No L 65/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 3. 87 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 18 Febmary 1987 approving derogations provided for by Greece and Italy from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of seed potatoes originating in Canada (Only the Greek and the Italian texts are authentic) (87/154/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 intro- duction into the Member States of organisms harmful to plants or plant products (*), as last amended by Directive 86/651/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 prin- ciple, 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 Corynebacterium sepedonicum is know to occur — provisions recognized as equivalent to the Community provisions on combating this harmful organism have been complied with in the country of origin ; Whereas, nevertheless, Article 14 (1) (c) (iii) of the above- mentioned Directive permits Member States to provide for derogations with regard to the rule relating to the suppression of the faculty of germination, provided that () OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. () OF No L 382, 31. 12. 1986, p. 13. there is no risk of harmful organisms spreading ; whereas these derogations are subject to approval, under certain conditions, in accordance with Article 14 (2) and must also comply with the conditions laid down in Annex IV part A (24); Whereas in Greece and Italy 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 Decision 86/120/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 1986; whereas the Commission also laid down that these derogations would provide for the oppostunity to seek confirmation of the proper functioning of the concept of ‘areal freedom’; Whereas Greece and Italy have stated that they intend to provide for derogations for the current and subsequent seed-potato marketing seasons ; Whereas it is known that Canada is still not free from potato spindle tuber viroid or from Corynebacterium sepe- donicum ; () OJ No L 99, 15. 4. 1986, p. 31.