Table 6.

Overview of proposed risk mitigation measures for Malus domestica plants designated for export to the EU from Turkey

No.	Risk mitigation measure (name)	Implementation in Turkey
1	Certified material	The Ministerial experts and inspectors carry out the phytosanitary control on mother plants in spring, summer and autumn for harmful organisms, and the amount of propagation materials (buds, budwoods, rootstocks, scions, etc.) that can be obtained from mother plants is determined. For the saplings, the phytosanitary control is also carried out at the same time, regarding harmful organisms specified in quarantine and plant passports, and certification regulations. Rootstocks from certified plants are grafted with certified budwood or scions in a certified nursery. If free from the harmful organisms, the Ministry issues certificates and labels for the propagation material to be taken from plants in the mother blocks.
2	Phytosanitary certificates	Export nurseries must obtain special certification from Turkish Authorities before they begin producing plants for planting. Nurseries must notify technical staff members responsible for production to obtain this certificate, which is then used for registration in the Turkish plant certification system. The phytosanitary inspections are done macroscopically. However, if there are signs of disease in the plants or in the immediate vicinity, the inspections are carried out by laboratory analysis. During the production period, official inspection is carried out. After the official approval that the sapling is free from the quarantine factor and true to type, its certificate‐passport label is issued by the Ministry. The Phytosanitary Certificates/Re‐Export Phytosanitary Certificates are issued in exportation of plants and plant products with respect to plant health. In issuing such certificates, the phytosanitary requirements of the importer country are taken into account, in compliance with the ISPM No: 7 and ISPM No: 12 rules.
3	Cleaning and disinfection of facilities, tools and machinery	Tools are disinfested with chemical compounds containing 10% chlorine prior to use.
4	Rouging and pruning	Applied in case of infections/infestations. No further details are available.
5	Biological and mechanical control	Weeds are controlled mechanically in the nurseries and in the surrounding areas. During rootstocks planting, Nogall (biological control agent) is applied to protect against crown gall.
6	Pesticide application	The saplings are sprayed against aphids, thrips, whiteflies, red spider pests, black spot, powdery mildew, root rot diseases and, depending on the situation, to control weeds. Before loading the plants on the trucks for transport, the roots of seedlings are sprayed with fungicide (Thiram). No specific details were available.
7	Surveillance and monitoring	Both processes are conducted by Turkish inspectors according to Turkish phytosanitary regulations. According to the dossier, necessary precautions are taken to ensure that there are no plants other than certified saplings in the production plot and application areas. Plants within and around the production areas are annually inspected to check the presence of quarantine organisms. Visual inspection at least once or twice a year during production or during uprooting of the plants. Visual inspection can be supported by the use of microscope or laboratory analysis if pests are suspected to be present. In the event that these plants are infected/infested with harmful organisms subject to quarantine, in Turkey these plants are destroyed.
8	Sampling and laboratory testing	For the identification of viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes in the seedlings to be exported, min. 5 to max. 25 seedlings are randomly taken from the plantation in the nursery garden and sealed by the inspector and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Soil samples are taken for laboratory analysis in terms of quarantine organisms, particularly to check if it is free from nematodes. If it is found that the soil is free from nematodes and other quarantine organisms, the production of saplings is started.
9	Root washing	Roots are washed to remove the soil
10	Refrigeration	The temperature of the storage tanks is between 2°C and 4°C and the humidity is 85–95%. Transportation is made with refrigerated trucks with the same conditions.
11	Pre‐consignment inspection	Prior to export, planting material for which a Phytosanitary Certificate is to be issued shall be subjected to phytosanitary inspection. Only certified plants for planting may be exported. Phytosanitary inspectors are responsible for export controls, sampling and issuing certificates.