EN Official Journal of the European Union L 284/142

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/1955

of 29 October 2015

amending Annexes I and II to Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed (1), and in particular Article 21b thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The past years an increasing number of hybrid varieties of barley produced by the technique of cytoplasmic male sterility have been listed in the Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species pursuant to Article 17 of Directive 2002/53/EC (2).

(2) Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has been accepted worldwide as a breeding technique for the production of hybrid varieties of barley. It encompasses a genetic system which naturally occurs in the cytoplasm of plants. That genetic system can be introduced into plants by means of crossing. On the basis of that technique, the genetic diversity of two or more parent lines can be combined. Therefore the performance of those varieties, in areas such as disease resistance and yields, can be improved. In view of that technical development it is appropriate to establish specific conditions for hybrid varieties of barley.

(3) Taking into account the technical similarities with the production of seeds of hybrids of rye and the needs of the users of the seed of hybrids of barley, it is appropriate to set out conditions for that seed similar to the conditions applying for the seeds of hybrids of rye.

(4) Experience has shown that the specific blend production system applied in the field, in combination with the weather related risks during the flowering period, would require a reduction of the varietal purity standard to 85 %, in the case the CMS technique is applied, allowing stable seed production under less favourable weather conditions. Therefore it is appropriate to allow a lower level of varietal purity than required for other hybrids.

(5) Annexes I and II to Directive 66/402/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Amendments to Directive 66/402/EEC

Annexes I and II to Directive 66/402/EEC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.

Article 2

Transposition

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2016 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

They shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2016.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or 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 national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 3

Entry into force

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

Article 4

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 October 2015. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2309/66.

(2) Council Directive 2002/53/EC of 13 June 2002 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (OJ L 193, 20.7.2002, p. 1).