S.L. 433.14 ст. 4Reporting of suspected cases to the Plant Health Department.

(1) The suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of the organism, in potato plants and tubers or harvested, stored or marketed tubers in Malta shall be reported to the Plant Health

*These regulations were repealed by Legal Notice 84 of 2023. Department.

(2) In cases of suspected occurrence, the Plant Health Department shall ensure completion of official or officially supervised laboratory testing, using the method set out in Schedule I, and in accordance with the conditions specified in point 1 of Schedule II, in order to confirm or refute the suspected occurrence. In the former case, the requirements laid down in point 2 of Schedule II shall apply.

(3) Pending the confirmation or refutation of the suspected occurrence under subregulation (1), in those cases of suspect occurrence where, either:

(i) suspect diagnostic visual symptoms of the disease have been seen; or,

(ii) a positive immunofluorescence test as specified in Schedule 1 or other appropriate positive test has been identified, the Plant Health Department shall:

(a) prohibit the movement of all lots or consignments from which the samples have been taken, except under their control and provided that it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of the organism spreading;

(b) take steps to trace the origin of the suspected occurrence;

(c) introduce appropriate additional precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk, in order to prevent any spread of the organism. These measures may include the official control of the movement of all other tubers or plants within or off premises associated with the suspected occurrence.