Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC and 70/458/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed

(96/C 157/11)

COM(96) 127 final - 96/0099(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 3 April 1996)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee

Whereas Article G of the Treaty on European Union replaced the term 'European Economic Community` by the term 'European Community`; whereas the abbreviation 'EEC` should therefore be replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`;

Whereas the abbreviation 'EEC` appears in certain provisions of Council Directives 66/400/EEC (1), 66/401/EEC (2), 66/402/EEC (3), 66/403/EEC (4), 69/208/EEC (5) and 70/458/EEC (6) on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed and in particular in relation to packages and the labelling of seeds; whereas it is therefore appropriate to replace the abbreviation 'EEC` by the abbreviation 'EC` in the said provisions;

Whereas, however, large stocks of labels are usually ordered in advance and those still bearing the abbreviation 'EEC` should, for a phasing-in period, continue to be allowed to be used,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC and 70/458/EEC are amended as follows:

1. In Directive 66/400/EEC the abbreviation 'EEC` in Articles 2 (1) (G); 10 (1); 10 (2); 10 (3); 11 (1); 11 (a) (1); 11 (a) (2); 11 (b); 14 (1) second indent; Annex III A, (1) (1) and Annex III B, Title and point 1, is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

2. In Directive 66/401/EEC, the abbreviation 'EEC` in Articles 2 (1) (F); 2 (1) (G); 9 (1); 9 (2); 9 (3); 10 (1); 10 (a) (1) and (2); 10 (b); 13 (3); 14 (1) third indent; Annex IV A (1) (a) (1); Annex IV A (1) (b) (1); Annex IV B, Title; Annex IV B (a) (1); Annex IV B (b) (1), and Annex B (c) (1) (3) (4) (5) (6) and (7) is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

3. In Directive 66/402/EEC, the abbreviation 'EEC` in Annex IV A (a) (i) is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

4. In Directive 66/403/EEC, the abbreviation 'EEC` in Annex III A (1) is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

5. In Directive 69/208/EEC, the abbreviation 'EEC` in Annex IV A (a) (1) and Annex IV A (b) (1) is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

6. In Directive 70/458/EEC the abbreviation 'EEC` in Article 25 (1); Annex IV A (a) (1) and Annex IV B (a) (1) is replaced by the abbreviation 'EC`.

Article 2

Remaining stocks of labels bearing the abbreviation 'EEC` may continue to be used until 31 December 1996.

Article 3

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 July 1996. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive of shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

2. Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission all provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.

Article 4

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 5

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2290/66; Directive as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

(2) OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2298/66; Directive as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

(3) OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2309/66; Directive as last amended by Directive 95/6/EC (OJ No L 67, 25. 3. 1995, p. 30).

(4) OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2320/66; Directive as last amended by Decision 96/16/EC (OJ No L 6, 9. 1. 1996, p. 19).

(5) OJ No L 169, 10. 7. 1969, p. 3; Directive as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.

(6) OJ No L 225, 12. 10. 1970, p. 7; Directive as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.