L 219/56 Official Journal of the European Union 25.7.2014 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 23 July 2014 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Well and Raju) (notified under document C(2014) 5082) (2014/497EU) 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 fourth sentence of Article 16(3), thereof, Whereas: (1)  The Commission adopted Implementing Decision 2014/87[EU (%) as regards measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Well and Raju) (hereinafter ‘the specified organism’). (2)  Since the adoption of that Decision, the Italian authorities have carried out investigations in the infected areas and the areas surrounding them concerning the presence and nature of the specified organism. Those investiga- tions have produced preliminary results which are sufficient to allow the adoption of more precise measures. (3) The investigations of the Italian authorities, as well as the available scientific and technical evidence, have confirmed that plants of Catharanthus G. Don, Nerium L., Olea L., Prunus L., and Vinca L. are host plants of the specified organism. Taking into account the evidence available, it is likely that plants of Malva L., Portulaca L., Quercus L. and Sorghum L. may also be host plants of that organism. Therefore, the measures should apply to plants for planting, other than seeds, of Catharanthus G. Don, Nerium L., Olea L., Prunus L., Vinca L., Malva L., Portulaca L., Quercus L. and Sorghum L. (hereinafter ‘specified plants). (4) It is appropriate to establish conditions for the introduction into the Union of specified plants from third coun- tries where the specified organism is known to be present. Specific requirements should be adopted concerning the registration, supervision and status of production sites, as well as for the inspections, sampling, testing and transport of the specified plants, to ensure that plants which are introduced into the Union are free from the spe- cified organism. (5)  Specified plants which have been grown for at least part of their life in a demarcated area, or which have been moved through such an area, are more likely than other plants to have been infected with the specified organism. Their movement should therefore be subject to specific requirements. Those requirements should be similar to the requirements for specified plants introduced from third countries where the specified organism is known to be present. (6)  Member States should carry out annual surveys for the presence of the specified organism in their territories in order to prevent its introduction and spread. (7)  In order to ensure the earliest possible action against the potential presence of the specified organism, anyone who might be aware of the presence of that organism should inform the Member States thereof. Moreover, and in order to ensure appropriate action by stakeholders, Member States should inform professional operators concerned about the potential presence of the specified organism in their territories and the measures to be taken. (8)  To eradicate the specified organism and prevent its spread, Member States should establish demarcated areas and take the necessary measures. Those demarcated areas should consist of an infected zone and a buffer zone. The width of the buffer zone should be calculated in view of the risk of the specified organism spreading to other areas. () OJL169,10.7.2000, p. 1. (%) Commission Implementing Decision 2014/87[EU of 13 February 2014 as regards measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Well and Raju) (O] L 45, 15.2.2014, p. 29).