The EU has granted exemptions for plant material from various countries, regarding the EU import ban on high-risk crops.
As of 3 October 2020, the EU will allow plant material of these crops again: Acer japonicum, A. palmatum and A. shirasawanum from New Zealand, Malus domestica from Serbia, and Albizia julibrissin as well as Robinia pseudoacacia from Israel. This has been published in the official journal of the EU.
The countries had requested an exception for the EU import ban. Subsequently, the European Food Safety Authority has investigated the phytosanitary risks of various organisms that can affect the crops. EFSA concluded, among other things, that Acer from New Zealand and Malus from Serbia are not completely guaranteed free of pests and diseases, but SCOPAFF, the EU committee dealing with (plant) health issues, has decided that imports from those countries are safe.
Acer, Malus, Albizia and Robinia are still on the EU list of high-risk crops, which means that imports from other countries outside the EU are not allowed. The import ban has been into force since the introduction of the EU Plant Health Regulation in December 2019.
