COMMISSION DECISION of 13 January 1994 amending the Seventh Council Decision 85/355/EEC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and the Seventh Council Decision 85/356/EEC on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (94/21/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 92/19/EEC (2), and in particular Article 16 (1) (b) thereof,

Having regard to the Seventh Council Decision 85/355/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops (3), as last amended by Commission Decision 93/416/EEC (4), and in particular Article 2 thereof,

Having regard to the Seventh Council Decision 85/356/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (5), as last amended by Decision 93/416/EEC, and in particular Article 4 thereof,

Whereas, in Decision 85/355/EEC, the Council determined that field inspections carried out in certain third countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfy the conditions laid down in the Community directives;

Whereas, in Decision 85/356/EEC, the Council determined that seed of certain species produced in certain third countries is equivalent to corresponding seed produced in the Community;

Whereas for certain species these determinations include New Zealand;

Whereas an examination of the rules of New Zealand and of the manner in which they are applied has shown that, in respect of meadow fescue, the prescribed field inspections satisfy the conditions laid down in Annex I to Directive 66/401/EEC and the conditions governing seed harvested and controlled there afford the same assurances, as regards the seed's characteristics, identity, examination, marking and control as do the conditions applicable to such seed harvested and controlled within the Community;

Whereas the existing equivalence for New Zealand should therefore be extended accordingly;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The table in Part I (2) of the Annex to Decision 85/355/EEC is hereby amended by inserting in Column 3 of the section relating to New Zealand the species 'Festuca pratensis Hudson' after the species 'Festuca arundinacea'.

Article 2

The table in Part I (2) of the Annex to Decision 85/356/EEC is hereby amended by inserting in Column 3 of the section relating to New Zealand the species 'Festuca pratensis Hudson' after the species 'Festuca arundinacea'.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 13 January 1994.

For the Commission

René STEICHEN

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2298/66.

(2) OJ No L 104, 22. 4. 1992, p. 61.

(3) OJ No L 195, 26. 7. 1985, p. 1.

(4) OJ No L 187, 29. 7. 1993, p. 59.

(5) OJ No L 195, 26. 7. 1985, p. 20.