22.7.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 1931 | (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 690/2008 of 4 July 2008 recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community (Recast) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community ('), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 2(1)(h) thereof, Having regard to the requests made by Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia, Whereas: (1)  Commission Directive 2001/32/EC of 8 May 2001 recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community and repealing Directive 92/76[EEC (3) has been substantially amended several times. Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. (2)  Under Directive 2000/29/EC, ‘protected zones’ exposed to particular plant health risks may be defined and therefore may be accorded special protection under conditions compatible with the internal market. Such defined in zones  were Commission  Directive 2001/32/EC. (3) Certain Member States or certain areas in Member States are recognised as protected zones in respect of certain harmful organisms. In some cases recognition was granted provisionally, because the full information necessary to show that the harmful organism in question was not present in the Member State or area concerned had not been provided or efforts to eradicate such an organism had not been concluded. Where the () O] L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2008/64/EC (O] L 168, 28.6.2008, p. 31). () OJ L 127, 9.5.2001, p. 38. Directive as last amended by Directive 2007/40/EC (O] L 169, 29.6.2007, p. 49). Member States concerned have provided the necessary information, the zones in question should be recognised as permanent protected zones. The provisional recog- nition should exceptionally be extended for a further limited period to give the Member States concerned the necessary additional time to submit information showing that that organism is not present or, where necessary, to complete their efforts to eradicate it. In other cases protected zones should no longer be recognised as such since harmful organisms are now present. Cyprus was provisionally recognised as a protected zone with respect to Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), Ips sexdentatus Borner and Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say until 31 March 2008. From information supplied by Cyprus since the provisional recognition was granted, it appears that those organisms are not present in Cyprus. Therefore Cyprus should be recognised as a permanent protected zone with respect to those organisms. Certain regions of Spain were recognised as protected zones with respect to Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. and Schiff). From information supplied by Spain, it appears that that organism is now established in these regions. They should therefore no longer be recognised as a protected zone in respect of that organism. Certain regions in Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia, and the whole territory of Ireland and Lithuania were provisionally recognised as protected zones with respect to Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. until 31 March 2008.