15.2.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 45/29 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 13 February 2014 as regards measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Well and Raju) (notified under document C(2014) 726) (2014/87/EV) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 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 third sentence of Article 16(3) thereof, Whereas: Xylella fastidiosa (Well and Raju) (hereinafter ‘the specified organism’) is listed in Section I of Part A of Annex I to Directive 2000/29/EC as a harmful organism not known to occur in the Union, the introduction of which into, and spread within, all Member States is prohibited. On 21 October 2013 Italy informed the other Member States and the Commission of the presence of the specified organism in its territory, in two separate areas of the province Lecce, in the region of Apulia. Subsequently two further separate outbreaks have been identified in the same province. The presence of the specified organism was confirmed in respect of several plants species, including Olea europaea L., Prunus amygdalus Batsch, Nerium oleander L. and Quercus sp. L. showing leaf scorching and rapid decline symptoms. This is the first time the presence of the specified organism in the territory of the Union is confirmed. For several other plants species checks concerning its presence have not yet been concluded. The identification of the vector of the specified organism in Apulia is pending. On 29 October 2013 the region Apulia took emergency measures for the prevention and eradication of the specified organism (?) in accordance with Article 16(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC. () OJ L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1. (?) Deliberazione della Giunta Regionale, Regione Puglia, N.2023 del 29.10.2013 (Misure di emergenza per la prevenzione, il controllo e la eradicazione del batterio da quarantena Xylella fastidiosa associato al ‘Complesso del disseccamento rapido dell’olivo’). ) Italy reported that the inspections it had carried out showed no presence of the specified organism in the neighbouring provinces of Brindisi and Taranto. In response to a request by the Commission, the European Food Safety Authority, ‘the Authority, adopted a statement on 25 November 2013 (}) which contains the following conclusions. The specified organism has probably a very broad range of host plants, including many cultivated and spontaneous plants common in Europe. The main entry pathway for the specified organism is the movement of plants for planting, excluding seeds. The pathway of infective vectors of the specified organism transported on plant consignments is also of concern. Fruit and wood are minor pathways with negligible like- lihood of introduction. Seeds, cut flowers and orna- mental foliage are minor pathways with low likelihood of introduction. The movement of infected plants for planting is the most efficient way for long-distance dispersal of the specified organism. In view of the nature of the specified organism, it is likely to spread rapidly and widely. In order to ensure that the specified organism does not spread to the rest of the Union, it is necessary to take measures immediately. Until more specific information becomes available concerning host range, vectors, pathways and risk reduction options, it is appropriate to prohibit movement out of areas possibly containing infected plants. Taking into consideration the locations of the presence of the specified organism, the particular geographical situation of the administrative province of Lecce and the uncertainties concerning the criteria for demarcation, that entire province should be the subject of that prohib- ition, in order to apply that prohibition rapidly and effec- tively. (}) Statement of EFSA on host plants, entry and spread pathways and risk reduction options for Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. EFSA Journal 2013; 11(11):3468, 50 pp. doi:10.2903j.efsa.2013.3468.