No L 125/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 5. 86 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 25 March 1986 authorizing certain Member States to provide for derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of early ware potatoes originating in Cuba (Only the German, French and Dutch texts are authentic) (86/158/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 Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85 (3, and in particular Articles 14 (3) and 17 thereof, Having regard to the requests made by Belgium, Germany, France, 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, origi- nating 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 derogations from that rule, provided that it is established that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms ; . Whereas the growing of early ware potatoes in Cuba from seed potatoes supplied by certain Member States has o L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. o L 362, 31. 12. 1985, p. 8. 8 ZZ become an established practice; whereas part of the supply of early ware potatoes in the Community has been ensured by imports of such material from Cuba; Whereas information supplied by and in Cuba has shown that there are good reasons to believe that Cuba has implemented adequate health, quality and control stan- dards in her potato production, and that 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 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 it has appeared necessary to seek confirmation through appropriate technical examination of the potato production conditions in Cuba; Whereas the requesting Member States should therefore be authorized to provide for derogations in respect of early ware potatoes originating in Cuba, under the afore- mentioned special technical conditions, for the forth- coming season ; whereas the system will be improved or extended, depending on the results of the outstanding technical examination ; Whereas the Standing Committee on Plant Health did not deliver an opinion within the time limit provided for ; Whereas the Commission therefore submitted to the Council a proposal on the measures to be taken ;