2003L0090 — EN — 03.08.2007 — 002.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

►B COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2003/90/EC of 6 October 2003 setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/53/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of agricultural plant species (Text with EEA relevance) (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p.7)

Amended by:









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COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2003/90/EC

of 6 October 2003

setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/53/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of agricultural plant species

(Text with EEA relevance)







THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 2002/53/EC of 13 June 2002 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species ( 1 ), and in particular Article 7(2)(a) and (b) thereof, Whereas: (1) Commission Directive 72/180/EEC of 14 April 1972 determining the characteristics and minimum conditions for examining varieties of agricultural plant species ( 2 ), as amended by Directive 2002/8/EC ( 3 ), has established, with a view to official acceptance of the varieties in the Member States' catalogues, the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examinations of the various species, as well as the minimum requirements for carrying out the examinations. (2) Test guidelines relating to the conditions for the examination of the varieties have been issued by the Administrative Council of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights ( 4 ), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1650/2003 ( 5 ), in respect of certain species. (3) Test guidelines establishing the conditions for the examinations of the varieties exist at international level. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) has developed test guidelines. (4) Directive 72/180/EEC was amended by Directive 2002/8/EC to ensure consistency between the CPVO test guidelines and the conditions for examining the varieties with a view to their acceptance in the national catalogues of varieties of the Member States as far as CPVO test guidelines had been established. The CPVO has since issued guidelines for a number of other species. (5) It is appropriate to ensure consistency between the CPVO test guidelines and the conditions for the varieties with a view to their acceptance into national catalogues of the Member States. (6) It is appropriate to base the Community system on the UPOV test guidelines, in so far as the CPVO has not yet developed specific guidelines. National law applies for the species not covered by this Directive. (7) Directive 72/180/EEC should therefore be repealed. (8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry, Whereas: HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:







Article 1

1. Member States shall provide for the inclusion in a national catalogue, within the meaning of Article 3(1) of Directive 2002/53/EC, of varieties of agricultural plant species which fulfil the requirements set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.

2. As regards distinctness, stability and uniformity:

(a) the species listed in Annex I shall comply with the conditions laid down in the ‘Protocols for distinctness, uniformity and stability tests’ of the Administrative Council of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) listed in that Annex;

(b) the species listed in Annex II shall comply with the test guidelines for the conduct of tests for distinctness, uniformity and stability of the International Union for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants (UPOV) listed in that Annex.

3. As regards the value for cultivation or use, the varieties shall comply with the conditions laid down in Annex III, without prejudice to Article 4(2) of the Directive.

Article 2

All the varietal characteristics within the meaning of Article 1(2)(a), and any characteristics which are marked by an asterisk (*) in the test guidelines referred to in Article 1(2)(b) shall be used, providing that observation of a characteristic is not rendered impossible by the expression of any other characteristics, and providing that the expression of a characteristic is not prevented by the environmental conditions under which the test is conducted.

Article 3

Member States shall ensure that in respect of the species listed in Annexes I and II, the minimum requirements for carrying out the examinations in respect of trial design and growing conditions, as laid down in the test guidelines referred to in those Annexes, are fulfilled at the time of the examinations.

Article 4

Directive 72/180/EEC is repealed.

Article 5

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations or administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 March 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of domestic law they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 6

1. Where, on the entry into force of this Directive, varieties have not been accepted for inclusion in the Common Catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species, and official examinations started prior to that date in accordance with the provisions of either

(a) Directive 72/180/EEC or

(b) the CPVO guidelines listed in Annex I or the UPOV guidelines listed in Annex II, according to the species,

the varieties concerned shall be deemed to fulfil the requirements of this Directive.

2. Paragraph 1 shall only apply where the trials lead to the conclusion that the varieties comply with the rules set out in either

(a) Directive 72/180/EEC or

(b) the CPVO guidelines listed in Annex I or the UPOV guidelines listed in Annex II, according to the species.

Article 7

This Directive shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 8

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

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ANNEX I

List of species referred to in Article 1(2)(a) which are to comply with CPVO test protocols







Species listed in the Common Catalogue CPVO protocol Field pea Pea, TP 7/1 of 6.11.2003 Swede rape Oilseed rape, TP 36/1 of 25.3.2004 Sunflower Sunflower, TP 81/1 of 31.10.2002 Oats Oats, TP 20/1 of 6.11.2003 Barley Barley, TP 19/2 of 6.11.2003 Rice Rice, TP 16/1 of 18.11.2004 Rye Rye, TP 58/1 of 31.10.2002 Triticale Triticale, TP 121/2 of 22.1.2007 Wheat Wheat, TP 3/3 of 6.11.2003 Durum wheat Durum wheat, TP 120/2 of 6.11.2003 Maize Maize, TP 2/2 of 15.11.2001 Potato Potato, TP 23/2 of 1.12.2005 Flax/Linseed Flax/Linseed, TP 57/1 of 21.3.2007

The text of these protocols can be found on the CPVO web site (www.cpvo.europa.eu).









ANNEX II

List of species referred to in Article 1(2)(b) which are to comply with UPOV test guidelines







Species listed in the Common Catalogue UPOV guidelines Fodder beet Fodder beet, guideline TG/150/3 of 4.11.1994 Velvet bent Bent, guideline TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Red top Bent, guideline TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Creeping bent Bent, guideline TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Brown top Bent, guideline TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Rescue grass Rescue grass, guideline TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001 Alaska brome-grass Alaska brome-grass, guideline TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001 Cocksfoot Cocksfoot, guideline TG/31/8 of 17.4.2002 Tall fescue Tall fescue, guideline TG/39/8 of 17.4.2002 Sheep’s fescue Sheep's fescue, guideline TG/67/5 of 5.4.2006 Meadow fescue Meadow fescue, guideline TG/39/8 of 17.4.2002 Red fescue Red fescue, guideline TG/67/5 of 5.4.2006 Italian ryegrass Ryegrass, guideline TG/4/8 of 5.4.2006 Perennial ryegrass Ryegrass, guideline TG/4/8 of 5.4.2006 Hybrid ryegrass Ryegrass, guideline TG/4/8 of 5.4.2006 Timothy Timothy, guideline TG/34/6 of 7.11.1984 Smooth-stalked meadow grass Kentucky bluegrass, guideline TG/33/6 of 12.10.1990 White lupin White lupin, guideline TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Blue lupin Blue lupin, guideline TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Yellow lupin Yellow lupin, guideline TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Lucerne Lucerne, guideline TG/6/5 of 6.4.2005 Red clover Red clover, guideline TG/5/7 of 4.4.2001 White clover White clover, guideline TG/38/7 of 9.4.2003 Field bean Field bean, guideline TG/8/6 of 17.4.2002 Common vetch Common vetch, guideline TG/32/6 of 21.10.1988 Swede Swede, guideline TG 89/6 of 4.4.2001 Fodder radish Fodder radish, guideline TG/178/3 of 4.4.2001 Groundnut/Peanut Groundnut, guideline TG/93/3 of 13.11.1985 Turnip rape Turnip rape, guideline TG/185/3 of 17.4.2002 Safflower Safflower, guideline TG/134/3 of 12.10.1990 Cotton Cotton, guideline TG/88/6 of 4.4.2001 Opium poppy Opium/Seed poppy, guideline TG/166/3 of 24.3.1999 White mustard White mustard, guideline TG/179/3 of 4.4.2001 Soya bean Soya bean, guideline TG/80/6 of 1.4.1998 Sorghum Sorghum, guideline TG/122/3 of 6.10.1989

The text of these guidelines can be found on the UPOV web site (www.upov.int).

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ANNEX III

CHARACTERISTICS AS REGARDS THE EXAMINATION OF THE VALUE FOR CULTIVATION OR USE

1. Yield.

2. Resistance to harmful organisms.

3. Behaviour with respect to factors in the physical environment.

4. Quality characteristics.

The methods used shall be specified when the results are submitted.