Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of forest reproductive material'
Date: 1999-09-22
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: forest, forestry policy, marketing, plant health legislation, plant propagation

17.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 329/15

2.26.1.
the socio-
The Committee is concerned about
economic consequences of this measure, as it may make
Community production even greater prey to third-country
competition, adding the new customs concessions to the
already low cost of production factors and raw materials.

2.26.2.
As regards the supply of raw materials to the
processing industry, the Committee would prefer that the
case-by-case analyses and the current quota system be main-

tained for all products. The Committee recommends immedi-
ate action to reduce the amount of time and red tape needed
to authorise the suspension of customs duties, with a view to
smoothing supplies to the Community processing industry.

2.27.
As regards funding, the Committee would stress that
the reform is ambitious and far-reaching, and must be backed
by an equally extensive financial allocation if it is to have any
real impact on the sector.

Brussels, 22 September 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Directive on the
marketing of forest reproductive material’ (1)

(1999/C 329/06)

On 8 September 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article
37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for
preparing the Committee’s work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 13 July 1999. The rapporteur
was Mr Kallio.

At its 366th plenary session (meeting of 22 September 1999), the Economic and Social Committee
adopted the following opinion by 108 votes in favour and one abstention.

1. Background

1.1.
The marketing of forest reproductive material within
the EU is currently governed by two directives: Directive
66/404/EEC (the origin directive), which is concerned with the
origin of material for marketing and the information required
about such material, and Directive 71/161/EEC (the quality
directive) on the quality of seeds and planting stock. These
directives were issued in 1966 and 1971 respectively and since
then have undergone very little modification. The Commission
recognized the need for the directives to be revised during
accession negotiations with Finland and Sweden, and these
countries were granted a transitional period until the end of
1999 to implement them.

2. Assessment of the proposal

2.1.
The present draft directive is the result of considerable
effort by the working group and lengthy preparation within

(1) OJ C 199 of 14.7.1999, p. 1.

the Standing Committee on seeds and propagating material
for agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
It combines the
above-mentioned directives into a single text and makes
numerous modifications to both of them.

2.2.
The proposal takes account of Finland and Sweden’s
special needs by adding a new category of reproductive
material, known as source-identified (‘stand seed’), which
could not be used under the current directives. The use of
material belonging to this category is indispensable, especially
in northern parts of Finland and Sweden. Those countries
which do not wish to use such material (e.g. Germany) can
prohibit it in their national legislation. Member States are
also allowed to impose more stringent requirements than
those laid down in the proposal
in other respects within
their own territory, which ensures that there will be no need
to compromise on the level of regulation previously adhered
to once the revised directive comes into effect. In this sense
the proposal successfully takes account of the differing needs
of Member States.

C 329/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17.11.1999

2.3.
The proposal responds to developments in the field.
An effort has been made to bring the key concepts and
classifications into line with the new updated OECD scheme
international trade.
covering forestry reproductive material
This will facilitate trade with OECD countries outside the
Community.

It is generally known that moving material too far
2.4.
from its origin, especially from south to north,
inevitably
results in the failure of forest cultivation. The Member States
may, with the Commission’s authorization, prohibit the use of
such unsuitable material within their territory. They must
demonstrate the unsuitability of the material in order to obtain
this authorization. Some consideration should be given to
simplifying procedures in this respect and giving Member
States greater discretionary powers while at the same time
respecting the free movement of goods within the Community.

2.5.
The proposal broadens the scope of the directive,
chiefly to take account of the increase in the number of tree
species. The need for controls is also increasing, bringing
higher costs. In compensation, buyers of forest reproductive
material should have a higher degree of certainty that the
material is of a reliable origin.

The accuracy of information on forest reproductive
2.6.
material must also be guaranteed when material is sold into
the territories of other Member States. This requires highly
effective cooperation between Member States’ control auth-
orities and an obligation to disclose information on seeds and
planting stock being imported. The adequacy of the provisions

Brussels, 22 September 1999.

concerning these procedures in the proposal is in need of
review.

3. Economic impact for the Member States

3.1.
Implementation of the directive will increase national
administrative costs because the production and marketing of
forest reproductive material will have to be documented more
thoroughly and official control measures will have to be
stepped up. The provisions on determining regions of prov-
enance, various registers and maps will require a considerable
amount of work at the implementation stage.

4. Entry into force of the directive

The draft directive provides for a transitional period
4.1.
until 1 January 2000 for implementation. This is vital for
Finland and Sweden given the importance of forestry and the
intensive way in which it is practised in these countries. The
new provisions will entail so many administrative changes that
the timetable for implementation of the directive needs to be
reviewed. Since national
legislation on forest reproductive
material also needs to be revised, the earliest the directive can
be implemented in Finland is from the beginning of 2001. The
transition period for implementation of the current directives
granted to Finland and Sweden upon accession, which expires
at the end of this year, should therefore also be extended by at
least one year. The transitional arrangements should also
ensure that seeds obtained may continue to be marketed, at
least domestically.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI