Surveys of the host plants in Member States
Article 3
1. Competent authorities shall carry out annual risk-based surveys of the host plants in the areas of their territories where the specified pest is not known to occur for the presence of the specified pest. The design and sampling scheme of those surveys shall allow to detect, within the Member State concerned, with a sufficient level of confidence, a low level of presence of infested plants. The surveys shall be based on the European Food Safety Authority’s (‘Authority’) General guidelines for statistically sound and risk-based surveys for plant pests. 2. The surveys shall be carried out: (a) on the basis of the level of the respective phytosanitary risk; (b) in open air, as well as in nurseries, garden centres, trading centres, natural and urban areas and other relevant sites as appropriate; (c) at appropriate times of the year with regard to the possibility to detect the specified pest, taking into account the biology of that pest, the presence and biology of host plants, and the scientific and technical information referred to in the Authority’s Pest Survey Card on Anoplophora chinensis ( 5 ) . 3. The surveys shall consist of: (a) visual examination of host plants; and (b) where appropriate, collection of samples and testing of plants for planting. In order to complement visual examinations specifically trained sniffer dogs may be used, where appropriate.