba, potatoes can be grown under adequate health conditions and that, at present, there are no sources for the introduction of exotic potato diseases ; whereas Cuba has moreover implemented adequate health and quality standards in its potato production, and’ whereas at least in respect of potatoes derived from seed potatoes supplied by the Community, exotic potato diseases unknown in the Community are not likely to occur ; Whereas, however, in particular, the post-harvest control system in respect of the potatoes intended for the () OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. () OJ No L 151, 11. 6. 1987, p. 1. Community should be monitored in such a way as to ensure that it takes into account the specific concern of the Community; - Whereas it can therefore be established, on the basis of the information available at present, that there is no risk of harmful organisms spreading, provided that certain. special technical conditions are complied with ; whereas. the potatoes are introduced at a time when they cannot ‘influence the health status of potatoes produced in the Community ; Whereas the requesting Member States were already authorized, by Council Decision 87/306/EEC()) to introduce potatoes for human consumption originating in Cuba under such special technical conditions, in the 1987 season ; whereas, however, no use could be made of that authorization ; ‘ Whereas the requesting Member States should be authorized again to provide for exceptions in respect of potatoes for human consumption originating in Cuba, under the aforementioned special technical conditions, for the forthcoming early potato season; whereas this system will be reconsidered, depending on the results of monitoring to be carried, out on the post-harvest control system ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 1. Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are hereby authorized to provide, under the conditions laid down in paragraph 2, for exceptions from Article 4 (1), with regard to the prohibitions referred to in Part A (92) of Annex III to Directive 77/93/EEC, for potatoes for human consumption originating in Cuba, with a view to marketing them in their respective territories or between them. » ' () OJ No L 153, 13. 6. 1987, p. 4L.