ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(77)162
Vol.1977/0069

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(77)162final.
x/A
Brussels .11Kay 1977 •.V .
J?r s 1
••Sor(i</u5£c,Jf_ .J;
,v.y L.-vj .v-.
Proposal for aCouncil Directive amending Directives
66/400/EEC,66/401/EEC,66/402/EEC,66/403/EEC,68/193/EEC,
69/208/EEC,70/458/EECand70/457/EEConthemarketing of
beet seed , .fodder plant seed , cereal seed , seed
potatoes ,rmaterial forthevegetative propagation of
thevine , seed ofoil andfibre plants , vegetable
seed andonthecommon catalogue ofvarieties ofagric­
ultural plant species .
(submitted ,totheCouncil "bytheCommission )
1
COM(77 )162final .

Explanatory Note
In1966 ,1968 ,1969 and1970 theCouncil adopted ofeight Directives
providing for theconditions ongenetical ,quality ,packaging and
labelling requirements according towhich seeds orpropagating
materials ofagriculture and vegetable species may bemarketed
within theCommunity .
Ithas been necessary toamend these Directives onseveral
occasions inorder totake account ofdevelopments during their
application .
This proposal intends mainly totake into account the tech­
nical progress achieved inrespect ofpackaging material ,closing
systems and ways oflabelling .
Inaddition ,this proposal makes itpossible tocertify seed
as"certified seed "under certain conditions ,mainly inthecase of
self-pollinating species and where the seeds ofprevious generations
have notbeen subject tofield inspection .
The proposal submits also seed potatoes tothe same sampling
procedures stipulated for the other species .
Finally ,this proposal envisages anaccelerated procedure for
-defining the scope ofthedifferent directives inrespect
ofthe species ;
-fixing theconditions for community classes ofdifferent
categories ofseed potatoes ;
-thepossible extension ofthe period provided for the
expiring ofequivalences granted atnational levels to
certain third countries inrespect ofthe admission of
varieties ofagriculture andvegetable species outside the
Community .

2-
THECOUNCIL OFTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Economic Community ,
and inparticular Article 43,
Having regard totheproposal from the Commission ,
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEuropean Parliament ,
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic andSocial Committee ,
Whereas ,forthereasons given below ,certain Directives onthemarketing
ofseeds andpropagating material should beamended ;
Whereas thepresent provisions ofthose Directives relating tothe closing
andmarking ofseeds andpropagating material donottake into account
technical progress inrespect ofpackaging material ,closing
systems andmethods oflabelling jwhereas they should therefore bebrought
uptodate accordingly ;
Whereas anaccelerated procedure should beprovided for
extending ,where necessary ,the scope ofsome ofthese Directives tocover
other plant species orcrosses between species ortoadapt the
nomenclature ofthespecies ;
Whereas inprinciple seed which isintended forcertification as
"certified seed "must have been produced from basic seed ,whereas however ,
bywayofderogation ,the said Directives permit inthecase ofseed of
certain species certification as"certified seed "where the seed hasbeen
produced from pre-basic seed which hasbeen subject toofficial examination ;
whereas this latter facility isnot sufficient for some species ;whereas
therefore this facility should beextended provided that sufficient
guarantees arelaid down ;
Whereas Member States maysubdivide thecategories ofseed potatoes into
grades satisfying different requirements ;whereas itshould beprovided
that theCommunity grades andtheir conditions ofapplication
maybefixed byan accelerated procedure ;
Whereas , also inthecase ofseed potatoes ,for
theexamination ofthetubers forcertification ,samples should betak­
en officially inaccordance with appropriate methods ;
Whereas Council Directives 70/457/EECand70/458/EECprovide that from
1July 1977 theequivalence oftheofficial examination ofvarieties and
thechecks onpractice forthemaintenance ofvarieties carried out in

-3- 2222 /VI/76 -E-rev.4
third countries cannolonger beestablished nationally byMember States ;
whereas Council Directive 70/458/EECprovides that f*om 1July 1977 the
equivalence ofse^ds harvested inthird countries cannolonger bestab­
lished nationally byMember States ;
Whereas ,however ,itislikely
that examinations concerning thegranting ofthese equivalences ona
Commanity basis will notbecompleted ,inallthose cases where national
equivalences have been granted ,within theabove-mentioned periods ;
whereas itshould therefore bemade possible todecide byanaccelerated
procedure onapossible extension ofthese periods incertain cases
inorder toavoid distucbing current commercial relations ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
Article 1
Council Directive 66/400/EECof14June 1966 onthemarketing ofbeet
seed (1),aslast amended byCommission Directive 76/331/EECof29March
1976 (2),shall beamended asfollows :
1.Thefollowing shall besubstituted forArticle 10(l )
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed
andcertified seed ,except where seed ofthe latter category
takes the form ofsmall EECpackages ,beclosed officially or
under official supervision insuch amanner that they cannot
beopened without damaging thesystem ofclosing orleaving
evidence oftampering either ontheofficial label provided
forinArticle 1l(l ) oronthepackage .
Thesystem ofclosing shall comprise either the incorporation
into thesystem ofthe label mentioned above ortheapplication
ofanofficial seal .This isnotnecessary where anon-
reusable system ofclosing isused .
Approved ornon-approved systems ofclosing maybedefined
.inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 21."
(1)O.J. No125,11.7.1966 ,p.2290 /66
(2)Oi'j:NoL83,30.3.1976 ,p.34

4- 2222 /VI/76 -E-rev.4
Inthefirst sentence ofArtiole 10(2 ), thefollowing shall be
inserted after "officially ":"orunder official supervision ".
Thefollowing shall besubstituted forArticle 10(3 ).
"3.Member States shall require that small EECpackages beclosed
insuch amanner that they cannot beopened without damaging
thesystem ofclosing orleaving evidence oftampering onthe
label oronthepackage .Approved ornon-approved systems of
closing maybedefined inaccordance with theprocedure laid down
inArticle 21.Packages shall notbereclosed onone or
more occasions unless thi9 isdone under official supervision ."
The following shall besubstituted forArticle 11:
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed and
certified seed ,except where seed ofthe latter category takes
the form ofsmall EECpackages :
(a)belabelled onthe outside with anofficial label which has not
previously been used ,which satisfies theconditions laid down
inAnnex III(A )andonwhich the information isgiven inone of
theofficial languages ofthe Community .Thecolour ofthelabel
shall bewhite for basic seed and blue for certified seed . The '
use ofofficial adhesive labels shall beauthorized . In
accordance with the procedure laid down inArticle 21the indelible
printing under official supervision oftheprescribed
information . onthepackage according tothe label 's
model maybeauthorized .When alabel with astring-hole is
used ,itsattachment shall beensured inall cases with an
official seal . If,dncases under .Article 4(a),thebasic
seed does not satisfy theconditions laid down inAnnex Iin
respect ofgermination ,this fact shall bestated onthe label ;
(b)contain anofficial document ,inthesame colour asthe label ,
giving atleast theinformation required forthe label under
Annex III,(A),(3),(4),(5),(10)and (11). This document
shall bedrawn up insuch amanner that itcannot be
confused with theofficial label -referred tounder (a).

-5-2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
-ThisdocumentisnotnecessaryiTthe
informationisprintedindeliblyonthepackageorifin
accordance withtheprovisions under(a)an
adhesivelabeloralabelofuntearablematerialisused.
2.MemberStatesmayprovideforexceptionstoparagraph 1inthe
caseofsmallpackagesofbasicseedwheretheyaremarked:
"Passedformarketingin (MemberStateconcerned)
only".
5.InArticle11b,thefollowingshallbesubstitutedforofficially
sealedandmarked":"closedandmarkedofficiallyorunderofficial
supervision".
6.InthefirstindentofArticle14(l)>thefollowingshallbe
substituted for"officially markedandsealed":"markedand
closedofficiallyorunderofficialsupervision".
7/.InArticle14(3) (c),thefollowingshallbeadded
aftertheindent:"Lotreference number":
"-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononcertification : (monthandyear)."
8.InAnnexIII(A),thefollowingisadded:
"3a.
-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononcertification :....(monthandyear)."
9.InAnnexIII(A),thefollowingisadded:
"12.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"retested":...(monthandyear)"maybeindicated."
Article2
CouncilDirective66/401/EECof14June1966onthemarketingoffodder
plantseed(3),aslastamendedbyCouncilDirective75/444/EECof26June
1975(4)shallbeamendedasfollows:

-6- 2222/VI/76 -E-rev.4
1.InArticle 2,the following paragraphs shall beadded :
"1a.Amendments tobemade tothe list ofspecies referred toin
paragraph 1A.inthe light ofthe development ofscientific
ortechnical knowledge shall beadopted inaccordance with the
procedure laid down inArticle 21.
1b.Member States maybeauthorized inaccordance with theprocedure
laid down inArticle 21topermit ,bywayofderogation from
paragraph 1 C(a)and ifthebreeder so
requests ,to "becertified as"certified seed "seeds ofself
pollinating orapomictic species other than hybrid seeds which
have been entered for certification asbasic seed and which have
been produced from ageneration prior tobasic seed but not
officially examined ,ifanofficial post-control test based on
samples taken officially andcarried out not later than the
growing season oftheentered seed shows that the seeds from
this previous generation have metthe requirements forbasic
r
seed inrespect ofvarietal identity andpurity . Inthis case
thebreeder shall ,before the samples aretaken ,state thetotal
area underproduction ofseed oftheprevious generation .These con­
ditions maybeamended inthe light ofdevelopment ofscientific or
technical knowledge inaccordance with theprocedure laid down in
Article 21."
2.Thefollowing shall besubstituted forArticle 9^l)s
Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed ,
certified seed andcommercial seed ,except where seed ofthe
two latter categories takes the form ofsmall EEC Bpackages ,
beclosed officially orunder official supervision insuch a
manner that they cannot beopened without damaging thesystem of
closing orleaving evidence oftampering either ontheofficial
label provided forinArticle 10(l ) oronthepackage .
(3)O.J. No125,11.7.1966 ,p.2298 /66
(4)oljlNOL196,26.7.1975 ,p.6.

-7- 2222/VI/76/ -E-rev.4
Thesystem ofclosing shall comprise either the incorporation
into thesystem ofthe label mentioned above orthe application
ofanofficial seal .This isnot necessary where anon-
reusable system ofclosing isused .
Approved ornon-approved systems ofclosing maybedefined
inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 21.
'Inthefirst sentence ofArticle 9(2),thefollowing shall "be /
inserted after "officially ":"orunder official supervision ".
Thefollowing shall besubstituted forArticle 9(3)s
"3.Member States shall require that small EEC Bpackages beclosed
insuch amanner that they cannot beopened without damaging
thesystem ofclosing orleaving evidence oftampering onthe
label oronthepackage .
Approved ornon-approved systems ofclosing maybedefined
inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 21.
Packages shall notbereclosed onone ormore occasions unless
this isdone under official supervision ."
The following shall besubstituted forArticle 10:
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed ,
certified seed andcommercial seed ,except where seed ofthe
last two categories takes the form ofsmall EEC Bpackages :
(a)belabelled onthe outside with anofficial label which has
notpreviously been used ,which satisfies the conditions
laid down inAnnex IV (A)and onwhich the information is
given inone oftheofficial languages ofthe Community .
Thecolour ofthe label shall bewhite forbasic seed ,
blue forcertified seed ofthe first generation after basic
seed ,redforcertified seed ofsubsequent generations
after basic seed and brown for commercial seed . The use of
an>official adhesive label shall beauthorized . Inaccordance
with theprocedure laid down inArticle 21,theindelible

-8- 2222/VI/76/ -E-rev. A
printing under official supervision oftheprescribed
information onthe package according tothe Label 's
model maybeauthorized .When alabel with string-hole is
used ,itsattachment shall beensured inallcases with an
official seal . If,incases under Article 4(a),the "basic
seed orcertified seed does not satisfy theconditions laid
down inAnnex IIinrespect ofgermination ,this fact shall be
stated onthe label ;
(b)contain anofficial document ,inthe same colour asthe label ,
giving atleast theinformation required for'the label under
Annex IV (A)(1)(a)(3),(A),and (5)and,inthecase of
commercial seed ,under (b)(2), (A),and (5). This document
shall bedrawn up insuch amanner that itcannot be
confused with theofficial label referred to
under (a). This document isnotnecessary ifthe
information isprinted indelibly onthepackage orifin
accordance with theprovisions under (a)anadhesive
label oralabel ofuntearable material isused .
2.Member States mayprovide forexceptions toparagraph 1inthe
case ofsmall packages ofbasic seed where they are marked :
"Passed formarketing in: (Member State concerned )
only .
6.InArticle 10b,thefollowing shall besubstituted for officially
sealed and marked ":"closed andmarked officially orunder official
supervision ".
7.Inthefirst andsecond indents ofArticle 14(l)fthefollowing
shall besubstituted for "officially marked andsealed ":"marked
andclosed officially orunder official supervision ".
8.InArticle 1A(3)(c),thefollowing shall "beadded
after the indent :"Lot reference number ":
"-month andyear ofclosing :.. (month andyear ),or
-month andyear ofthe last official sampling intended forthe
decision oncertification : (month andyear )."

-9- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
9.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(a):
"3a.
-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononcertification : (monthandyear)."
10.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(b):
4a.
-monthandyearofclosing: .<-monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononapprovalascommercialseed: (monthand
year)."
11.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(c):
"3a.
-monthandyearofclosing: <monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononcertification orapprovalascommercialseedofthe
componentsofthemixture: (monthandyear)."
12.InAnnexIV<A),thefollowingisaddedunder(a):
"12.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"retested: (monthandyear)maybeindicated."
13.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(b):
"9.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"retested: (month -andyear)"maybeindicated."
14.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(c):
"7.Whereatleastgermination ofallthecomponentsofthemixture
hasbeenretested,thewords"retested: (month
andyear)"maybeindicated."

-10- 2222/VI/76 -E-rev.4
Article 3
Council Directive 66/402/EECof14June 1966 onthe marketing ofcereal
seed (5),aslast amended byCouncil Directive 75/444/EECof26June 1975
(4),shall beamended asfollows :
1.InArticle 2,thefollowing paragraphs shall beadded :
"1a.Amendments tobemade tothelist ofspecies referred toinparagraph
1Ainthe light ofthedevelopment ofscientific ortechnical
knowledge shall beadopted inaccordance with theprocedure laid
down inArticle 21.
1b. Member States maybeauthorized inaccordance with theprocedure
laid down inArticle 21topermit ,byway ofderogation from
paragraph 1under F(a)orG(a)and ifthe
breeder sorequest s,to "becertified as"certified seed ofthe first
generation "or"certified seed ofthesecond generation "seeds of
self pollinating species other than hybrid seeds which have
been entered for certification asbasic seed and which have
been produced from ageneration prior tobasic seed but not
officially examined ,ifanofficial post-control test based on
samples taken officially andcarried out not later than the
growing season oftheentered seed shows that the seeds from
this previous generation have mettherequirements forbasic
seed inrespect ofvarietal identity andpurity . Inthis case
thebreeder shall ,before the samples aretaken ,state thetotal
area under production ofseeds oftheprevious generation .These
'conditions maybeamended inthelight ofdevelopment ofscientific
ortechnical knowledge inaccrodance with theprocedure laid down in
Artid© 21•"
2.Thefollowing shr-ll besubstituted forArticle 9(1):
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed and
(5)O.J. No125,11.7.1966 ,p.2309 /66
•f

-11- 2222/VI/76 -E-rev.4
certified seed ofall categories /beclosed officially orunder
official supervision insuch amanner that they cannot beopened
without damaging thesystem ofclosing orwithout leaving
evidence oftampering either ontheofficial label provided for
inArticle 10(l ) oronthepackage .
The system ofclosing shall comprise either the incorporation
into thesystem ofthe label mentioned above orthe application
ofanofficial seal .This isnotnecessary where anon-reusable
system ofclosing isused .
Approved ornon-approved systems ofclosing maybedefined
inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 21.
3.Inthefirst sentence ofArticle 9(2), thefollowing shall be
inserted after "officially ":"orunder official supervision ".
A.The following shall besubstituted forArticle 10:
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed and
certified seed ofall kinds :
(a)belabelled onthe outside with anofficial label which has
notpreviously been used which satisfies the conditions laid
down inAnnex IVandonwhich the information isgiven in
one oftheofficial languages oftheCommunity .The colour
ofthe label shall bewhite forbasic seed ,blue for "certi­
fied seed "andfor "certified seed ofthe first generation "
andredfor "certified seed ofthesecond generation ".The
use ofofficial adhesive labels shall beauthorized .In
accordance with the procedure laid down inArticle 21the in­
delible printing under official supervision oftheprescribed
information indelibly onthepackage according tothe label 's
model maybeauthorized .When alabel with astring-hole
isused ,its attachment shall "beensured inall cases with an
official seal . If,incases under Article 4(1)(a)and
(2),thebasic seed ormaize seed does notsatisfy the
conditions laid down inAnnex IIinrespect ofgermination ,
this fact shall bestated onthe label ;

-12- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
(b)containanofficialdocument,inthesamecolourasthelabel,
givingatleasttheinformationrequiredforthelabelunder
AnnexIV(A)(a)(3),(4)and(5).Thisdocumentshallbe
drawnupinsuchamannerthatitcannot "beconfused
withtheofficiallabelreferredto
under(a).Thisdocumentisnotnecessaryifthe
informationisprintedindeliblyonthepackageorifin
accordancewiththeprovisions under(a)an
adhesivelabeloralabelofuntearable materialisused.
2.MemberStatesmayprovideforexceptionstoparagraph 1inthe
caseofsmallpackageswheretheyaremarked:"Passedfor
marketingin. (MemberStateconcerned)only"."
InArticle14(l),,thefollowingshallbesubstitutedfor
"officially markedandsealed":"markedandclosedofficially''.
InArticle14(3)(c)f thefollowingshallbeadded
aftertheindent:"lotreferencenumber":
"-monthandyearofclosing: (month^andyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastsamplingintendedforthedecisionon
certification : ....(monthandyear)."
InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(a):
"3a.
-"monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
–monthandyearofthelastsamplingintendedforthedecisionon
certification : (monthandyear)."
InAnnexIV(A)thefollowingisaddedunder(b):
"3a.
-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastsamplingintendedforthedecisionon
certification ofthecomponentsofthemixture:......
(monthandyear)."

-13- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
9.InAnnexIV(AO,thefollowingisaddedunder(a):
"10.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"Retested: (monthandyear)"maybeindicated."
10.InAnnexIV(A)thefollowingisaddedunder(b):
"7..Whereatleastgermination ofallthecomponentsofthe
mixturehasbeenretested,thewords"Retested:
(monthandyear)"maybeindicated."
Article4
CouncilDirective66/403/EECof14June1966onthemarketingofseed
potatoes(6),aslastamendedbyCouncilDirective76/307/EECof15March
1976(7),shallbeamendedasfollows:
1.InArticle3,thefollowingparagraphshallbeadded:
"3.WithinthecategoriesprovidedforinArticle2,Community
grades,theconditions whichtheyshallsatisfyandthe
conditionsofapplication ofthesegradesforcertification
maybedeterminedinaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddown
inArticle19.
2.ThefollowingArticleshallbeadded:
Article5
TheMemberStatesshallrequirethat,fortheexamination ofseed
potatotubers forcertification ,samplesare"takenofficiallyin
accordancewithappropriate methods."
3.ThefollowingshallbesubstitutedforArticle9(1):
"1.MemberStatesshallrequirethatpackagesandcontainersof
basicseedpotatoesandcertifiedpotatoes,beclosedofficially
orunderofficialsupervision insuchamannerthattheycannot
(6)O.J.No125,11.7.1966p.2320/66
(7)O.J.NoL72,18.3.1976p.16

-14- 2222/VI/76–E-rev.4
"beopened without damaging thesystem ofclosing orleaving
evidence oftampering either ontheofficial label provided
forinArticle 10(1 )oronthepackage .
Thesystem ofclosing shall comprise either theincorporation
into the system ofthelable mentioned above ortheapplication
ofanofficial seal .
Approved ornon–approved systems ofclosing mayhedefined in
accordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 19*
4.Inthefirst sentence ofArticle 9(2),thefollowing shall he
inserted after "officially ":"orunder official supervision ".
5.Thefollowing shall besubstituted forArticle 10:
"1.Member States shall require that packages andcontainers of
basic seed potatoes and certified seed potatoes :
(a)belabelled ontheoutside with anofficial label which
hasnotpreviously been used ,which satisfies the cond­
itions laid down inAnnex III and onwhich the information
isgiven inoneoftheofficial languages oftheCommunity .
The colour ofthe label shall bewhite for basic seed
potatoes ,blue for certified seed potatoes .Theuse of
official adhesive labels shall beauthorized .In
accordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 19,the
indelible printing under official supervision ofthe
prescribed information onthepackage according tothe
label 'smodel maybeauthorized .When alabel with a
string-hole isused ,itsattachment shall beensured
inallcases with anofficial seal ;
("b)contain anofficial document ,inthesame colour asthe
label giving atleast theinformation required forthe
label under Annex III (A),(3),(4)and (6).This
document shall bedrawn upinsuch amanner that it
cannot beconfused with the official label referred to
under (a).This document isnotnecessary ifthe
information isprinted indelibly onthepackage orifin
accordance with theprovisions under (a)anadhesive label
oralabel ofuntearable material isused .

-15- 2222/VI/76 -E-rev.4
2.Member States mayprovide forexceptional toparagraph ^inthe
case ofsmall packages where they aremarked :"Passed for
marketing in (Member State concerned )only "."
6.InArticle 13(1),thefollowing shall hesubstituted for
"officially marked andsealed ":"marked andclosed officially or
under official supervision ".
7.InArticle 13(4 )(c)» "thefollowing shall headded
after the indent :"lotreference number ":"-mont handyear of
closing ".
8. InAnnex III (A)the following shall beadded :
"3a.Month andyear ofclosing ."
9. InAnnex III (A),point 9shall hedeleted .
Article 5
Council Directive 68/193/EEC of9April 1968 onthe marketing ofmaterial
forthevegetative propagation ofthe vine (8),aslast amended byCouncil
Directive 74/648/EECof9December 1974 (9),shall beamended asfollows :
1.The following shall besubstituted forArticle 9:
"Member States shall require that packages andbundles ofpropagation
material beclosed insuch amanner that they cannot beopened
without damaging thesystem ofclosing orleaving evidence of
tampering onthelabel provided forinArticle 10(1 )
oronthepackage .They shall also bear alead orequivalent
sealing device attached bytheperson responsible forattaching the
labels .Approved ornon-appcoved systems ofclosing maybedefined
inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 17.
Packages shall not bereclosed onone ormore occasions unless this
isdone under official supervision ."
2.Thefollowing paragraph 1ashall beadded toArticle 10;
"1a.Nevertheless Member States maypermit that upto10packages
orbundles ofrooted grafts ofthesame characteristics ,orupto
(8)O.J. No.L.93.17.4.1968 ,p.15
(9)O.J. No.L.352,28.12.1974 ,p.43

-16- 2222/VI/76 -E-rev.4
5packages orbundles ofrooted cuttings ofthesame characteristics
aremarked with only one label conforming tothespecifications
inAnnex IV. Inthis case ,thepackages orbundles shall be
tied together insuch awaythat thetie,when they areseparated ,
isdamaged andcannot bereused .The label shall beattached
with this tie .Reclosing shall notbeauthorized ."
Article 6
Council Directive 69/208/EECof30June 1969 onthemarketing ofseed of
oil andfibre plants (10),aslast amended byCouncil Directive 75/444/EEC
of26June 1975 (4),shall beamended asfollows :
1.InArticle 2,thefollowing paragraphs shall beadded :
1a.Amendments tobemade tothe list ofspecies referred toin
paragraph 1Ainthe light ofthedevelopment ofscientific
ortechnical knowledge shall beadopted inaccordance with the
procedure laid down inArticle 20.
1b.Member States may "beauthorized inaccordance with theprocedure
laid down inArticle 20topermit ,byway ofderogation from
paragraph 1D(a)orE(a)andifthebreeder sorecpiests ,
to "becertified as"certified seed ofthe first
generation "or"certified seed ofthe second generation "seeds
ofself pollinating species other than hybrid seeds which have
been entered for certification asbasic seed and which have
been prodaced from ageneration prior tobasic seed but not
officially examined ,ifanofficial post-control test based
onsamples taken officially and carried out not later than
thegrowing season oftheentered seed shows that the seeds
from this previous generation have mettherequirements for
basic seed inrespect ofvarietal identity andpurity . In
this case thebreeder shall ,before the samples aretaken ,state
thetotal area under production ofseed oftheprevious generation .
These conditions may "beamended inthelight ofdevelopment of
scientific ortechnical knowledge inaccordance with theprocedure
laid down inArticle 20.
(10)O.J. No.L.169,10.7.1969 ,p.3

-17- 2222/VT/76–E-rev.4
2.Thefollowing shall besubstituted ,forArticle 9(l):
"1.Member States shall require that packages of "basic seed ,
certified seed ofallcategories andcommercial seed ,be
closed officially orunder official supervision insuch a
manner that they cannot beopened without damaging thesystem
ofclosing orleaving evidence oftampering either onthe
official label provided forinArticle 10(1 )oronthe
package .
Thesystem ofclosing shall comprise eith theincorporation
into thesystem ofthelabel mentioned above ortheapplication
ofanofficial seal .This isnotnecessary where anon-
reusable system ofclosing isused .
Approved ornon–approved systems ofclosing maybedefined
inaccordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 20.
3.Inthefirst sentence ofArticle 9(2),thefollowing shall be
inserted after "officially ":"orunder official supervision ".
4.Thefollowing shall "besubstituted forArticle 10(l )and (2):
"1.Member States shall require that packages ofbasic seed ,cert­
ified seed ofallkinds andcommercial seed ,
(a)"belabelled ontheoutside with anofficial label which has
notpreviously "been used ,which satisfies theconditions
laid down inAnnex IVandonwhich theinformation isgiven
inoneoftheofficial languages oftheCommunity .The
colour ofthelabel shall bewhite forbasic seed ,blue for
certified seed ofthefirst generation after basic seed ,
redforcertified seed ofsubsequent generations after
basic seed and brown for commercial seed .The use of
official adhesive labels shall beauthorized .In
accordance with theprocedure laid down inArticle 20the
indelible printing under official supervision ofthe
information onthepackage according tothelabel *smodel
maybeauthorized .When alabel with astrings-hole is
used ,itsattachment shall beensured inall cases with an
official seal .If,incase under Article 4(a), "thebasic
seed does notsatisfy theconditions laid down

-18- 2222/Vl/76-E~rev .
inAnnex IIinrespect ofgermination ,this fact shall
"bestated onthe label ;
(b)contain anofficial document ,inthesame colour asthe
label giving atleast theinformation required forthe
label under Annex IV,(A)(a),(4),(5)and (6)and ,in
thecase ofcommercial seed ,under (b),(2),(5)and (6).
This document shall bedrawn upinsuch amanner that it
cannot beconfused with the official label referred to
under (a).This document isnotnecessary ifthe
information isprinted indelibly onthepackage orifin
accordance with theprovisions under (a)anadhesive label
oralabel ofuntearable material isused .
2.Member States mayprovide forexceptions toparagraph 1inthe
case ofsmall packages where they aremarked :"Passed for
marketing in (Member States concerned )only."
InArticle 13(1),thefollowing shall besubstituted for
"officially marked and sealed ":"marked andclosed officially or
under official supervision ".
InArticle 13(3 )(c)»thefollowing shall beadded after the
indent :"lot reference number ":
"-month andyear ofclosing : ...(month andyear ),or
–month andyear ofthelast official sampling intended forthe
decision oncertification :.................( month andyear )."
InAnnex IV(A)under (a),thefollowing shall besubstituted for
the text ofitem 3:
"–month andyear ofclosing : ..(month andyear ),or
–month andyear ofthelast official sampling intended forthe
decision oncertification :. (month andyear )."
InAnnex IV(A)under (b),thefollowing shall besubstituted for
the text ofitem 4:
"–month andyear ofclosing :................. (month andyear ),or
-month andyear ofthelast official sampling intended forthe
decision onapproval ascommercial seed :....... (month andyear ).

-19- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
9.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(a):
"11.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"retested: (monthandyear)maybeindicated."
10.InAnnexIV(A),thefollowingisaddedunder(b):
"10.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"retested:.....(monthandyear)"maybeindicated."
Article7
CouncilDirective 70/457/EECof29September 1970onthecommon
(11)catalogueofvarietiesofagricultural planspecies,aslastamendedby
(12)CouncilDirective 73/438/EECof11December1973,shallbeamended
asfollows:
Thefollowing wordsshallbeaddedtoArticle21(2):
"InaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle23,thisperiod
maybeextendedasregardscertainthirdcountriesprovidedthatthe
availableinformation doesnotyetpermitadetermination according
toparagraph 1."
Article8
CouncilDirective 70/458/EECof29September 1970onthemarketing
ofvegetableseed(13),aslastamendedbyCouncilDirective 76/307/EECof
15March1976(7),shallbeamendedasfollows:
1.InArticle2,thefollowingparagraphsshallbeadded:
"1a.Amendmentstobemadetothelistofspeciesreferredtoin
paragraph 1Ainthelightofthedevelopment ofscientific
ortechnical knowledgeshallbeadoptedinaccordance withthe
procedurelaiddowninArticle40.
lb*MemberStatesmaybeauthorizedinaccordancewiththeprocedure
(11)O.J.No.L225,12.10.1970,p.1
(12)O.J.No.L356,27.12.1973,p.79
(13)O.J.No.L225,12.10.1070,p.7.

-20- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
LaiddowninArticleAOtopermit,bywayofderogation
fromparagraph 1C(a)andifthe
breedersorequests,tobecertifiedas"certifiedseed"seeds
ofselfpollinating speciesotherthanhybridseedswhich
havebeenenteredforcertification asbasicseedandwhich
havebeenproducedfromagenerationpriortobasicseed
butnotofficially examined,ifanofficialpost-control
testbasedonsamplestakenofficially andcarriedoutnot
laterthanthegrowingseasonoftheenteredseedshows
thattheseedsfromthispreviousgeneration havemetthe
requirements forbasicseedinrespectofvarietalidentity
andpurity.Inthiscasethebreedershall,beforethe
samplesaretakenstatethetotalareaunderproductionofseed
ofthepreviousgeneration.Theseconditions maybeamended
inthelightofdevelopment ofscientificortechnicalknowledge
inaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle40.
Thefollowingshallbesubstituted forArticle25(1):
"1.MemberStatesshallrequirethatpackagesofbasicseedand
certifiedseed,notmadeupintheformofsmallpackages,
beclosedofficiallyorunderofficialsupervision insuch
amannerthattheycannotbeopenedwithoutdamagingthe
systemofclosingorleavingevidenceoftamperingeither
ontheofficiallabelprovidedforinArticle26(1)
oronthepackage.
Thesystemofclosingshallcompriseeithertheincorporation
intothesystemofthelabelmentionedaboveortheapplication
ofanofficialseal.Thisisnotnecessarywhereanon-
reusablesystemofclosingisused.
Approvedornon-approved systemsofclosingmaybedefined
inaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle40.
InthefirstsentenceofArticle25,thefollowingshallbe
insertedafter"officially":"orunderofficialsupervision".

-21- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
ThefollowingshallbesubstitutedforArticle25(3):
"3.MemberStatesshallrequirethatpackagesofstandardseedand
smallpackagesofseedsofthecategory"certifiedseed"be
closedinsuchamannerthattheycannotbeopenedwithout
damagingthesystemofclosingorwithoutleavingevidence
oftamperingonthelabelprovidedforinArticle26(3)
oronthepackage.
Exceptinthecaseofsmallpackages,theyshallalsobeara
leadoranequivalentsealingdeviceattachedbytheperson
responsibleforattachinglabels.Approvedornon-approved
systemsofclosingmaybedefinedinaccordancewiththe
procedurelaiddowninArticle40.Inthecaseofsmall
packagesofthecategory"certifiedseed",packagesshallnot
bereclosedononeormoreoccasionunlessthisisdoneunder
officialsupervision."
ThefollowingparagraphshallbeaddedtoArticle25:
"4.MemberStatesmayprovideforexceptionstoparagraphs 1and2
inthecaseofsmallpackagesofbasicseed."
ThefollowingshallbesubstitutedforArticle26(1):
"1.MemberStatesshallrequirethatpackagesofbasicseedand
certifiedseed,exceptwhereseedofthelattercategorytakes
theformofsmallpackages,
(a)belabelledontheoutsidewithanofficiallabelwhich
hasnotpreviouslybeenused,whichsatisfiesthecon­
ditionslaiddowninAnnexIV(A)andonwhichthe
informationisgiveninoneoftheofficiallanguagesof■
theCommunity.Thecolourofthelabelshallbewhite
forbasicseedandblueforcertifiedseed.Theuseof
officialadhesivelabelsshallbeauthorized .In
accordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle40the
indelibleprintingunderofficialcontroloftheprescribed
Information onthepackageaccordingtothe
label'smodelmaybeauthorized.Whenalabelwitha
string-holeisused,itsattachmentshallbeensured_
inallcaseswithanofficialseal.If,incasesunder

-22-2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
Article21,thebasicseeddoesnotsatisfythe
conditionslaiddowninAnnexIIinrespectofgermination,
thisfactshallbestatedonthelabel;
(b)containanofficialdocument,inthesamecolourasthe
label,givingatleasttheinformation requiredforthe
labelunderAnnexIVCA)Ca)(4),(5),(6)and(7).
Thisdocumentshallbedrawnupinsuchamannerthatit
cannotbeconfusedwiththeofficiallabelreferred
tounder(a)."
Thisdocumentisnotnecessaryiftheinformationis
printedindeliblyonthepackageorifinaccordance
withtheprovisions under(a)anadhesive
labeloralabelofuntearable materialisused.
Thelabelshallnotberequiredfortransparent packages
iftheofficialdocumentinsidegivestheinformation
requiredunderAnnexIV(A)(a)whichcanberead
throughthepackage.
InArticle26,thefollowingparagraphshallbeadded:
"1a.MemberStatesmayprovideforexceptionstoparagraph 1in
thecaseofsmallpackagesofbasicseedwheretheyare
markedPassedformarketingin (MemberState
concerned)only."
InArticle30(1),thefollowingshallbesubstitutedfor
"officially markedandsealed":"markedandclosedofficiallyor
underofficiaisupervision .
InArticle30(3)(c),thefollowingshallbeadded
aftertheindent:"lotreference number":
"-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedforthe
decisiononcertification : (monthandyear)."
ThefollowingwordsshallbeaddedtoArticle32(2):
"inaccordancewiththeprocedurelaiddowninArticle40thisperiod
maybeextendedasregardscertainthirdcountriesprovidedthatthe
availableinformation doesnotyetpermitadetermination according

-23- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
toparagraph 1.
Thefollowingshallbesubstituted forthetextofAnnexIV(A)(a):
"1.EECrulesandstandards .
2.Certification authorityandMemberStateortheirinitials.
3.-monthandyearofclosing: (monthandyear),or
-monthandyearofthelastofficialsamplingintendedfor
thedecisiononcertification : (monthandyear).
4.Reference numberoflot.
5.Species.
6.Variety.
7.Category.
8.Countryofproduction.
9.Declarednetorgrossweightordeclarednumberofseeds.
10.Whereweightisindicatedandgranulatedpesticides,pelleting
substancesorothersolidadditivesareused,thenatureofthe
additiveandalsotheapproximateratiobetweentheweightof
clustersorpureseedsandtotalweight.
11.Whereatleastgermination hasbeenretested,thewords
"Retested: (monthandyear)"maybeindicated."
Thefollowingshallbesubstituted forthetextofAnnexIV(B)(a)
"1.EECrulesandstandards.
2.Nameandaddressofthepersonresponsibleforaffixingthe
labelsorhisidentification mark.
3.Calendaryearormarketingyear(1Julyto30June)
oftheclosingorofthe
lastexamination ofgermination .Thisinformation maybe
givenincodifiedversionprovidedthatthecodeisnotified
totheCertification authoritypriortoitsuse.
4.Species.
5.Variety.
6.Category:inthecaseofsmallpackages,certifiedseedmaybe
markedwiththeletters"C"or"Z"andstandardseedwiththe
letters"ST".
7.Referencenumbergivenbythepersonresponsibleforaffixing
thelabels-inthecaseofstandardseed.

-24- 2222/VI/76-E-rev.4
8.ReferencenumberenablingthecertifiedLottobeidentified-
inthecaseofcertifiedseed.
9.Declarednetorgrossweightordeclarednumberofseeds,except
forsmallpackagesofupto500gram
10.Whereweightisindicatedandgranulatedpesticides,pelleting
substancesorothersolidadditivesareused,thenatureofthe
additiveandalsotheapproximateratiobetweentheweightof
clustersorpureseedsandthetotalweight."
Article9
MemberStatesshallbringinto-
forcethelaws,regulations andadministrative provisionsnecessary
tocomplywiththeprovisionsofthisDirective,
inrespectofArticles1(4),2(5),3(4),4(5)
6(4)and8(6)and(12)onorbefore1July1977;and
inrespectofalltheotherprovisions onorbefore
1July1-978.
Article10
ThisDirectiveisaddressedtotheMemberStates.
DoneatBruxelles, FortheCouncil
ThePresident.