Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, and 69/208/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed, and seed of oil and fibre plants respectively, provide for the Council to determine whether seed of the above plants produced in third countries are equivalent to those in the Community.

By Decision 95/514/EC the Council has determined for a limited period that seed of the above plants produced in third countries are equivalent to those in the Community. This Decision will expire on 31 December 1999.

It appears desirable to ensure continuation of the equivalence under a new Decision from 1 January 2000 to 31 January 2000. A further extension would require some additional adjustments as a consequence of Council Directive 98/95/EC.

There are no financial implications for the EC-budget.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of beet seed [1], and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof,

[1] OJ 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2290/66, as last amended by Council Directive 98/96/EC (OJ L 25, 1.2.1999, p. 27).

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed [2], and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof,

[2] OJ 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2298/66, as last amended by Council Directive 98/96/EC (OJ L 25, 1.2.1999, p. 27).

Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed [3], and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof,

[3] OJ 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2309/66, as last amended by Commission Directive 99/54/EC (OJ L 142, 5.6.1999, p. 30).

Having regard to Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants [4], and in particular Article 15(1)(b) thereof,

[4] OJ L 169, 10.7.1969, p. 3, as last amended by Council Directive 98/96/EC (OJ L 25 1.2.1999, p. 27).

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In Council Decision 95/514/EC [5] it has been determined for a limited period that field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfies the conditions laid down in Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC; In Decision 95/514/EC it has also been determined that seed of certain species produced in third countries was equivalent to seed produced in the Community;

[5] OJ L 296, 9.12.1995, p. 34., as last amended by Commission Decision 98/172/EC (OJ L 63, 4.3.1998, p. 29)

(2) Decision 95/514/EC will expire on 31 December 1999. The conditions for the application of the said Decision still obtain. It is therefore appropriate to extend its application for a further period; this period should be restricted to one month, pending additional adjustments to be made for the time beginning on 1 February 2000, as a consequence of Council Directive 98/95/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC "31 December 1999" is replaced by "31 January 2000".

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President