Commission Decision

of 12 December 2001

setting out the arrangements for Community comparative trials and tests on propagating and planting material of fruit plants under Council Directive 92/34/EEC

(notified under document number C(2001) 4220)

(2001/896/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/34/EEC on the marketing of propagating and planting material of fruit plants(1), as last amended by Directive 1999/30/EC(2), and in particular Article 20(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The abovementioned Directive provides for the necessary arrangement to be made for Community comparative trials and tests of propagating and planting material to be carried out.

(2) Adequate representativity of the samples included in the trials and tests should be ensured, at least for certain selected plants.

(3) Member States should participate in the Community comparative trials and tests, in so far as propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica are usually reproduced or marketed in their territories, in order to ensure that proper conclusions may be drawn therefrom.

(4) The Commission is responsible for making the necessary arrangements for the Community comparative trials and tests.

(5) The technical arrangements for the carrying out of the trials and tests have been made within the Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species.

(6) Community comparative trials and tests should be carried out from the year 2002 to 2006 on propagating and planting material harvested in 2001 and the details for such trials and tests should also be set out.

(7) For the Community comparative trials and tests lasting more than one year the parts of the trials and tests following the first year should, on condition that the necessary appropriations are available, be authorised by the Commission without further reference to the Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species.

(8) The Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species has not delivered an opinion within the time limit laid down by its Chairman,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Community comparative trials and tests shall be carried out from the year 2002 to 2006 on propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica.

2. The maximum cost for the trials and tests for 2002 shall be as set out in the Annex.

3. All Member States shall participate in the Community comparative trials and tests in so far as propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica are usually reproduced or marketed in their territories.

4. The details of the trials and tests are set out in the Annex.

Article 2

The Commission may decide to continue the trials and tests set out in the Annex in 2003 to 2006. The maximum cost of a trial or test continued on this basis shall not exceed the amount specified in the Annex.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 12 December 2001.

For the Commission

David Byrne

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 157, 10.6.1992, p. 10.

(2) OJ L 8, 14.1.1999, p. 30.

ANNEX

Trials on Prunus domestica to be carried out

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