amending the information in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178 by including United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) as an origin for which a phytosanitary certificate is not required for the introduction into the Union of plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers or seeds

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC (1), and in particular Article 45(1), fourth subparagraph, thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178 (2) provides that Member States, seaports, airports and international transport operators are to display posters with certain information concerning prohibitions and requirements for the introduction of plants, plant products and other objects, at all points of entry into the Union, or on all transport means moving into the Union, for the benefit of the passengers arriving from third countries. More particularly, the Annex to that Implementing Regulation sets out a poster with such information, including information concerning the third countries for which a phytosanitary certificate is not required for the introduction into the Union territory of plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers or seeds.

(2) In accordance with the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Withdrawal Agreement), and in particular Article 5(4) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in conjunction with Annex 2 to that Protocol, Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, as well as the Commission acts based on it, such as Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178, apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement.

(3) Therefore, the information in the poster set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178, should be amended to include United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) as an origin for which a phytosanitary certificate is not required for the introduction into the Union territory of plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers or seeds. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178

The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/178 is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.