. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CZE/25
17 June 2003
(03-3196)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CZECH REPUBLIC
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   Ministry of Agriculture, State Phytosanitary Administration
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):   Host material of Phytophthora ramorum  (causative agent of Sudden Oak Death
Disease):  susceptible plants of Acer macrophyllum  Pursch., Aesculus californica  Nutt.,
Arbutus menziesii  Pursch., Arctostaphylos  Adans, Heteromeles arbutifolia  (Lindley),
Lithocarpus densiflorus  (Hook & Arn), Lonicera hispidula  (Dougl.), Quercus  L., Rhamnus
californica  (Esch), Rhododendron  L. (other than R. simsii Planch.), Umbrellularia
californica  (Pursch.), Vaccinium ovatum  (Hook & Arn) Nutt. and Viburnum  L. and wood and
isolated bark of Acer macrophyllum Pursch., Aesculus californica  Nutt., Lithocarpus
densiflores  (Hook & Arn), Quercus  L., originating in the USA;  and susceptible plants of
Rhododendron L. (other than R. simsii  Planch.) and Viburnum L., originating in all countries.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
Primarily the USA;  also Germany and the Netherlands
5. Title, language  and number of pages of the notified document:  "Official Notice of the
State Phytosanitary Administration on measures to prevent the introduction into and the
spread within the Czech Republic of Phytophthora ramorum  Werres, De Cook & Man in 't
Veld, associated with Sudden Oa k Death" (Czech Republic text – 4 pages;  English version –
5 pages).
6. Description of content:  This official notice of the St ate Phytosanitary Administration
contains the phytosanitary requirements for th e importation of host material (plants, wood
and isolated bark) of a serious pathogen Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death) to the
Czech Republic and for movement of this material within the Czech Republic.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [   ]  protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:   Sudden Oak Death is a
serious disease of oaks and other plant species caused by fungus Phytophthora ramorum .
The disease has not been found in the Czech Republic.  The State Phytosanitary
Administration has assessed the plant health risk  associated with this pathogen on the basis of
available scientific information, as well as of current information about the occurrence of this
harmful organism in the USA and its outbreaks in European countries.  The outcome has led
to significant plant health concern, in particul ar, as regards the threat which the non-European
isolates present in the USA pose to the oak trees in the Czech Republic and the European
isolates to ornamental plants, such as Rhododendron  spp. and Viburnum spp.G/SPS/N/CZE/25
Page 2
9. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
10. Relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   "Official Notice of
the State Phytosanitary Administration on measures to prevent the introduction into and the
spread within the Czech Republic of Phytophthora ramorum  Werres, De Cook & Man in 't
Veld, associated with Sudden Oak D eath" (reference number 0362/a/2003/R-10 of
7 May 2003) available in Czech and English.
11. Date of entry into force/period of application (as applicable):   1 June 2003
12. Agency or authority designated to handl e comments:  [ X ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry
point,  or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The Czech text can also be downloaded from the following website:
http://tesnov.srs.cz/Srs/Fytokarantena/Sdeleni/Phytophthora_ramorum.htm