S.L. 433.3 Art. 24Duty to notify the Commission.

(a) In any of the following cases, in addition to the measures taken in accordance to the provisions of these regulations, the Director shall immediately notify the Commission and the Member States of such an event:

(i) the presence in Malta of any of the harmful organisms listed in Section I, Part A of Schedule I, and Section I Part A of Schedule II, or of the appearance in part of Malta in which their presence was previously unknown of any of the harmful organisms listed in Section II, Part A of Schedule I, or in Part B of Schedule I or in Section II, Part A, of Schedule II, or in Part B of Schedule II;

(ii) the actual or suspected appearance of any harmful organisms not listed in Schedule I or in Schedule II whose presence was previously unknown in Malta. It shall also inform the Commission and the other Member States of the protective measures which it has taken or intends to take. These measures must, be such as to prevent risk of the spread inter alia, of the harmful organism concerned in the territory of the other Member States;

(iii) in the case of consignments of plants, plant products or other objects from third countries considered to involve an imminent danger of the introduction or spread of the harmful organisms referred to in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii). The Plant Health Department shall also immediately take the measures necessary to protect the territory of the Community from that danger.

(b) Where the Plant Health Department considers that there is an imminent danger other than that referred to in paragraph (a), it shall immediately notify the Commission and the other Member States of the measures which it would like to see taken. If it considers that these measures are not being taken in sufficient time to prevent the introduction or spread of a harmful organism into Malta, it may temporarily take any additional measures which it deems necessary.