98/162/EC: Council Decision of 16 February 1998 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
Date: 1998-02-16
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: OECD, mutual recognition principle, plant health control, plant health legislation, seed, third country

24. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 53/21

COUNCIL DECISION

of 16 February 1998

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

(98/162/EC)

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,

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,

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,

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,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, in Decision 95/514/EC (5) it has been deter-
mined for a limited period that field inspections carried
out in certain 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; whereas in Decision 95/514/EC it has also
been determined that seed of certain species produced in
certain third countries was equivalent to corresponding
seed produced in the Community;

Whereas Decision 95/514/EC expired on 31 December
1997; whereas a new decision is therefore necessary;

Whereas in Decision 95/514/EC, reference to the OECD
schemes for the varietal certification of seed moving in
international trade was made as one of the bases for
Community equivalence;

Whereas in 1995 a system of alternative seed certification
was included in these schemes as an experiment;

Whereas, the results of this experiment have not yet been
evaluated;

Whereas, in these circumstances, it appears desirable to
ensure continuation of the equivalence, but to limit it,
under this Decision, to a further two years,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC ‘31 December 1997'
shall be replaced by ‘31 December 1999'.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 February 1998.

For the Council

The President

J. CUNNINGHAM

(1) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2290/66. Directive as last amended by

Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(2) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2298/66. Directive as last amended by

Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(3) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2309/66. Directive as last amended by

Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(4) OJ L 169, 10. 7. 1996, p. 3. Directive as last amended by

Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(5) OJ L 296, 9. 12. 1995, p. 34. Decision as last amended by

Decision 97/33/EC (OJ L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 31).