A4-0128/98

Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/457/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 and on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (COM(97)0403 - C4-0459/97 - 97/0217(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 2(3)(i)(c) (Directive 66/400/EEC)

>Original text>

(c) have been officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the Member State concerned,

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

have been officially licensed and sworn in by the seed certification authority of the Member State concerned,

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(Article 2 of Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC to be similarly amended.)

(Amendment 2)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 2(3)(iii) (Directive 66/400/EEC)

>Original text>

(iii) a proportion of the seed crop shall be checked by official inspectors;

>Text following EP vote>

(iii)

a proportion of the seed crop shall be checked by official inspectors; the level of official checks shall be maintained at the current level of 10% for self-pollinated crops and 20% for cross-pollinated crops;

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(Article 2 of Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC to be similarly amended.)

(Amendment 3)

ARTICLE 1(2)

Article 2(3)(iva) (new) (Directive 66/400/EEC)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(iva) the seed certification authority shall immediately withdraw recognition from officially licensed inspectors who are found guilty of deliberately or negligently contravening the rules governing official examinations. Any certification of the seed examined shall immediately by annulled in the event of such contravention. Fines for such attempted fraud may also be imposed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 21.

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

(Article 2 of Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC to be similarly amended.)

(Amendment 4)

ARTICLE 8a (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

Article 8a

After not more than five years the Commission shall submit a detailed evaluation of the simplifications of the certification procedures introduced with this Directive. This evaluation shall focus in particular on the possible effects on the quality of the seed.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/457/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 and on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (COM(97)0403 - C4-0459/97 - 97/0217(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0403 - 97/0217(CNS) ((OJ C 289, 24.9.1997, p. 6.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0459/97),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A4-0128/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.

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