Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the: - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of vegetable seed' (consolidated version), - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed' (consolidated version), and - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the common catalogue of agricultural plant species' (consolidated version)
Date: 1996-02-28
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: codification of EU law, crop production, marketing, plant propagation, seed













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51996AC0258

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the: - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of vegetable seed' (consolidated version), - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed' (consolidated version), and - ' Proposal for a Council Directive on the common catalogue of agricultural plant species' (consolidated version)  


Official Journal C 153 , 28/05/1996 P. 0053 





Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee  on the: - 'Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of vegetable seed' (consolidated version), - 'Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed' (consolidated version), and-  'Proposal for a Council Directive on the common catalogue of agricultural plant species'  (consolidated version)(96/C 153/14)On 30  January 1996, the Council decided to consult the  Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European  Community, on the above-mentioned proposals. The Section for Agriculture and Fisheries, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work  on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 8  February 1996. The Rapporteur was Mr  Bento Gonçalves. At its 333rd Plenary Session (meeting of 28  February 1996), the Economic and Social Committee  unanimously adopted the following Opinion. 1. Introduction1.1. The Commission proposal aims to systematize the consolidation of the  various legislative texts concerning the marketing of seed in the European Union, in response to  the Community authorities' request for simplification and transparency of Community law. Following this request, in  April 1987, the Commission decided to proceed with the consolidation of  legal acts after the tenth amendment at the latest, to make for clearer Community legislation which  would be more readily understood by the user. 2. General remarks2.1. The new consolidated Directives will consequently replace the various  previous texts which have already been the subject of ESC Opinions. The content of the texts will  remain unchanged. Amendments introduced during consolidation are merely a matter of form. 2.2. The consolidated Directive will provide a valuable basis for any legal amendments which might  be necessary in the future. 3. Specific remarks3.1. The first Commission proposal aims to systematize the consolidation of  the legislative texts concerning the marketing of vegetable seed [95/0320(CNS)]. Seed production  plays an important role in EU agriculture, so improving seed quality helps to increase Community  vegetable-growing productivity, thanks to Member State implementation of common regulations which  are as stringent as possible. 3.2. Proposal 95/0321(CNS) aims to systematize the consolidation of legal texts concerning the  marketing of cereal seed. Satisfactory results in cereal cultivation depend largely on the use of  suitable seed. Increased cereal growing productivity in the Community will be obtained by Member  State implementation of common regulations, which will be as stringent as possible, thus ensuring  top quality seed. 3.3. Proposal 95/0322(CNS) aims to use national catalogues to create a common catalogue of  varieties of agricultural plant species for the following: beetroot, forage plants, cereals, potato  plants and oil and fibre plants, with a view to improving market clarity and logic. 3.4. The proposed Directive does not apply to varieties for which it has been proved that the seed  or plant are meant for export to third countries. 4. Conclusions4.1. The Committee endorses the European Commission proposal for: - the Council Directive on the marketing of vegetable seed; - the Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed; and- the Council Directive on the common  catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species. 4.2. Moreover, the principle of consolidation satisfies a request from the Economic and Social  Committee. Done at Brussels, 28 February 1996. The Presidentof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos FERRER