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
Date: 1997-07-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: labelling, marketing standard, plant life, plant propagation, seed

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 25.07.1997 
COM(97) 403 final 

97/0217 (CNS) 

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 

(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY NOTE 

Directives  66/400/EEC15,  66/401/EEC16, 66/402/EEC17,  66/403/EEC18, 
69/208/EEC19, 70/457/EEC20 and 70/458/EEC21 lay down the conditions  under 

which seed of beet, fodder plant, cereal, potatoes, oil and  fibre plants 

and vegetable may be .marketed within the Community and the conditions  for 

inclusion in the  common catalogue of varieties  of agricultural  plant 

species. 

Directives  66/400/EEC,  66/401/EEC,  66/402/EEC and  69/208/EEC  provide  for 

temporary  experiments  to be organized  at Community  level with  the aim of 

seeking improved  alternatives  to certain elements  of the  certification -

schemes provided  for by the directives. 

In 1989 the Commission  organized  such a temporary experiment with  the aim 

of assessing whether  "unofficial" field inspections  could  ensure 

simplification  of the procedures  for official  seed certification  of 

"certified  seed" of all categories. 

The  results  of the experiment  showed that, for certain purposes, there 

could be a simplification  of the procedures  for official  seed  certification 

if inspections  were carried  out by inspectors  other than  those  charged  with 

official examination by  the seed certification  authority. 

The present proposal  therefore  amends the said directives  by providing  for 

inspections  to be  carried  out either officially  or under  official 

supervision. 

It also extends  the scope of the provision  for the organisation  of 

temporary experiments by providing  that such experiments may be  carried  out 

for the purpose  of seeking improved alternatives  to the provisions  set out 

in the said directives; provides a legal base  for such experiments  in 

Directive  66/403/EEC  and  facilitates  the addition of new species  to the 

lists of species  in the directives. 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

OJ No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2290/66 
0J No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2290/66 
OJ No  125,  11.07.1966, p. 2309/66 
OJ No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2320/66 
OJ No L 169, 10.07.1969, p. 3 
OJ No L 225,  12.10.1970, p. 1 
OJ No L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7 

Furthermore, it provides for rules in Directives 70/457/EEC and 70/458/EEC 

in relation to the suitability of varietal denominations. 

Action at the Community level is justified given that the proposal mainly 

relates to harmonized technical checks in Member States. 

3 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DIRECTIVE 

of 

amending  Directives  66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 66/403/EEC, 

69/208/EEC, 70/457/EEC aad 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 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European  Community,  and in 

particular Article  43 thereof, 

Having  regard  to the proposal  from the Commission1, 

Having  regard  to the Opinion  of the European  Parliament , 

Having  regard  to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee3, 

Whereas,  for the reasons  given below, the  following  Directives  on the 

marketing  of seed and propagating material  should be  amended: 

Council  Directive  66/400/EEC of 14 June  1966 on the marketing  of beet 
seed4,  as last amended by Directive  96/72/EEC5, 

Council  Directive  66/401/EEC of 14 June  1966 on the marketing  of 
fodder plant  seed", as last amended by Directive  96/72/EEC5, 

Council  Directive  66/402/EEC  of 14 June  1966 on  the marketing  of 
cereal  seed7, as last amended by Directive  96/72/ECD, 

Council  Directive  66/403/EEC  of 14 June  1966 on the marketing  of seed 
potatoes8,  as last amended by Council  Directive  96/72/EEC3 

OJ No C 
OJ No C 
OJ No C 

OJ No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2290/66 
OJ No L 304, 27.11.1996, p. 10 
OJ No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2298/66 
OJ No  125, 11.07.1966, p. 2309/66 

OJ  No  125,  11.07.1966,  p.  2320/66. 

Council Directive  69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing  of seed 
of oil and  fibre plants9, as last amended by Directive  96/72/EEC5; 

Council Directive 70/457/EEC of 29 September  1970 on the  Common 
Catalogue  of Varieties  of agricultural plant  species10, as last 
amended by Directive  90/654/EEC11, and 

Council  Directive  70/458/EEC of 29 September  1970 on  the marketing  of 
vegetable  seed12, as last amended by Directive  96/72/ECb 

Whereas  Commission  Decision  89/540/EEC of 22 September  1989 on the 

organization  of a temporary  experiment  on the marketing  of seeds  and 
propagating material13, as last amended by Commission  Decision  96/336/EC14, 

organized  a temporary  experiment  under specified  conditions, with  the aim 

of assessing whether unofficial  field inspections  could  ensure 

simplification  of the procedures  for official seed certification  required 

under Directives  66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and  69/208/EEC  without 

a  significant decrease  in the quality of the seed; 

Whereas  the results  of the experiment have shown that, for  certain 

purposes, there  could be a simplification  of the procedures  for official 

seed certification  of  "certified  seed" of all categories, if  inspections 

were allowed  to be  carried  out by inspectors  other  than  those  charged  with 

official  examination by  the  seed certification authority; 

Whereas  administrative  developments  have taken place  in the Member  States; 

Whereas  it is therefore  desirable  to amend Directives  66/400/EEC, 

66/401/EEC,  66/402/EEC  and  69/208/EEC  accordingly; 

Whereas  Directives  66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 69/208/EEC  and  70/458/EEC 

provide  for amendments  to be made to the lists of species  referred  to 

therein in the light of the development  of scientific  or  technical 

knowledge concerning  the names  and hybrids  resulting  from the crossing of 

species  covered by those Directives, in accordance with  the  Standing 

Committee procedure; 

9 

10 
11 

12 

13 

14 

OJ No L 169, 10.07.1969, p. 3. 
OJ No L"225,  12.10.1970, p. 1 
OJ No L 353, 17.12.1990, p. 48 
OJ No L 225, 12.10.1970, p. 7 
OJ No L 286, 04.10.1989, p. 24 
OJ No L 128, 29.05.1996, p. 23 

<C 

Whereas  it is desirable-to  facilitate  the addition of new species  to the 

list of species  in the said directives; 

Whereas  those directives  should be amended  accordingly; 

Whereas  in Directives  66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 69/208/EEC  and 

70/458/EEC there is provision  for the organisation  of temporary  experiments 

for the purpose  of seeking improved alternatives  to certain  elements  of the 

certification  schemes  adopted  thereunder; 

Whereas, in the light of experience, it is desirable  to extend  the scope of 

the organization  of such experiments  for the purpose of seeking  improved 

alternatives  to certain provisions  set out in the said directives; 

Whereas  it is desirable  to provide a legal base  in Directive  66/403/EEC  for 

the organization  of temporary  experiments  for the purpose  of  seeking 

improved  alternatives  to certain provisions  set out in that directive; 

Whereas  it is desirable  to provide in Directives  70/457/EEC  and  70/458/EEC 

for rules in relation to the suitability  of varietal denominations; 

HAS ADOPTED THE  PRESENT DIRECTIVE: 

Directive  66/400/EEC  is hereby amended  as  follows: 

1. 

Article  2(1)(C)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

Article 1 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  1(A),  has 

been  found  to satisfy  those  conditions  either  by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out  under  official 

supervision by  inspectors  other  than  those  charged  with 

official  examination by  the seed certification authority." 

f r> 

2. 

The  following  paragraphs  are added  after Article 2(2): 

"3. 

When  the examination  under  official  supervision  referred  to in 

paragraph  l(C)(d)(ii)  above  is carried  out, the  following 

requirements  shall be complied with: 

(i) 

the inspectors, shall 

(a) have  the necessary  technical  qualifications: 

(b) derive  no private  gain  in connection  with the 

carrying  out of the inspections; 

(c) have  been  officially  licenced  by the  seed 

certification  authority  of the Member  State 

concerned; 

(d) carry  out inspections  under  official  supervision  in 

accordance  with  the rules  applicable  to  official 

inspections; 

(ii) the seed  crop  to be inspected  shall  be  grown  from  seed 

which  has undergone  official  post-control,  the  results 

of  which  have  been  satisfactory; 

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

official  inspectors; 

(iv) a proportion  of samples  from  the seed  lots  harvested  from 

the  seed  crops  shall  be drawn  for official  post  control 

and,  where  appropriate,  for official  laboratory  seed 

testing  in respect  of varietal  identity  and purity. 

4. 

Further  measures  applicable  to the carrying  out of  examinations 

under  official  supervision  may be adopted  in accordance  with 

the  procedure  laid  down  in Article 2 1. 

Until  such  measures  are adopted,  the conditions  set out in 

Article  2 of Commission  Decision  89/540/EEC  shall  be  adhered 

t o ." 

3. 

-The first paragraph  of Article  13a is  replaced  by  the  following: 

"For  the purpose  of seeking  improved  alternatives  to  certain 

provisions  set out in this directive, it may be decided  to organize 

temporary  experiments  under  specified  conditions  at Community  level 

in accordance  with  the provisions  laid down  in Article 21." 

4. 

Point  3 of Annex  1(A) is replaced by the  following: 

"3. 

In the case of certified  seed of all categories  there  shall be 

at least one  field  inspection, either official  or under 

official  supervision, and in the case of basic  seed at  least 

two official  field  inspections, one of stecklings  and  one of 

the  seed-producing plants." 

Directive  66/401/EEC  is hereby  amended as  follows: 

1. 

Article  2(1)(C)(d)  is  replaced by the  following: 

Article 2 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the  case of the conditions  laid down in Annex  I, has-

been  found  to satisfy those conditions  either by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other  than those  charged  with 

official  examination by the seed  certification  authority". 

2. 

Article  2(la) is  replaced by the  following: 

"la.  Amendments  to be made  to the list of species  referred  to in 

paragraph  1(A) shall be adopted  in accordance  with  the 

procedure  laid down  in Article 21." 

3. 

The  following  paragraphs  are added  after Article 2(2): 

"3. 

When  the examination  under official  supervision  referred  to in 

paragraph  1(C)(d)(ii)  above is carried  out, the  following 

requirements  shall be complied with: 

(i) 

the inspectors  shall 

(a) have  the  necessary  technical  qualifications: 

(b) derive  no  private  gain  in  connection  with  the 

carrying  out  of  the  inspections; 

(c) have  been  officially  licenced  by  the  seed 

certification  authority  of  the  Member  State 

concerned; 

(d) carry  out  inspections  under  official  supervision  in 

accordance  with  the  rules  applicable  to  official 

inspections ; 

<& 

(ii) the seed crop to be inspected  shall be  grown  from seed 

which has undergone  official post-control, the  results 

of which have been  satisfactory; 

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

official inspectors; 

(iv) a proportion  of samples  from the seed lots harvested  from 

the seed crops  shall be drawn  for official post  control 

and, where appropriate,  for official  laboratory  seed 

testing  in respect of varietal  identity  and purity. 

4. 

Further measures  applicable  to the carrying  out of  examinations 

under official  supervision may be adopted  in accordance  with 

the procedure  laid down in Article  21. 

* 

Until  such measures  are adopted,  the conditions  set  out  in 

Article  2 of Commission  Decision  89/540/EEC  shall  be  adhered 

to." 

4. 

The  first paragraph  of Article  13a is replaced by  the  following: 

"For the purpose  of seeking  improved  alternatives  to  certain 

provisions  set out in this directive, it may be decided  to  organize 

temporary  experiments  under specified  conditions  at Community  level 

in accordance with  the provisions  laid down  in Article 21." 

5. 

The  first  sentence  of point  6 of Annex  I is replaced  by  the 

following: 

"6. 

The  satisfaction  of the above-mentioned  standards  or other 

conditions  shall, in the case of basic  seed, be examined  in 

official  field inspections  and, in the  case of  certified  seed, 

be examined  either  in official  field  inspections  or in 

inspections  carried  out under  official  supervision." 

G ~S 

Directive  66/402/EEC  is hereby  amended  as  follows: 

1. 

Article  2(1)(E)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

Article 3 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the  case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  I, has 

been  found to satisfy those conditions  either by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other than those  charged  with 

official  examination by the seed  certification  authority." 

2. 

Article  2(1)(F)(d)  is  replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which  has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the  case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  I, has 

been  found  to satisfy  those  conditions  either  by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out  under  official 

supervision  by inspectors  other  than  those  charged  with 

official  examinations  by the seed  certification 

authority". 

3. 

Article  2(1)(G)(d)  is  replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the  case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  I, has 

been  found  to satisfy those  conditions  either by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out under  official 

supervision  by inspectors  other  than  those  charged  with 

official  examination by the seed  certification  authority." 

4. 

Article  2(la) is  replaced by the  following: 

"la.  Amendments  to be made to the list of species  referred  to in 

paragraph  1(A) shall be adopted  in accordance with  the 

procedure  laid down  in Article 21." 

M> 

The  following paragraphs  are added after Article 2(2): 

"3. 

When  the examination  under official  supervision  referred  to in 

paragraphs  1(E)(d)(ii),  l(F)(d)(ii)  and  l(G)(d)(ii)  above is 

carried  out, the  following  requirements  shall be  complied with: 

(i) 

the inspectors  shall 

(a) have  the  necessary  technical  qualifications: 

(b) derive  no  private  gain  in  connection  with  the 

carrying  out  of  the  inspections; 

(c) have  been  officially  licenced  by  the  seed 

certification  authority  of  the  Member  State 

concerned; 

(d) carry  out  inspections  under  official  supervision  in 

accordance  with  the  rules  applicable  to  official 

inspections; 

(ii) the  seed  crop  to  be  inspected  shall  be  grown  from  seed 

which  has  undergone  official  post-control,  the  results 

of  which  have  been  satisfactory; 

(iii) 

a proportion  of  the  seed  crop  shall  be  checked  by 

official  inspectors; 

(iv) a  proportion  of  samples  from  the  seed  lots  harvested  from 

the  seed  crops  shall  be  drawn  for  official  post  control 

and,  where  appropriate,  for  official  laboratory  seed 

testing  in  respect  of  varietal  identity  and  purity. 

4. 

Further  measures  applicable  to  the  carrying  out  of  examinations 

under  official  supervision  may  be  adopted  in  accordance  with 

the  procedure  laid  down  in Article  21. 

Until  such  measures  are  adopted,  the  conditions  set  out  in 

Article  2  of  Commission  Decision  89/540/EEC  shall  be  adhered 

to." 

The  first  paragraph  of Article  13a  is  replaced  by  the  following: 

"For  the  purpose  of  seeking  improved  alternatives  to  certain 

provisions  set  out  in  this  directive,  it  may  be  decided  to  organize 

temporary  experiments  under  specified  conditions  at  Community  level 

in  accordance  with  the  provisions  laid  down  in Article  2 1 ." 

M 

7. 

The  first  sentence  of point  5 of Annex  I is  replaced  by the 

following: 

"5. 

The  satisfaction  of the above-mentioned  standards  or  other 

conditions  shall, in the case of basic  seed,  be examined  in 

official  field inspections  and,  in the case of certified  seed, 

be  examined  either in official  field inspections  or in. 

inspections  carried out under official  supervision." 

Directive  66/403/EEC  is hereby amended as  follows: 

The  following  article is added after Article 13: 

"Article  13a 

Article 4 

For the purpose  of seeking  improved alternatives  to certain provisions -set 

out in this directive, other than those relating  to plant  health,  it may be 

decided  to organize  temporary  experiments  under  specified  conditions  at 

Community  level  in accordance with the provisions  laid down in Article 19. 

In the  framework  of such experiments, Member States may be  released  from 

certain  obligations  laid down in this directive. The extent  of that  release 

shall be defined  with  reference to the provisions  to which  it applies. The 

duration  of an experiment  shall not exceed  seven years." 

Directive  69/208/EEC  is hereby amended as follows: 

1. 

Article  2(1)(C)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

Article 5 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  I, has 

been  found to satisfy  those  conditions  either  by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out  under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other  than those  charged  with 

official  examination by the seed  certification  authority." 

2. 

Article  2(1)(D)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

At-

(ii)  in the case of  the conditions  laid down  in Annex  I, has 

been  found  to satisfy  those  conditions  either  by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out  under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other than those  charged  with 

official examination by the seed  certification  authority". 

3. 

Article  2.1(E)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

(ii)  in the case of the conditions  laid down in Annex  I, has 

been  found to satisfy those conditions  either by  official 

examination or by examination  carried out under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other than those charged  with 

official examination by the seed certification  authority." 

4. 

Article  2.1(Ea)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official  examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions  or 

> 

(ii)  in the case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  IA, has 

been  found to satisfy  those  conditions  either  by  official 

examination or by examination  carried  out under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other than those  charged  with 

official examination by the seed certification  authority". 

5. 

Article  2(1)(F)(d)  is replaced by the  following: 

"(d) (i) 

which has been  found by official examination  to  satisfy 

the above mentioned  conditions or 

(ii)  in the case of the conditions  laid down  in Annex  1(A),  has 

been  found to satisfy  those conditions  either by  official 

examination  or by examination  carried  out under  official 

supervision by inspectors  other than  those  charged  with 

official  examination by the seed  certification  authority." 

6. 

Article 2"(la) is replaced by the  following: 

"la.  Amendments  to be made  to the list  of species  referred  to in 

paragraph  1(A) shall be adopted  in accordance  with  the 

procedure  laid down in Article 21." 

J2> 

The  following paragraphs  are added after Article 2(2): 

"3. 

When  the examination under official  supervision  referred  to in 

paragraphs  l(C)(d)(ii),  l(D)(d)(ii),  l(E)(d)(ii),  1(Ea)(d)(ii) 

and  l(F)(d)(ii)  above is carried out, the  following 

requirements  shall be complied with: 

(i) 

the inspectors  shall 

(a) have the necessary  technical qualifications: 

(b) derive no private gain in connection  with  the 

carrying  out of the inspections; 

(c) have been officially  licenced by the seed 

certification  authority  of the Member  State 

concerned; 

(d) carry out inspections  under official supervision, in 

accordance with the rules applicable  to official 

inspections; 

(ii) the seed crop to be inspected  shall be grown  from seed 

which has undergone  official post-control, the  results 

of which have been  satisfactory; 

(iii)  a proportion of the seed crop shatill be checked by 

official inspectors; 

(iv) a proportion  of samples  from the seed  lots harvested  from 

the seed crops  shall be drawn  for-official post  control 

and, where appropriate,  for official  laboratory  seed 

testing  in respect  of varietal  identity  and purity. 

4. 

Further measures  applicable  to the carrying  out of examinations 

under official  supervision may be adopted  in accordance  with 

the procedure laid down in Article 21. 

Until  such measures  are adopted, the conditions  set out in 

Article  2 of Commission Decision  89/540/EEC  shall be  adhered 

to." 

, 

/ / </ 

8. 

The  first paragraph  of Article  12a is  replaced by the  following: 

"For the purpose  of seeking  improved  alternatives  to  certain 

provisions  set  out  in this directive,  it may be decided  to organize 

temporary  experiments  under  specified  conditions  at Community  level 

in accordance  with  the provisions  laid down in Article 21." 

9. 

The  first  sentence  of point  5 of Annex  I is replaced by  the 

following: 

% 

"5. 

The  satisfaction  of the above-mentioned  standards  or  other 

conditions  shall, in the case of basic seed, be examined  in 

official  field  inspections  and, in the case of  certified  seed, 

be  examined  either  in official  field  inspections  or in 

inspections  carried  out under official  supervision." 

Article 6 

Directive  70/457/EEC  is hereby amended as  follows: 

The  following paragraph  is inserted after paragraph  4 in Article  9: 

"5. 

So  far as  the suitability  of the denomination  of a variety  is 

concerned, Article  63 of Council Regulation  (EC) No 2100/94  on 

Community  Plant Variety Rights shall apply. 

Detailed  implementing  rules as to the suitability  of denominations  of 

varieties may be adopted  in accordance with the procedure  provided 

for in Article 23." 

Directive  70/458/EEC  is hereby amended as  follows: 

1. 

Article  2(la) is  replaced by the  following: 

Article 7 

"la.  Amendments  to be made  to the lists of species  referred  to in 

paragraph  1(A) shall be adopted  in accordance  with  the 

procedure  laid down in Article 40." 

2.  - The  first paragraph  of Article 29a is replaced by the  following: 

"For the purpose  of seeking improved  alternatives  to  certain 

provisions  set out in this directive, it may be decided  to  organize 

temporary  experiments  under  speciried conditions  at Community  level 

in accordance with  the provisions  laid down in Article 40." 

A* 

3. 

The  following paragraph  is added after paragraph  4 in Article 10: 

"5. 

So  far as the suitability  of the denomination  of a variety  is 

concerned, Article  63 of Council Regulation  (EC) No 2100/94  on 

Community  Plant Variety Rights  shall apply. 

Detailed  implementing  rules as to the suitability  of 

denominations  of varieties may be adopted in accordance  with 

the procedure provided  for in Article  40." 

1. 

Member  States  shall bring into  force the laws,  regulations  or 

administrative provisions  necessary to comply with this Directive  on 

1 January  1998. They shall  forthwith  inform the Commission  thereaf. 

Article 8 

2. 

When Member  States  adopt these measures, they shall  contain a 

reference  to this Directive or shall be accompanied  by  such  reference 

on the occasion of their official publication. The procedure  for  such 

reference  shall be adopted by the Member States. 

3. 

Member  States  shall  communicate  to the Commission  the text of  the 

main provisions  of domestic law they adopt  in the  field  covered by 

i  " 

this Directive. 

This Directive  shall enter into  force on the twentieth day  following  its 

publication  in the Official  Journal of the European Communities. 

Article 9 

This  Directive  is addressed  to the Member States. 

Article  10 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council, 

A6 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 403 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

03  10  15 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-97-404-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-23502-4 

Office  for  Official  Publications of the European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg 

A%