No C 114/26 Official Journal of the European Communities ?• 5. 79 
Opinion on the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directives 66/401/EEC, 
66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC and 70/457/EEC on the marketing 
of fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, seed of oil and fibre plants, yegetable seed 
and on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species 
The text referred to the Committee has been published in Official Journal of the European 
Communities No C 174 of 21 July 1978, page 8. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 10 July 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal to the Economic and 
Social Committee in accordance with Article 43 of the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 161st 
plenary session held in Brussels on 12 and 13 July 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: 
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the request made by the Council of 
the European Communities on 10 July 1978 for an 
opinion, 
Having regard to the urgency procedure provided for in 
Articles 46 and 47 of its Rules of Procedure, 
Having regard to the decision taken by it on 12 July 
1978 to appoint Mr Wick as Rapporteur-General, 
Having regard to earlier Committee work on the 
matter, and in particular its opinion of 22 June 1977 on 
the proposal for a Council Directive amending 
Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 
66/403/EEC, 68/193/EEC, 69/208/EEC, 70/458/EEC 
and 70/457/EEC on the marketing of beet seed, fodder 
plant seed, cereal seed, seed potatoes, material for the 
vegetative propagation of the vine, seed of oil and fibre 
plants, vegetable seed and on the common catalogue of 
varieties of agricultural plant species (a), 
Having regard to the oral report made by the 
rapporteur-general, Mr Wick, 
Having regard to the discussions at its 161st plenary 
session of 12 and 13 July 1978 (meeting of 12 July), 
(!) OJ No C 180, 28. 7. 1977. unanimously: 
The Committee regrets that it was asked for its opinion 
at very short notice so that it was unable to study the 
proposal in sufficient depth. 
The Committee recognizes that a quick decision must be 
reached on some of the proposed provisions in order to 
secure their legal footing. 
The Committee approves the proposal though it 
reserves the right to examine individual points again at 
a later date. 
Subject to this reservation, the Committee would like to 
make the following comments: 
1. The Committee endorses the retroactive extension 
of the period provided for the establishment of 
equivalence at national level, since trade patterns which 
have been maintained after 1 July 1977 pending 
Community decisions on equivalence are thereby 
covered. The Committee also approves the extension to 
30 June 1979 of the validity of the decisions taken at 
national level on the establishment of equivalence in 
respect of seed potatoes, in the expectation that it will 
be possible to establish equivalence at Community level 
by then. 
7. 5. 79 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 114/27 
2. The Committee endorses the fact that it will be 
possible to relax the conditions governing the testing of 
seed for the presence of cuscuta spp., since this weed is 
found in only certain regions of the Community. 
3. The Committee endorses the fact that the standards 
applicable to the seed of certain varieties of rye for use 
chiefly as fodder can be relaxed temporarily, since the 
difficulties which some regions of the Community have 
in obtaining supplies of rye seed will thus be able to be 
overcome. The Committee would point out, however, 
that this rule should be confined to certain varieties of 
rye and should be temporary. 
4. The permitted continuation of private field 
inspections under certain circumstances is approved by 
the Committee, though it wonders whether the deadline 
set is not too short. 
5. The Committee approves the proposed admission of 
certain mixtures of seed of different varieties of cereal 
under certain circumstances. The Committee would 
point out, however, that only suitable mixtures may be admitted and that the mixtures must be labelled 
accordingly. 
6. The proposed amendment to the Directive on the 
common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant 
species relating to the inclusion of new varieties in the 
common catalogue meets with the Committee's 
approval. The amendment will improve the functioning 
of the system of the common catalogue. The Committee 
wonders, however, whether the deadline set in respect 
of Beta vulgaris L. and Solatium tuberosum L. is not 
too short. If it is not, it should be examined whether the 
system envisaged for Beta vulgaris L. and Solatium 
tuberosum L. should not be introduced for other 
agricultural plant species too. 
7. The Committee approves the amendment of the 
legal provisions concerning the admission of varieties 
and would point out that Member States will thereby be 
obliged to disclose more information. 
8. The Committee agrees to the introduction of a 
general extension period. This caters for the needs of 
the seed trade. 
Done at Brussels, 12 July 1978. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Basil de FERRANTI 
Opinion on the various Commission proposals on the development of the Mediterranean 
regions of the Community and their agricultural problem" 
The texts referred to the Committee have been published in Official journal of the European 
Communities No C 50 of 28 February 1978, page 53 and OJ No C 117 of 20 May 1978, 
page 2. 
A. LEGAL BASIS FOR THE OPINION 
On 12 December 1977 and 16 May 1978 the Council referred the abovementioned proposal 
to the Economic and Social Committee in accordance with Article 47 of the Treaty 
establishing the European Economic Community. 
B. OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
The Economic and Social Committee prepared its opinion on the above matter at its 161st 
plenary session held in Brussels on 12 and 13 July 1978. 
The full text of the opinion is as follows: