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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 30.06.1997
COM(97) 327 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

#### on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) Nol467/94 of 20 June 1994

_CONTENTS_ _CONTENTS_

##### Contents

**1 Introduction** 3

1.1 Historical background 3

1.2 This Report 3

**2 Current Position** 5

2.1 The Inventory 5

2.1.1 Version 1 5

2.1.2 Version 2 6

2.2 Actions 7

2.2.1 First Call 7

2.2.2 Second Call 8

2.3 Accompanying measures 8

2.3.1 Specialized groups . . 9

2.3.2 Seminars, 9

2.3.3 Training & Mobility 10

2.3.4 Results 10

2.4 Community Coordination 10

2.4.1 International Negotiations _'._ 11

2.4.2 Community Programme of RTD 11

' 2.4.3 Other Community Instruments . 12

2.5 The financial situation 12

3 **Conclusions and recommendations** **15**

3.1 Managerial 15

3.2 Technical and scientific 16

**A Appendix - Work Programme** **iii**

A.l The Inventory . iii

A.1.1 Legal basis iii

A. 1.2 The first version of the Inventory iii

A. 1.3 The second version of the Inventory iv

A.2 Shared cost & concerted actions iv

A.2.1 Legal basis iv

A.2.2 Consultation of the Committee v

A.2.3 First Call v

A.2.4 Second Call vi

A.2.5 Summary vi

A.2.6 First Call projects vi

A.2.7 Second Call projects viii

_Regulation 1467/94_ 1

_CONTENTS_ _CONTENTS_

**B Appendix - The Study** **x**

B.l Conclusions x

B.l.l Community level x

B.l.2 National level xi

B.l.3 Project level xii

B.2 Full text xv

B.2.1 The Regulation 1467/94 xv
B.2.2 Plants; International context xv

B.2.3 Plants; International partnerships xvii
B.2.4 Plants; National partnerships xviii
B.2.5 Plants; _In situ_ conservation XLX

B.2.6 Plants; _Ex_ _situ_ conservation xix

B.2.7 Plants; Characterisation xxi

B.2.8 Plants; Utilisation xxi

B.2.9 Animais Background xxii

B.2.10 Animais International context xxii

B.2.11 Animais International developments xxiv
B.2.12 Animais International partnerships xxvi
B.2.13 Animais National partnerships xxvi

B.2.14 Animais _In vivo_ conservation xxvii

B.2.15 Animais _In vitro_ Conservation xxvii

B.2.16 Animais Characterisation xxviii

B.2.17 Animais Utilisation xxix

B.2.18 Animais Special characteristics xxix

**C Appendix - Publications** **-3£** **xxxi**
C l Regulation 1467/94 xxxi
C.2 Work Programme; details xxxi
C.3 First Call; details xxxi

C.4 Second Call; details xxxi

D **Appendix** - Declarations **by** E.U. *~ **xxxii**
D.l Declaration by the EU at Nitra xxxii

D.2 At Rome xxxii

D.3 At Leipzig xxxii
D.4 EU Legislation xxxii

^ Copies of these documents (only available in English) are available from
The secretariat of the Division for the Coordination of Agricultural Research,
Commission of the European Communities (DG VI F II 3),
200 rue de la Loi (Loi 130 6-233),
B-1049 Bruxelles, Belgium.
fax: (+32) 2 296 30 29, attention "Genetic Resources",
e-mail: [Richard.Hardvvick@dg6.ccc.be.](mailto:Richard.Hardvvick@dg6.ccc.be)

_Regulation_ _1467/94_

_1 INTRODUCTION_

###### 1 Introduction

1.1 Historical background

Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/94 "On the conservation, characterization,
collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture", was adopted
on June 20th, 1994.

The objective of the Regulation is to "coordinate and to promote at Community level work on the conservation, the characterisation, the collection
and the utilization of genetic resources in agriculture undertaken in the
Member States, with a view to the achievement of the aims of the Common
Agricultural Policy, and, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
to support and supplement the efforts made in the Member States where
current work appeared inadequate".

The Regulation establishes responsibilities for the Commission and for
the Member States in order to achieve the above objectives. It provides
for a first Community programme for the conservation, characterization,
collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture. This first programme was adopted on November 21th of 1994, for a period of five years
and an estimated budget of 20 mecu.

1.2 This Report

Regulation (EC) 1467/94 stipulates (Article 11.1) that during its third year
of implementation (the third year is the period June 1996 - June 1997) the
Commission shall carry out a review of the Programme and an analysis of
the situation, in particular, the financial position, and that the Commission
shall present a report to Parliament and to the Council on the results of the
review. This report is made in conformity with Article 11.1 of the Regulation. The main substance of the report is presented in section 2 (page 5), and
the immediately important, managerial, conclusions and recommendations
are presented in section 3 (page 15).

Conclusions regarding more minor, operational, aspects of the Regulation, and conclusions for the attention of Member States and their experts,
are presented in section B.l ("Desirable developments", page x).

An appendix is also provided (section A, page iii) with supporting information on administrative details, and on scientific and technical details,
plus various reference documents. Section A also provides the material
called for by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) 1467/94.

Article 16 lays down that the Commission shall present a regular report
to the Parliament and to the Council on the measures for the conservation,
characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture. This report is thus the first of the "regular reports" mentioned in Article 16 of Regularion (EC) 1467/94 (until now, there has not been sufficient
material to warrant a separate report under Article 16).

_Regulation 1467/94_

_1 INTRODUCTION_ _1.2 This Report_

_Regulation_ _1467/94_

_2_ _CURRENT POSITION_

###### 2 The Current Position

Regulation 1467/94 lays down that the procedures for implementing the
programme are to include

1. a permanent inventory of generic resources in agriculture in the Community,

2. concerted measures, and shared-cost projects for the conservation,
characterization, collection and utilization of those genetic resources,

3. accompanying measures.

This Section describes the current position regarding the above measures applied under Regulation 1467/94, the coordination at Community
level, and also

4. the financial situation.

2.1 The Permanent Inventory

The permanent inventory is to consist principally in the establishment, regular updating and publication of the state and nature of genetic resources
in agriculture collected in the Community and the listing of current work
on the conservation, characterization and utilization of those genetic resources. Expenditure on the establishment of the inventory and its regular
publication is to be covered from the total appropriations granted for the
implementation of the programme.

The Commission Services have produced a first version of a permanent
inventory (section 2.1.1) which has recently been updated as a draft second
version (section 2.1.2).

Further administrative details of the Inventory are to be found in the
Appendix (section A.1, page iii).

2.1.1 Permanent Inventory Version 1

In November 1994 the Commission completed a first version of its Inventory
of Plant Genetic Resources for Agriculture in Europe. The printed version
of the Inventory comprises 441 pages. For each collection, the inventory
provides the following information: the name and the complete address
of the collection, the name of the curator or person responsible, the type
of the Collection, plus information on work in progress, and references to
published results.

 - The inventory comprises information on plant genetic resources. It was
assembled from a questionnaire which was distributed throughout the Member States, to which was added information provided by the International
Plant Genetic Resources Institute (Rome, Italy), and information from a
search of on-line databases of scientific publications.

This first version of the inventory was distributed to Member States (in
both printed and electronic (database) formats) at the first meeting of the
Programme Committee (21 November 199-1). Each Member State was requested to check and revise the data as relevant.

_ItegulaUon_ _1467/94_ ' 5 _**lÊmmÊÊÊmmmmmM*******_

_2_ _CURRENT POSITION_ _2.1_ _The Inventory_

2.1.2 Permanent Inventory Version 2

Since the first version of the Inventory was produced and circulated to the
Member State representatives, large volumes of "technical, economic and
financial information on specific measures for the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilization, of generic resources in agriculture" have
begun to appear on the "World Wide Web" (W.W.W.). These developments
make possible a second version of the inventory which would be more dynamic and potentially more useful than the first version.

Accordingly, the Commission services have made a preliminary inventory of sources of information which are available on the W.W.W.. To this
has been added complementary information on Regulation 1467/94. Thus
the second version of the inventory comprises the following chapters.

1. An "inventory of sources" of information available over the internet.
[Each paragraph of the inventory provides the reader with a brief.de-](http://brief.de)
scription of the source in question (either plant or animal genetic resources for agriculture), plus a link over the internet to that source.
Thus the interested reader who seeks further information can "move"
directly to the source itself. So far, a total of some 200 such "links"
have been identified. For example, the inventory section on "sugarbeet" provides immediate access to the "home pages" of:

    - a computer in the Netherlands which contains information on a
shared-cost project on the generic resources of sugar-beet; "

    - the FAO database "World Information and Early Warning System
on Plant Genetic Resources" (WIEWS) which contains some information on International institutes, their holdings and their activities.

    - and so on.

2. 1467/94 contact points in the Member States,

3. 1467/94 texts (all languages) of the Regulation and of the Work Pro
gramme,

4. information on each of the projects funded by the Programme,

5. a Preliminary List of European Union Legislation in the .Area of Plant
Genetic Resources (see page xxxii).

It would be possible to add also the first version of the inventory distributed to Member States in 1994; but some of the information in the first
version of the inventory is already available over the W.W.W., and thus the
first version of the Commission's inventor)' may now be redundant.

The "inventory of sources" was distributed to the. Programme Committee on 16 October 1996 for comments and additions. It comprises approximately 565 kbytes on diskette. After the draft has been corrected it is
intended that, if the problem of lack at Commission level of staff charged
with the implementation of Regulation 1467/94 can be resolved, the inventory will be made available in printed as well as in electronic form.

j^faagHattMUMMBBM ^ _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_2.2 Actions_ _2_ _CURRENT POSITION_

2.2 Shared cost and concerted actions

Shared cost actions comprise new work for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture, carried
out by two or more unconnected participants established in different Member States.

Concerted measures consist of work undertaken by the Community to
coordinate individual measures for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture, already ongoing
in the Member States.

Contracts for concerted and shared cost actions must, as a general rule,
be concluded following an official selection procedure based on calls for
proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It is expected that each project will produce its first results in the short term
to medium term, that is to say within 3 or 5 years. The results are to be
diffused widely, so as to maximise the impact of this initiative across the
European Union.

There have been two calls for proposals, the first published on the 23
December 1994 and the second on the 19 April 1996. Brief information on
each project selected is given below. Full administrative and legal details of
the concerted action and shared cost project process (Legal basis and modalities; Consultation of the Committee; Evaluation; Summary of the Calendar)
are provided in the Appendix (section A, page iii).

2.2.1 Shared Cost and Concerted Actions; The First Call for Proposals

In response to the first Call for Proposals, 72 proposals were submitted,
and, following an evaluation of their technical and scientific merits by independent experts, 9 projects were selected by the Commission Services, as
a function of the Regulation's priorities of technical excellence and potential contribution to the needs of the CAP. The selection was submitted to
and given a favourable opinion by, the Programme Committee. The selected
projects are as follows:

"Pig genetic resources" ("European gene banking project for pig genetic
resources"; Reference number 012).

"Rabbit genetic resources" ("Inventory, characterization, evaluation, conservation and utilization of european rabbit genetic resources"; Reference number 060).

_"Allium_ crops and wild species" ("Protecting future European Community'
crops: a programme to conserve, characterise, evaluate and collect
_Allium_ crops and wild species"; Reference number 020).

"Minor fruit tree species" ("Conservation, evaluation, exploitation and collection of minor fruit tree species"; Reference number 029).

"Potatoes" ("Genetic Resources of Potato" including 'Conservation, characterization and utilization of secondary potato varieties for ecological
production systems in Europe' "; Reference numbers 034 and 045).

_Regulation 1467/94_

_2_ _CURRENT POSITION_ _23_ _Accompanying measures_

**"European** **rice"** ^"Constitution, description et gestion dynamique des ressources génétiques riz _(Oryza_ _sativa)_ a vocation européenne"; Reference number 037).

**"European** beets" ("Evaluation and enhancement _of_ _Beta_ collections for extensification of agricultural* production"; Ref 042).

"Roses" ("European network for characterisation and evaluation of genus
_Rosa_ germplasm"; Reference number 052).

_"Prunus"_ ("International network on _Prunus_ genetic resources"; Reference
number 061).

Further information on the objectives of each of the above projects is provided in the Appendix (section A.2.6, page vi).

2.2.2 **The** Second **call for** proposals

In response to the second call for Proposals, 28 proposals were submitted, and following an evaluation by independent experts, 5 projects were
selected by the Commission Services. These were submitted to and given
a favourable opinion by the Programme Committee. The selected projects
are as follows:

"Elms" ("Coordination for conservation, characterization, collection and
utilization of genetic resources of European Elms" ; Reference number 078).

"Grapevines" ("European network for grapevine genetic resources conservation and characterization" ; Reference number 081).

"Maize" ("Implementation of the European Network for Evaluation, conservation and utilisation of European maize landraces genetic resources";
Reference number 088).

"Olives" ("Conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of Genetic Resources in Olive _(Oka_ _europaea)";_ Reference number 097).

"Animal Inventory" ("A permanent inventory of European farm animal genetic resources and of activities on characterization, conservation and
utilization of those resources"; Reference number 083).

Further information on the objectives of each of the above projects is provided in the Appendix (section A.2.7, page viii).

2.3 Accompanying measures

The. Regulation 1467/94 (Annex 1; II General Provisions) allows for the
granting of Community financial contributions for Accompanying measures.
Accompanying measures are defined as "the organisation of seminars, technical conferences and workshops, internal coordination measures through
specialized technical groups, training and mobility schemes for specialist
personnel, the promotion of the utilization of results".

_**^tttmOBÊBBSBSKBBaUHÊÊmak**_ 8 _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_23_ _Accompanying measures_ _2_ _CURRENT POSITION_

**2.3.1 Specialized technical groups**

On 20 April 1994, during the discussion on the Draft Regulation on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilization of genetic resources in
agriculture, the Commission made a Statement to the Parliament that: _"At_
_least once a year, the Commission_ _will_ _organize meetings on the conservation,_
_the characterization, the_ _dollection_ _and the utilization of genetic resources in_
_agriculture. Representatives_ _of_ _all appropriate competence will be_ _invited,_ _in_
_view of an exchange of information. This will be done in the context of the_
_programme's accompanying measures. Having in mind the important role_
_which the informal_ _sector_ _plays in the conservation, characterization, collec-_
_tion and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture, the Commission will_
_ensure in particular that representatives of persons working in the informal_
_sector are invited to these meetings, according to the subject matter of the_
_meeting"._

The first meeting in fulfilment of the Commission's Statement to the Parliament was held on 14 April 1996. Member State representatives on the Genetic Resources Committee were asked to provide a list of non-governmental
organizations active in the area of genetic resources in agriculture in their
country. On the basis of this information, 44 non-governmental organisations were invited and 29 NGO representatives came to the meeting. Representatives of the European Parliament also attended. There was a general
exchange of views, covering many aspects of the implementation of 1467/94
and of complementary legislation.

The meeting decided to recommend the following :

  - information on the modalities of implementation of 1467/94 should
be diffused as widely as possible,

  - a call for proposals for training actions should be considered.

It was also suggested that the invitation list for the next similar meeting should be extended to representatives of the formal sector, and that
projects which propose work on the same species should be encouraged to
work together.

It is intended to repeat the meeting before the end of 1997.

2.3.2 The **organisation** of seminars, technical conferences **and** workshops

Apart from the meeting of non-governmental organisations, mentioned above,
no other seminars, technical conferences or workshops have been organized
up till now. This is due to the lack of staff. Due to administrative constraints
it has not been possible to appoint any personnel to the Programme (see
section 2.5 page 12 for a discussion of the problem; the impossibility of using "mini-budgets" for financing resources within the Commission). If the
staffing situation is resolved quickly, and if credits are available, in 1997, the
Commission intends to organize a series of conferences, starting in 1997,
probably including the following subjects :

Management of animal genetic resources ; a Conference on "Role of animal rescue centres in conservation, characterization and utilisation of
animal genetic resources",

_Regulation_ _1467/94_ 9 _**t^màéSÊÊaaÉÈÊÊÊimÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊmKtk**_

_2 CURRENT POSITION_ _2.4_ _Community Coordination_

**Utilisation of plant genetic resources** ; **a** Workshop on _"In-situ_ conservation of plant genetic diversity; crop mixtures and control of plant disease",

**Cattle genetic resources** ; **a** Workshop on "Cattle genetic resources - erosion of rare breeds and uniformisation of common breeds ",

**Standards for plant genetic resources databases** ; a Workshop on good database practice, for those beginning to construct a database of their gene
banks.

**Putting databases on the internet** ; a Workshop for curators who already
have a database and who wish to diffuse their database by making it
accessible over the Internet.

**2.3.3 Training and mobility schemes for specialist personnel**

Due to the lack of staff, no actions have been made up till now to undertake
this accompanying measure. If this situation is resolved quickly, and if
funds are available in 1997, the Commission envisages to explore in 1997
the possibility of organizing:

  - a 3 weeks training scheme for specialists in plant genetic resources.

The objective would be to give an introduction to the basic science and recent developments in curating techniques for genetic resources collections:
seed conservation, _in vitro_ conservation,, _in vivo_ conservation, molecular
methods of characterisation, characterisation of agronomic value, questions
of sample size for conservation,.... The students would be expected to put
their studies directly into practice.

**2.3.4 The promotion** of **the utilization of results**

Article 6.2 of Regulation (EC) 1467/94 charges the Commission with "promoting the dissemination and exploitation of any results of work in the field
of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic
resources in agriculture which could contribute to the achievement of those
aims".

The Inventory (second version) mentioned above (section 2.1.2, page 6)
will contain a description of each genetic resources project supported in this
Programme, and the information will be diffused via the internet. Results of
each project will be included as they become available. If the problem of lack
of staff can be resolved, this Guide will be made available in printed as well
as in electronic form, thereby assisting the dissemination and exploitation
of results of the work done.

2.4 Coordination at Community level

Article 1 of 1467/94 stipulates that the Commission is required to "coordinate and promote at Community level work on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources undertaken in the
Member States".

**« • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A** **10** _**Regulation**_ _**1467/94**_

_2.4_ _Community Coordination_ _2_ _CURRENT POSITION_

**2.4.1 International Negotiations**

Coordination of the Community position as concerns plant genetic resources,
has been done in the context of the FAO Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (Leipzig Germany 14-23 June 1996). The
Commission produced a List of European Union Legislation in the area of
Plant Genetic Resources (section D.4, page xxxii\ and each Member State
prepared an extensive survey of the national situation regarding plant genetic resources, their conservation and utilisation. For further details see
the Appendix section B.2.2, page xv below. A draft declaration by the European Union at the International Conference was discussed with experts from
the Programme Committee and from the Seeds Committee on 15.01.96,
21.03.96 and on 28.03.96 and approved by the Council Committee Produits de base (PROBA). The draft declaration (see Appendix section D.3,
page xxxii) was then submitted to FAO through the usual channels.

2.4.2 Community Programmes of Research and Technological Development

Regulation 1467/94 expressly lays down that _...the following actions are_
_specifically not eligible for Community financial support in this programme:_
_theoretical studies, studies to test hypotheses, studies to improve tools or tech-_
_niques, work involving untested techniques or_ _"model"_ _systems, and all other_
_research activities_

In fact, Community programmes of research and technological development are organised in the Framework Programme. Some of these programmes involve research on Genetic Resources; notably the BioTech, the
Environment and Climate, and the FAIR programmes. Commission services
keep close contact with these programmes:

The Biotechnology programme is developing molecular tools to accelerate and to deepen the measurement of biological diversity. One of the
current projects is investigating molecular tools for ungulates (cattle,
sheep and goats); a second focusses on molecular tools for forest trees
and a third focusses on particular generic elements ("transposable elements") of major crop plants. In each case, the objective is to measure
biodiversity in a particular class of organisms and to attempt to understand its nature. Thus animal breeds may differ from one another at a
few points in the chromosome (loci), or in a more generalised fashion
across the whole genome, studies are under w [r] ay to clarify this; individual forest trees are known to be very diverse, and PCR techniques
need to be refined accordingly; transposable elements can be used as
markers to identify and measure genetic diversity in crop plants and
a systematic effort is being made in this area.

The Environment and Climate programme has established an ad hoc working group on Research and Biodiversity. The aim is to produce a common research agenda, discussed and agreed by several concerned actors as researchers, decision makers, international bodies, NGOs, private sectors, etc.. A first indicative draft of a document "Research into
Biological Diversity", as well as a questionnaire, are available on the
World Wide Web at [http://w\vw.oden.se./~](http://w/vw.oden.se./~) ewgrb.

_Regulation 1467/94_ 11

_2_ _CURRENT POSITION_ _2.5 The financial situation_

**The "AIR"** and **"FAIR" Programmes** have a number of projects on the evaluation of generic diversity and its utilisation for a sustainable agriculture; notably the analysis of genetic diversity in cattle, a "European
observatory" on strawberry varieties, and the location and exploitation of genes for pest and disease resistance in _Brassicas.._

2.4.3 Other Community Regulations and Directives

There are a number of other Community Regulations and Directives relevant
to the conservation and sustainable utilization and exploitation of genetic
resources in agriculture. Commission services are in frequent correspondence and consultation with the services responsible for, notably:

Regulation (EC) 2078/92, one of the "flanking measures" of the reform of
the Common Agricultural Policy, on agricultural production methods
compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside. It provides, _inter alia,_
for the payment of an annual premium to farmers who raise animals
of endangered breeds, and also for the cultivation and propagation of
useful plants adapted to local conditions and threatened by generic
erosion.

Regulation (EC) 2081/92, on the protection of geographical indicarions and
designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs; and

Regulation (EC) 2082/92, on certificates of spécifie character for agricultural products and foodstuffs. These two Regulations assist the marketing of high quality products and foodstuffs having an identifiable
character and geographical origin; as for example, those foodstuffs
based on a local race or variety.

Criteria and modalities for studbooks and herdbooks as laid down by Council Directive 77/504/EEC and Commission Decision 84/247/EEC (bovines);
Council Directive 89/361 and Commission Decision 90/254(EEC) (sheep
and goats); Council Directive 90/42 7/EEC and Commission Decision
92/353/EEC (equidae).

2.5 The Financial Situation

The Regulation specifies a first programme of 5 years, with an estimated
budget of 20 Mecu, including the cost of personnel and administration.
An indicative breakdown of the budget is given in annexe II of Regulation
1467/94 and reproduced below. Note in particular that the ratio of expenditures (plants:animals) is indicated to be 3:1.

Permanent Inventory 10%
Conservation, characterisation, collection and
Utilization of Genetic Resources:

Plants . 66%
Animals 22%
Program Evaluation 2%
Total 100%

**!**
_***&ÊËIÊËËÊÊÊÊÊÊÊKIÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊk**_ **-** _**Regulation**_ _**1467/94**_

_2.5 The financial situation_ _2_ _CURRENT POSITION_

Note that the definitive yearly amounts are determined by the budgetary
authority.
The indicative multiannual schedule for the Programme is given below:

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999"
Engagements, mecu 0.017 3.5 2.5 0
Payments 0 0.051 1.1 1.915

In 1994, because the work programme was not adopted until November
1994, it was not possible to launch a Call for Proposals that year.

In 1995, the first Call for Proposals was launched and 3,500,000 ecu were
committed to fund the projects selected.

In 1996, 5 projects have been selected under the second Call for proposals and 2,500,000 ecu were committed before the end of 1996.

In the 1997 Avant projet of the General Budget, the Commission put
"Pour mémoire" against line B2-5170 in order to attract the attention of the
Parliament to the fact that the Commission services have been obliged to
manage 1467/94 without any additional staff, and that there was an urgent
need to find a solution to this problem.

This situation is due to the fact that Regulation 1467/94 was conceived
at a time when costs of manpower could be defrayed from part B2 of the
budget, as in, for example, the research line B6. While Regulation 1467/94
was being agreed by the Council and by the Parliament, the above procedure
was suspended. So, in spite of the formal text, by the time that the Regulation was ready to be implemented, there was no possibility of engaging
funds for expenditure or manpower costs.

As to the future, there is an important need to balance the expenditure
in favour of animal genetic resources. While the Regulation establishes an
indicative ratio of expenditures (plants:animals) of 3:1, for the 14 proposals
selected in the first and second calls for proposals the actual figure is 4.3:1.

In order to be able to redress the balance (plants:animals) towards the
indicative figure of 3:1, the funding available for each Call for Proposals
needs to be increased. This is because projects on animal genetic resources
tend to be, by their very nature, substantially more expensive than projects
on plant genetic resources.

It is concluded that, subject to the availability of funds and the agreement of the Budgetary Authority, the sum available per Call for the two
remaining years (1998 and 1999) should be increased to ±5 mecu so as to
make best use of the remaining funds, and in order to be able to approach
the indicative figure of 3:1 balance of funds between plants and animal
projects.

_Regulation 1467/94_ 13

_**2 CURRENT POSITION**_ _**2.5 The financial situation**_

**HmiWHUiil** **14** _**Regulation**_ _**1-167/94**_

_3_ _CONCLUSIONS_ _AND_ _RECOMMENDATIONS_

###### 3 Conclusions and recommendations

The following conclusions and recommendations regarding managerial aspects of the programme derive from the analysis presented in secrion 2 of
this Report.

A number of conclusions and recommendations regarding scientific and
technical aspects, and which merit managerial attention, are also presented.
These derive from the _Survey and study of developments of actions in the_
_Member States_ presented in the Appendix (section B.2, page xv).

Further conclusions deriving from the Study are presented in section B.l,
(page x).

3.1 Managerial aspects

  - The Programme Committee has emphasised the importance of increasing expenditure on animal genetic resources, in conformity with the
Regulation, which establishes an indicative ratio of expenditures between plants and animals as 3:1. In order to achieve this ratio, the
relative expenditure on projects on animal generic resources must be
increased. Because projects on animal genetic resources are generally
more costly than projects on plant generic resources, this will require
larger tranches of funding for each of the remaining Calls for Offers.

  - In view of the ever-increasing power and utility of the internet and
of the associated World Wide Web, for storing and diffusing information, a special effort should be made to complete the Commission's
"Inventory of Sources" so that it can be published on the World Wide
Web.

  - Particular efforts should be made in the context of accompanying mea
   - sures, which up till now have not been activated. There is a special
need for:

    - Seminars, workshops and technical conferences, in particular on
aspects of the sustainable use of genetic resources, and to complement the subjects covered by existing shared-cost and concerted actions;

    - Training, specifically targetted at helping NGOs who are managing genetic resources in their day to day work. Also seminars,
workshops, technical conferences to help NGOs coordinate and
prepare submissions to a Call for Proposals.

_Regulation_ _1467/94_ 15 ^•^•Wff|?!Wi(WP(PP!WPR?f

_3_ _CONCLUSIONS_ _AND_ _RECOMMENDATIONS_ _3.2 Technical and scientific_

3.2 Technical and scientific aspects

A _survey of the developments of actions in the Member States and an ex-_
_ploratory study of desirable developments in the conservation, characterisa-_
_tion,_ _collection and utilization of genetic resources in_ _agriculture_ _in the Mem-_
_ber States_ is provided in secrion .B.2 of the Appendix, page xv. Relevant
conclusions of section B.2 are provided below.

  - The Regulation: Secrion B.2.1, page xv: _Should the Council decide to_
_renew the five year programme (for the period_ _1999-2004),_ _it may be_
_appropriate to revise the_ _warding_ _of the Action Plan, to make it quite_
_clear that the Regulation covers not only_ _"European"_ _genetic resources_
_but also their wild relatives._

  - Plants Secrion B.2.2, page xv to xvii: _Member States are agreed that_
_internationally agreed and universally_ _implemented access_ _agreements_
_are crucial to the effective conservation and durable_ _utilisation_ _of plant_
_genetic resources for_ _agriculture._ _If a strong European presence is_ _not._
_maintained in all forums where international access agreements are_
_negotiated, there is a real risk that the genetic resources held in Europe_
_will lose their utility not only to Europe but_ _also_ _to the_ _world._

  - Plants Secrion B.2.2, page xv: _in order to ensure that the new situa-_
_tion established by the Convention on_ _Biological_ _Diversity is fully_ _co-_
_ordinated in the Member States, it would seem useful that curators of_
_collections in the Member States should meet to consider together how_
_these new internationally-determined priorities can best be met. ._

  - Plants Section B.2.2, page xv: _In view of_ _the_ _importance of the Global_
_Plan of Action, and the engagements undertaken at_ _Leipzig_ _by the Mem-_
_ber States, it is appropriate that the implementation of_ _the_ _Plan in the_
_Member States should be placed as a permanent item on the agenda of_
_the Committee for Genetic Resources in Agriculture, for consideration_
_and discussion._

_•_ Plants Secrion B.2.3, page xvii: _In view of the activities of European ge-_
_netic resources experts in_ _ESCORENA,_ _EUFORGEN,_ _[ 1]_ _etc,_ _it would seem_
_advisable that the management of 1467/94 should_ _maintain_ _regular_
_contacts_ _with its homologues in other international programmes, in or-_
_der to achieve the maximum synergy and added value. A special effort_
_should be made to launch activities under 1467/94 to cover promis-_
_ing areas that are currently neglected in other international fora, such_
_as minor crops, and industrial crops. Coverage is also needed for ne-_
_glected sectorial subjects, such as facilitating dialogues between cura-_
_tors of plant collections and users._

  - Plants Section B.2.4, page xviii: _European coordination and linking is_
_required, in order to enable Member States ensure that National Pro-_
_grammes make best use of the available financial and bureaucratic_

_resources._

  - "Plants Secrion B.2.8, page xxi: _In_ _order to encourage the sustainable_

_utilisation of genetic_ _resources,_ _and_ _to_ _define market opportunities, costs_

1
ESCORENA   - European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture; EUFORGEN _°_ The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme

16 _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_3.2_ _Technical and scientific 3_ _CONCLUSIONS_ _AND_ _RECOMMENDATIONS_

_and benefits, the economic and business aspects of genetic resources_
_need to be_ _studied._

Animals Secrion B.2.14, page xxvii: _In other respects than_ _2078/92,_ in
vivo _conservation of individual local breeds in individual Member States_
_is considered to be an action for Member States alone._

Animals Secrion B.2.1 S, page xxvii _It may be appropriate to keep un-_
_der review the activities of_ _FAO_ _and other international bodies in the_
_field of animal genetic resources. In any event, as the work of the FAO_
_Commission progresses, full Community coordination will be_ _needed._

Animals Secrion B.2.15, page xxvii _In view of the current difficult in-_
_ternational discussions on access to and ownership of plant genetic re-_
_sources, it would be wise for the Union to establish a unified position on_
_animal genetic resources, pre-emptively._

Animals Section B.2.18, page xxix: _It may be appropriate to make par-_
_ticular use of the accompanying measures of 1467/94 to help NGOs to_
_coordinate in the preparation of proposals to 1467/94._

Animals Secrion B.2.18, page xxix: _The_ _"steps"_ _laid down in the Work_
_Programme of 1467/94 should not be changed in any future revision,_
_if this would be to the detriment of good project management._

_Regulation_ _1467/94_ 17 JW

_3 ._ _CONCLUSIONS_ _AND_ _RECOMMENDATIONS_ _3.2 Technical and scientific_

18 _Rc-gulation_ _1467/94_

## APPENDIX

_A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_

###### A The Work Programme

These appendices provide supporting information for secrion 2, copies of
relevant documents that are already published by the Commission, and a
_Survey and study of developments of actions in the Member States_ (secrion
B.2, page xv). A summary of the conclusions of the Survey is presented in
secrion B.l, page x, for reference.

A.l The Inventory ' . »

This appendix provides supporting aclministration information regarding
the Inventory

A. 1.1 Legal basis

As laid down in Article 3.2 of Regulation 1467/94, the Commission is required to keep "a permanent inventory of the measures and, by means of
appropriate measures, encourage exchanges of information between competent organizations in the Member States, ...".

The permanent inventory is to consist principally in the establishment,
regular updating and regular publication of the state and nature of resources in agriculture collected in the Community and the listing of current work on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization
of those generic resources. As laid down by Article 3.1, Member States are
required to "provide the Commission on a regular basis and at least once
a year, with technical, economic and financial information on specific measures for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of
genetic resources in agriculture carried out or planned under their authority"/

The aims of the inventory are to support the programme activities and
encourage the widest possible knowledge and use of preserved material.
The inventory should provide a guide to collections of conserved germplasm
and associated activities in the European Community.

Two versions have been produced, as follows:

A.l.2 The first version of the Inventory

The first version of the Inventory was constructed from three sources: 

Commission questionnaire In 1992, the Commission services sent a questionnaire on genetic conservation to the Member States.

IBPGR Inventories The database has been cross-checked and augmented
with information taken from the Directory of Germplasm Collections
(International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome).

On-line databases Complementary information particularly regarding workin-progress were obtained by searching on-line databases of scientific
authors and publications.

_Regulation 1467/94_ iii ***"**ifili«rti

_A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_ _A.2 Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions_

The first version of the inventory was distributed to Member States (in
both printed and electronic (database) formats) at the first meeting of the
Programme Committee (21 November 1994). Each Member State was requested to check and revise the data as relevant.

A.1.3 The second version of the Inventory

The preparation of the second version of the Inventory is discussed on page
6 (section 2.1.2).

A.2 Shared cost and concerted actions

This appendix provides supporting administration information regarding
the shared cost and concerted actions.

A-2.1 Legal basis

Regulation 1467/94 provides for a first programme with a budget of 20
mecu for a duration of five years.

The biggest portion of the budget is foreseen for concerted actions and
shared cost projects.

Concerted Actions provide for the coordination of individual actions that
are already under way in the Member States. Shared Cost projects provide
for the support of new actions. 
The programme of work defines the detailed objectives, the type of actions to be applied and the relevant financial provisions to be adopted. Public calls for proposals are published on the basis of the programme of work
(art.10 of 1467/94).

The work programme lays down that each Concerted Action and each
Shared Cost project should target its work, notably by concentrating on a
specific plant or animal group (for example, genus, species or subspecies, as
appropriate). Each project should aim at a coverage of its particular subject
area that is significant on the Community scale.

As to modalities, the Regulation stipulates that each project will proceed
by a series of six logical steps as follows:

Step 1 Establish the workplan

Step 2 Characterize the collections

Step 3 Evaluation v 'Secondary Characterization)

Step 4 Sort the collections

Step 5 Rationalize the collections

Step 6 Acquire (collect) genetic resources

Work concerning a later step is not eligible for funding unless there is
proof that the preceding steps have been concluded whether in this programme or previously. In particular steps 1-5 must be performed before
step 6 (collecting) may begin.

n iv _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_A.2_ _Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_

Regulation 1467/94 annexe I chapter III stipulates that priority is given,
to concerted action and shared cost projects which involve:

  - contributions from two or more unconnected participants established
in different Member States. Any natural or legal person who is a national of a Member State and established in the Community may participate in the programme. Priority is given to projects assuring as
broad as possible a coverage of the Union. The participation of nationals of third countries and the Community financial contribution
relating to such participation, is examined on a case by case basis.

  - the participation of ail relevant disciplines (e.g.phvsiology, taxonomy,
pathology, quantitative genetics and molecular biology). Disciplines
that offer to improve the utilization of conserved generic resources
are especially encouraged to participate;

  - particular preference to the use of genetic resources for diversification of production, improved product quality and better care for the
environment.

A.2.2 Consultation of the Committee

The Regulation establishes a Committee "on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture, composed
of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of
the Commission" (.Article 13 of 1467/94).

On 29.11.95 and as stipulated in Article 9 of Regulation 1467/94, the
Commission duly consulted the Programme Committee on "the draft work
programme and on the content of the public calls for proposals for action".

A.2.3 First Call

The First Call for Proposals of the Programme Genetic Resources was published on 23 December 1994, and closed on 31 May 1995 (OJ C368 p24).

72 proposals were received. 28 proposals concerned genetic resources
of farm animals, and 44 proposals concerned plant genetic resources (agricultural, horticultural plants and forest trees). Some 400 organizations
from across the EU participated in the first Call for Proposals, including
genebanks and orchard collections, scientific laboratories and associations
of animal breeders, universities and seed companies from the public and
the private sectors (including non-governmental organisations).

The members of the Programme Committee furnished names of 261 experts. As a function of expertise, availability, and the proposals received,
25 independent experts were convoked to evaluate the proposals (10 experts on farm anirnal generic resources and 15 experts on plant generic
resources). They worked in Brussels during the period 3-14 July 1995. 23
projects were evaluated as technically "B" (good) or "A" (very good): 4 proposals on animal genetic resources and 19 on plant generic resources. After
consultation of the Commission services, a shortlist of 10 proposals was selected for Community support.

_A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_ _A.2 Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions_

A2.4 Second Call

The Second Call for Proposals of the Programme Generic Resources was
published on 19 April 1996, and closed on 28 June 1996 (OJ CI 14 p21).

28 proposals were received. 14 proposals concerned gene tic resources of
farm animals and 14 proposals concerned plant generic resources (agricultural, horticultural plants and forest trees). Some 200 organizations from
across the EU participated in the first call for proposals.

As a function of expertise, availability, and the proposals received, 12
independent experts were convoked to evaluate the proposals (6 experts on
farm animal genetic resources and 6 experts on plant generic resources).
They worked in Brussels during the period 15-19 July 1996. 11 projects
were evaluated as technically "B" (good) or "A" (very good ) comprising 4
proposals on animal generic resources and 7 on plant generic resources.
After consultation of the Commission services, a shortlist of 5 proposals
have been selected for Community support (3 on the main list, 2 on the
reserve list). This shortlist was approved by the Programme Committee on
16.10.96.

A.2.5 Summary

1st Call
Approved by the Committee 21/J.1/94
Published in OJ 23/12/94
Closing date 31/03/95
Postponement published 29/03/95
Postponed date 31/05/95
Proposals received 72
Proposals selected 10
Proposals selected approved by Comrnittee 29/11/95
ecu engaged 3,400,000

2nd Call
06/02/96
19/04/96
28/06/96

28
5

16/10/96
2,411,000

A.2.6 Detailed information on the nine projects selected in the First Call

"Pig genetic resources" ("European gene banking project for pig genetic
resources"; Reference Number 012). There are already some 'produits
du terroir' that are based on autochthonous pig breeds. This project
should help that trend. It will also help to diversify methods of pig
production, via the support of robust outdoor-adapted races. The robust type of pig will need less drugs. The project also aims to survey
intramuscular fat, an important contributory factor to meat quality
(e.g. the Gascon x Meishan cross gives better results than Landrace in
the final hybrid pig). Outdoor pig production using robust pigs should
be less polluting than indoor intensive production

"Rabbit genetic resources" ("Inventory, characterization, evaluation, conservation and utilization of european rabbit genetic resources"; Reference Number 060). The project will help more farmers to raise rabbits,
and will help the diversity of rabbit breeds available. The project will
also contribute to production of angora wool, and fur (and felt). It will
offer possibility of a bigger choice of rabbit meat products.

**«** _**m**_

**VI** _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_A.2_ _Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_

The project aims to help protect the most diverse representative breeds
among the 100 breeds thought to exist in the Community (and for
which the Community is responsible, under the BioDiversity convention).

_"Allium_ crops and wild species" ("Protecting future European Community
crops: a programme to conserve, characterise, evaluate and collect _Al-_
_lium_ crops and wild species"; Reference Number 020). The project will
offer forgotten varieties of chives (ciboulette), leeks (poireaux), shallots (echalottes) to growers, and in the long term, it would also help
breeders to increase quality characteristics such as high dry matter,
which is important for the industry. It will offer material to breeders
developing varieties that are naturally resistant to pests and diseases,
and hence not needing chemical pesticides (i.e. less inputs, less intensive production). The project will also provide short term results such
as the diffusion of virus-free, and hence higher-yielding, garlic.

"Minor fruit tree species" ("Conservation, evaluation, exploitation and collection of minor fruit tree species"; Reference Number 029).-The minor fruit tree in question are the following species of the Mediterranean basin; Fig, Pomegranate, Japanese Persimmon, Loquat, Prickly
   - pear, Quince for fruit production, sweet Chestnut, Pistachio, Mulberry,
Carob, Azerole, Medlar, Madrona, Cornelian sherry, Jujube and Sorb.
The project aims to help promote these underutilised fruit. It will
evaluate commercial traits such as post harvest characteristics, production of juices and extracts. The information will be passed on to
extension services and growers organisations. A further objective is to
identify and eliminate 'doubles' from the collections. This will greatly
improve the quality and liability of material offered for sale. Some
of these fruit are particularly suited to marginal areas, and hence to
environmental protection.

"Potatoes" ("Generic Resources of Potato" including 'Conservation, characterization and utilization of secondary potato varieties for ecological
production systems in Europe' "; Reference Number 034 and 045). This
project will provide for the diversification of the range of potato varieties available to the consumer. Some shops and supermarkets are
now actively seeking a wider range of material; this project will help
expand knowledge and use of minor varieties of potato. There is a
special-emphasis on eliminating virus from the stocks, thus increasing their quality as seed. Old varieties will also be characterised for
taste, cooking qualities, storage performance. The resistance to virus,
scab, blight _(Phytopthera)_ and weevil will be assessed. Efficiency of use
of fertiliser will also be assessed. This is a particularly important step
forward towards an eventual extenslfication of potato production.

"European rice" ("Constitution, description et gestion dynamique des ressources génétiques riz _(Oryza_ _satrva)_ a vocation européenne"; Reference Number 037). The Community has some 350,000 ha of rice fields,
producing 1.2 million tonnes of soft rice Qaponica). This project will
eventually benefit breeders who seek to improve resistance to pests
and diseases and environmental stress (in particular 'pyralc', 'pyriculariose', 'helminthosporiose', salinity, low temperature), and, help to
spare the environment of chemical sprays.

_Regulation 1467/94_ vii

_A_ _APPENDIX_ - _WORK PROGRAMME_ _A.2 Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions_

"European beets" ("Evaluation and enhancement of _Beta_ collections for extensificarion of agricultural production"; Ref 042). Though vegetable
beets were known to the Assyrians, sugar beet has a narrow genetic
base (Silesian beet); the modern sugarbeet is relatively homogenous,
and vulnerable to disease. Resistance to diseases will eventually enable reduction in pesticides. Drought resistance will also be sought,
and the project will also eventually have some positive effects on beet
quality.

"Roses" ("European network for characterisation and evaluation of genus
_Rosa_ germplasm"; Reference Number 052). This concerted action puts
together a partnership who are working to help diversification into this
most important flower crop, to improve quality, and to find and use
sources of resistance to diseases and pests.

_"Prunus"_ ("International network on _Prunus_ genetic resources"; Reference
Number 061). This project aims to characterise resistance of almonds,
cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines to important diseases _(Pseudomonas,_
_Monilinia),_ and viruses, and pests (aphids). The information will be
made available to breeders in order to reduce need for chemical pesticides. The aim is to provide material future breeding programmes,
for varietal improvement; disease resistance and also, e.g., longer cropping season. Some attention is also paid to Prunus as a noble hardwood and landscape tree.

A.2.7 Detailed information on the five projects selected in the Second
Call

"Elms" ("Coordination for conservation, characterization, collection and

   - utilization of genetic resources of European Elms" ; Reference Number 078). The Elm is an important hedgerow and landscape tree, giving a useful timber, but now severely threatened by the "Dutch Elm
Disease". This project aims to coordinate the existing European collections of Elms, to characterise the holdings in a coordinated fashion,
and to organise the evaluation of natural resistances to diseases, no [: ]
tably to the "Dutch Elm Disease".

"Grapevines" ("European network for grapevine generic resources conservation and characterization" ; Reference Number 081). This project
will coordinate all the major collections of grapevines in the Union,
and by a series of steps, will achieve a better coordination and utilisation, notably by identifying both double entries, and material which is
under-represented.

"Maize" ("Implementation of the European Network for Evaluation, conservation and utilisation of European maize landraces genetic resources";
Reference Number 0S8). The maize plant was brought from America to Europe by the first explorers. Since then it has diversified into
a number of landraces, some of which prove to have valuable agronomic characters (such as resistance to cold). Many other landraces
have been collected, but not yet evaluated. The project will characterise and evaluate the European patrimony of this important crop,
and make the material and the information widely available.

vui _Regulation 1467/94_

_A.2_ _Shared cost_ _&_ _concerted actions A_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _WORK PROGRAMME_

"Olives" ("Conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of Genetic Resources in Olive _(Olea_ _europaea)";_ Reference Number 097).
The cultivated Olive is native to the area of the Mediterranean basin.
Curators of the European collections of Olive already meet together on
an occasional and Informal basis. By this project, the collections will
work together in a coordinated and consolidated fashion, putting the
emphasis on the coordinated characterisation of Olive plants for quality characteristics, and for natural resistance to pests and diseases.

"Ajoimal Inventory" ("A permanent inventory of European farm animal genetic resources and of activities on characterization, conservation and
utilization of those resources"; Reference Number 0S3). Animal generic resources have been well documented on a local basis, notably
by herdbook societies, but until recently there has been remarkably
little work on a European scale. This project aims to provide the first
steps towards an enriched database of European farm animal genetic
resources. The database will help, notably, workers wishing to survey
for endangered breeds; quantify the cultural and genetic importance
of a breed; identify the appropriate management techniques for long
. term preservation of a particular breeds; find information on the specific utilisation characteristics of a given breed.

i *

_Regulation_ _1467/04_ **IX**

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE_ _STUD_ _Y_

###### B Study of Desirable Developments

B.l Conclusions of the Study

This Section presents, for reference, the conclusions of the exploratory
_Study_ _on_ _desirable developments in the conservation,_ _characterization,_ _collec-_
_tion and utilization of genetic resources in_ _agriculmre_ _in the Member States._

The full text of the survey is to be found below (secrion B.2, page xv).

Conclusions on "desirable developments" which are relevant mostly at
the level of individual genebanks are presented in secrion 6.1.3, page xii.
Conclusions which are more relevant at the national level are presented in
secrion B.1.2, page xi, and conclusions regarding the operation of Regulation
1467/94 at Community level are presented in section B.l.I. Those conclusions which concern the management of Regulation 1467/94 are presented
above in secrion 3.2 of the Report (page 16).

B.l.l Community level

  - Plants Section B.2.2, page xv: _In the context of defining, rationalizing_
_and consolidating national collections in the Member States, it is time to_
_consider whether the information technology developed for the World_
_Wide Web, could be used to achieve a comprehensive system of dis-_
_tributed, public-domain databases of plant genetic resources in Europe._
_The chief issues in realising this potential are the development of data_
_standards, and the establishment of quality control procedures_

« Plants Section B.2.5, page XLX: _More help is required to ensure that_
_expertise of agricultural museums and other_ in situ _conservationists is_
_incorporated in 1467/94 projects. ._

  - Plants Section B.2.7, page xxi: _Because all databases used in 1467/94_
_projects need to be able to exchange data, in the interests of European_
_solidarity, work may be needed on data standards for plant and animal_
_databases, in line with established international guidelines._

  - Plants Section B.2.7, page xxi: _There is a need to increase the use of_
_rapid and cheap evaluation tools, using biochemical and molecular_
_techniques for_ _germplasn)_ _characterization. Training in these modern_
_techniques may need to be developed and_ _offered._

_•_ Plants Section B.2.8, page xxi: _In order to encourage the sustainable_
_utilisation_ _of_ _genetic resources, and_ _to define_ _market opportunities, costs_
_and benefits, the economic and business aspects of genetic resources_
_need to be_ _studied._

  - Animals Section B.2.11, page xxiv: _It_ _would seem useful to encourage_
_the persons responsible for the maintenance of_ _"animal"_ _databases in_
_the Member States to meet together from time to time._

  - Animals Section B.2.11, page xxiv: _It would be useful for experts who_
_have some experience with the FAO and_ _EAAP_ _databanks to meet to-_
_gether as a_ _community_ _of database-users from all Member States, to_
_consider experience and recommendations for enhancing_ _the._ _value of_
_tlie_ _database to end-users._

N _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.l_ _Conclusions_ . _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

Animals Section B.2.11, page xxiv _It may be appropriate and timely_
_to launch a European Expert Consultation on the Management of Ani-_
_mal Genetic Resources, based on the needs of the Common Agricultural_
_Policy, and considering also the recommendations_ _of the_ _FÀO_ _experts._
_The results of the consultation should be forwarded to the Programme_
_Committee for Genetic Resources in Agriculture._

Animals Section B.2.12, page xxvi: _In the general context of Animal_
_genetic resources, the management team of 1467/94 should maintain_
_regular contacts with the other international fora, both formal and in-_
_formal._

Animals Section B.2.12, page xxvi: _It might be appropriate to_ _considéra_
_special action under 1467/94 "accompanying_ _measures"_ _for exchanges_
_between breeders of the same or closely similar breeds_ _in_ _differentcoun-_
_tries, with the objective of developing joint programmes of conserva-_
_tion._

Animals Section B.2.13, page xxvi: _We have already noted that the_
_Genetic Resources committee may need to keep under review the activr_
_ities of international bodies in the field of animal genetic resources; the_
_committee should also receive reports from time to time of activities at_
_national level on animal genetic resources._

Animals Section B.2.13, page xxvi: _The Committee should consider_
_whether there would be value in encouraging_ _international_ _exchanges_
_between national breed societies._

Animals Section B.2.16, page xxviii: _It may be appropriate to consider_
_supporting under the Framework Programme, research to test anecdo-_
_tal reports of adaptability_ _(etc)_ _of particular rare breeds._

Animals Section B.2.16, page xxviii: _Community inventories supported_
_under 1467/94 do not need to incorporate the data that are available_
_on genetic values, but they do need to provide pointers to where such_
_results can be_ _found._

Animals Section B.2.16, page xxviii: _There is no need to_ _incorporate_ _the_
_results of work on genome mapping into Community inventories sup-_
_ported under 1467/94, but it is important that these databases provide_
_pointers to where such results can be_ _found._

Animals Secrion B.2.18, page xxix: _it may next be appropriate to con-_
_vene a discussion meeting on trans-border aspects of the management_
_of_ _animal genetic_ _resources_ _for_ _agriculm_ _re (obserwtions requested from_
_Member States at the last meeting, 16 October 1996)._

B.1.2 National level

  - Plants Section B.2.2, page xv; _in order to ensure that the new situa-_
_tion established by the Convention on Biological Diversity is fully_ _co-_
_ordinated in_ _tlie_ _Member States, it would seem useful that curators of_
_collections_ _in_ _(he_ _Member States should_ _meet_ _to consider together how_
_these new internationally-determined priorities can best be met._

TO

_Reaulatinn_ _I Afi7/QA_ _^_, ; l ' 7 l W, ' - ° "

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_ _B.l_ _Conclusions_

Plants Section B.2.4, page xviii: _European coordination and linking is_
_required, in order to enable Member States ensure that National Pro-_
_grammes make best use of the available financial and bureaucratic_

_resources._

Animals Section B.2.14, page xxvii: _In other respects than 2078/92,_ in
vivo _conservation of individual local breeds_ _in_ _individual Member States_
_is considered to be an action for Member States alone._

Animals Section B.2.14, page xxvii: _It may be appropriate to consider_
_whether activities such as forming a gene_ _pool_ _for the most endangered_
_breeds_ _should,_ _and can, be organized at European_ _level._

Animals Section B.2.15, page xxvii: _In other respects,_ in vitro _conser-_
_vation of_ _local_ _breeds is considered to be an action for Member_ _States_
_themselves to undertake in the first place._

B.l.3 Project level

  - Plants Section B.2.4, page xviii: _Collaboration between the genebanks_
_and their potential users should be further improved, so as to profit_
_from the diverse contributions available from scientists, farmer and_

_consumers._

  - -Plants Section B.2.5, page xLx: _In order to respond effectively to public,_

_and market, interest, old, and new,_ _cultivars,_ _need_ _to be_ _evaluated in_ _or-_
_der to test the claimed adaptedness of old varieties. Activities may then_
_be required to exploit and thereby conserve landraces and old cultivars_
_in situ_ _on-farm._

  - Plants Section B.2.6, page xix: _Rationalisation and safety_ _duplication_ _is_
_a matter of priority._ _(It_ _is,_ _moreover, a key requirement which is placed_
_on all relevant projects under 1467/94)._

  - Plants Section B.2.6, page xix:y4 _more coordinated approach is needed_
_in the conservation of breeders material_ _(it_ _is part of the requirements_
_in every project under 1467/94)._

  - Plants Section B.2.6, page xix:/n _order to confirm that the apparent_
_"gaps"_ _in collections are real, and important, better tests of provenance_
_and relatedness are required. It is important to note that all collecting_
_must respect the international obligations imposed by the Convention_
_on Biodiversity. This is particularly important where the collected ge-_
_netic resources may leave the country of origin._

  - Plants Section B.2.6, page _xix:Experience_ _in the Member States suggests_
_that methodologies for regeneration of germplasm respecting the ge-_
_netic integrity of the accessions still need to be improved, especially_ _for_
_outcrossing species._

  - Plants Section B.2.8, page xxi: _In any collaboration between Member_
_States, quarantine rules for the safe movement of germplasm need to_
_be_ _scrupulously_ _obeyed._

  - Plants Section B.2.8, page xxi: _Genebank_ _managers need to be helped_
_to_ _collect_ _data from_ f/ie _users of their_ _collections._

XU _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.l_ _Conclusions_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

_•_ Plants Section B.2.8, page xxi: _The characteristics required by con-_
_sumers may be found in germplasm collections; the need is to make_
_the search as quick and efficient as possible._

  - Plants Section B.2.8, page xxi: _The practical pros and cons of the_ _"core"_
_collection approach need to be evaluated._ _Training in the approach_
_may need to be developed._

  - Animals Secrion B.2.15, page xxvii: _Actions on_ _"European"_ _breeds should_
_take into consideration, as appropriate, the results_ _of_ _genetic distancing_
_work on related work on related breeds in other countries._

  - Animals Section B.2.16, page xxviii: _Genetic distance mapping is an_
_important activity, to follow on the primary characterisation of each_
_animal_ _breed._ _The resulting data need to be made available in the_
_databases._

  - Animals Section B.2.17, page xxix: _There may be a need to_ _collect,_ _test_
_and diffuse anecdotal information on agriculturally useful characteris-_
_tics of rare breeds, and to encourage formal tests of such claims:_

_Regulation_ _14'~7/[)'<_ Xlil

_**B**_ _**APPENDIX-THE STUDY**_ _**B.l Conclusions**_

xiv _Regulation 1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full_ _text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ - _THE STUDY_

B.2 Survey and study of developments of actions in the Member States

This section provides a survey of the developments of actions in the Member
States and an exploratory study of desirable developments in the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture in the Member States and the coordination of work in that sphere
at Community level in the light of the aims of the common agricultural policy and of the results already achieved under the present programme. _The_
_desirable developments are printed in italics,_

B.2.1 The Regulation 1467/94

Annex 1 of Regulation 1467/94 ("Detailed rules for the implementation of
the Action Programme; Scope - Eligible activities") reads

...This programme concerns the conservation, characterization, evaluation and utilisation of generic resources, plant and animal, which occur
within the territory of the European Community and which are likely to be
lost if special measures are not taken

The above sentence could be interpreted as excluding any work on material which is potentially useful to European agriculture but is only found
outside Europe (e.g. the ancestors of most crops and farm animals).

_When the next five year programme (1999-2004) is being prepared It may_
_be appropriate to revise the wording of the Action Plan, to make it quite clear_
_that the Regulation covers not only "European" genetic resources but_ _also'_
_their wild relatives._

B.2.2 Plant genetic resources; The international context

The development of actions on plant and animal genetic resources in the
Member States during the period under review has been largely conditioned
by the preparations for the FAO World Technical Conference on Plant genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Leipzig, June 1996; preparatory
meeting of the European Region Nitra, Slovakia, September 1995). For the
Nitra meeting each-Member State prepared an extensive survey of the national situation regarding plant genetic resources, their conservation and
utilisation. The Commission produced and distributed a List of European
Union Legislation in the Area of Plant Genetic Resources. The following
account is drawn heavily.from those surveys, and from the summary prepared for Nitra by the services of the International Board of Plant Genetic
Resources.

Two international meetings at the end of the period under review also
conditioned national thinking. These meetings were the third Conference
of the Parries to the Convention on Biodiversity, which discussed agricultural biodiversity (Buenos Aires, November 1996) and the meeting "L'Europe
rurale en l'an 2000; le development rural intègre, enjeu politique majeur"
(Cork, November 1996), which announced a ten point rural development
programme for the European Union, including, inter alia, (Point 4) "Policies
should promote rural development which sustains the quality and amenity
of Europe's rural landscapes (natural resources, _biodiversity_ and cultural
identity)".

XV

_Regulation 1467/94_ xv

_B_ _APPENDIX_ - _THE_ _STUDY_ _B.2 Full text_

However, the general background to all the above is set by the United
Narions Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which took
place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.

The "Earth Summit" produced two binding Conventions (The Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Climate Change), and three
further documents (Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, and the Agreement on forest principles).

The signatory parries to the Convention on Biological Diversity (which
include all Member States, and the Commission) bound themselves to conserve their indigenous genetic resources, _in situ_ and _ex situ,_ to meet broad
development needs. This requires the identification of _in situ_ conservation
sites and, in the case of existing _ex situ_ collections, their consolidation and
rationalization into collections representative of available indigenous diversity and inclusive of other diversity of potential importance to the country.

For many collecrions, particularly those at breeding institutes in the
Member States, this means that they have to set priorities for long-term
conservation, and consider conservation of plant genetic resources _in situ,_
both in the wild in natural habitats and through cultivation on-farm and in
gardens and orchards. This is added to the traditional objective of such
collecrions, which is to support breeding objectives. _Therefore, in order to_
_ensure that the new situation established by the Convention on_ _Biological_ _Di-_
_versity is fully coordinated in the Member States, it would seem useful that_
_curators of collections in the Member States should meet to consider together_
_how these new internationally-determined_ _priorities.can_ _best be met._

The FAO Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (Leipzig Germany 14-23 June 1996) produced a "Leipzig Declaration", it agreed to the publication of a "Report on the State of the World's
Plant Generic Resources for Food and Agriculture", and it approved a "Global
Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture". The
Plan comprises a series of recommendations for priority activities, arranged
in four sections:

  - _In situ_ conservation and development

  - _Ex_ _situ_ conservation

  - Utilization of plant genetic resources

  - Institutions and capacity building

The Plan is to be implemented by individual Member States. As will be seen
below, the Member States are actively engaged in all the above activities. _In_
_view of the importance of the Global Plan of_ _Action,_ _and the engagements_
_undertaken at Leipzig by the Member States, it_ _is_ _appropriate that the imple-_
_mentation of the Plan in the Member States should be placed as a permanent_
_item on the agenda of the Committee for_ _Genetic_ _Resources in Agriculture,_
_for consideration and discussion._

One of the first steps in order to meet international obligations under
the Biodiversity Convention and the Global Plan of Action is the process of
defining, rationalizing and consolidating national collections. This is currently underway in several Member States. There is still a lack of national
inventories of the generic diversity, either that which exists in the country _(in situ)_ and that which exists in national collections (e.v situ). Such

xvi _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

inventories are helpful for conservation programmes that are effective and
economic, and are among the obligations to the Convention and Agenda
21. A decentralised or distributed database offers universal access with
decentralised maintenance, and it enables solutions to the traditional problems of centralised databases (compilation costs, risk of duplication of effort). _Therefore, in the context of defining, rationalizing and consolidating_
_national collections in the Member States, it is time to consider whether the_
_information technology developed for the World Wide_ _Web,_ _could be used to_
_achieve a comprehensive system of distributed, public-domain databases of_
_plant genetic resources in Europe. The chief issues in realising this poten-_
_tial are (he development of data standards, and the establishment of quality_
_control procedures_

The Biodiversity Convention has necessitated the revision of the agreement regarding access to genetic resources. Negotiations are currently
underway in the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources. _Member States_
_are agreed that internationally agreed and universally implemented access_
_agreements are crucial to the effective conservation and durable utilisation_
_of plant genetic resources for agriculture. If a strong European presence is_
_not maintained in all forums where international access agreements are ne-_
_gotiated, there_ _is_ _a real risk that the genetic resources held_ _in_ _Europe will lose_
_their utility not only to Europe but also to the_ _world._

B.2.3 PlaDt genetic resources: International partnerships 

Before the Regulation 1467/94 was adopted, many of the plant genetic resources experts in the Member State were accustomed to collaborate together bilaterally, and in international fora such as the Nordic Gene Bank,
ESCORENA, EUFOR-GEN, WANA-NET, and ECP/GR.

During the 1980's the Commission worked with ECP/GR (European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks) to facilitate
regional collaboration of experts in plant genetic resources. This resulted
in a number of joint Commission / IBPGR publications on plant descriptors.
The IBPGR "networking" has continued in a series of collaborative initiatives in the period under review. In 1994, ECP/GR entered its fifth 5 year
phase. Seven working groups are active _(Allium,_ _Avena,_ Barley, _Brassica,_
Forages, _Prunus_ and Grain Legumes). The initiation of further groups is
under discussion (namely concerning wheat, and _Malus)._ The ECP/GR activates correspond to Commission "concerted actions", and funds are not
available from ECP/GR for new work. But actions which have developed under ECP/GR have resulted in successful submissions from EC partnerships
for funding of conservation activities under 1467/94 _(Allium, Prunus)_ and
also for funding of research activities under the FAIR programme _(Brassicas,_
Grain Legumes)

The European System of Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture
(ESCORENA) was established by FAO in 1974 on the recommendation of the
European Commission on Agriculture (1972). Within this programme 10
crop-specific networks and three ad hoc research groups are currently operational, dealing to a varying degree with the problems of genetic resources.
A project on olive genetic resources was developed by an ESCORENA partnership, and subsequently submitted to and selected in the Second call for
Proposals (see section A.2.7 above, page ix).

Xvu

_RcQulation_ _1467/94_ vvii _(,!,•_ 2-J.sVnvrO,,.„.., .

_B APPENDIX_ - _THE STUDY_ _B2_ _Full_ _text_

The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) was established in 1994 following the recommendation of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe in Helsinki (1993). The main
tasks of EUFORGEN are to coordinate and promote the _in situ_ and _ex situ_
conservation of forest genetic resources in Europe and the exchange of expertise and information. The Programme is coordinated by IPGRJ in close
collaboration with the Forestry Department of FAO. Pilot'networks have
been established for Norway spruce _(Picea abies),_ cork oak _(Qiiercus_ _suber),_
black poplar _(Populus nigra)_ and noble hardwoods.

_In view_ _of_ _the activities of European genetic resources experts in ESCORENA,_
_EUFORGEN, etc, it would seem advisable that the management_ _of 1467/94 '_
_should maintain regular contacts with its homologues in other_ _international_
_programmes,_ _in order to achieve the maximum synergy and added_ _value._
_A special effort should be made to launch activities under_ _1467/94_ _to cover_
_promising areas that are currently neglected in other international fora, such_
_as minor crops, and industrial crops. Coverage is also needed for neglected_
_sectorial subjects, such as facilitating_ _dialogues between curators of plant_
_collections and users._

B.2.4 Plant genetic resources: National partnerships

The Biodiversity Convention requires countries to put into place the necessary legislation and policy for the conservation, sustainable use and accessibility of plant genetic resources at national and international levels.
In the Leipzig Declaration Uune, 1992), Member States engaged themselves
to establish National Programmes for plant genetic resources in agriculture.
Such programmes will include all relevant partners from various competent
ministries, research institutes, universities, private partners and NGOs. National programmes may need an adequate legal basis and an appropriate
framework and mechanism of coordination in order to avoid duplication of
efforts, to make best use of the available resources, and to facilitate participation in international collaborative work. _European coordination_ _and_
_linking is required, in order to enable Member States ensure (hat National_
_Programmes make best use of the available financial and bureaucratic_ _re-_

_sources._

Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are actively involved in
conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. There is an increasing tendency to link government departments and institutions in partnerships with NGOs in national programmes. The informal sector, including NGOs. farmers associations and various other types of associations, may
also play an important, and often a complementary, role in the conservation
and sustainable use of PGR. Links between the formal and informal sectors
need to be encouraged. Plant breeders, plant physiologists and biochemists,
and other users.of germplasm play an important role in the process of conservation, as well as utilisation of plant genetic resources. _Collaboration_
_between the_ _genebanks_ _and (heir potential users should be further_ _improved,_
_so as to profit from the diverse contributions_ _available_ _from_ _scientists,_ _farmer_
_and_ _consumers._

xvnt _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

B.2.5 Plant genetic resources: _In situ_ conservation

All Member States have measures in place to protect specific habitats and
specific species. This enables conservation of ecosystem and species. All
Member States have areas of forest, other natural vegetation and specific
habitats, protected under legislation. Most Member States have surveyed
and identified endangered native species, drawn up 'red lists' and put in
place measures to protect these species and the habitats where they grow.

The forest species relatively well protected in this way. Less attention
has been paid to _in situ_ and on-farm conservation of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture (PGRFÀ). Only'a lew countries have specifically
surveyed the status of wild species related to crops [2] .

A foreseeable development is that countries may decide to designate
protected areas simply to conserve plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture in situ. _Methodologies appropriate for_ in situ _conservation,_ _doc-_
_u_ _mentation and utilization of agricultural plant species need to be developed,_
_so that full advantage can be taken of the move towards_ in situ _conservation._

In the period under review there has been an increase in public interest
in the "greening" of agriculture through the use of more traditional organic,
and integrated farming systems. It is often claimed that agricultural landraces and old varieties are better adapted to low input, sustainable and
environmentally friendly farming. _In order to respond effectively to public,_
_and market, interest, old, and riew, cultivars, need to be evaluated in order to_
_test the claimed adaptedness of old varieties. Measures may then be required_
_to exploit and thereby conserve landraces and old cultivars in situ on-farm._

Non-governmental organizations are particularly active in promoting the
conservation and use of local crops and varieties. In several Member States,
agricultural folk museums are prominent in maintaining and making available the landraces and old cultivars. _More help is_ _required_ _to ensure that_
_expertise of agricultural museums and other_ _in_ _situ conservationist is incor-_
_porated in 1467/94 projects._

B.2.6 Plant genetic resources: _Ex situ_ conservation

_Ex-situ_ conservation is usually the best, and often the only, way of assuring
long term survival of particular germplasm, There is no doubt that many old
varieties are disappearing from farms. Italy, for example, reported to the
Nitra Conference, that out of 41 farms growing landraces of forage legumes
in the 1970s, only one now carries through this activity. Among species
reportedly under threat of erosion are both cultivated (e.g. lentils, chickpeas) and naturally occurring crops (e.g. _Artemisia_ _granatensis,_ _Satureja_
spp., _Thymus_ spp., _Beta_ _maritima._ _Siderids_ spp., _Origanum_ spp.. _Nepeta_
_cataria, Digitalis_ _lanata,_ _Astragalus_ _dasynlhus,_ _Calamintha_ _nepeta)._ Most
of the seed material that has disappeared from farms has been collected in
ex-situ collections. _Attention needs to be paid to the safety of stored material_
_over the long term._

The following is a list of _ex situ_ base collections of seed crops located
in Europe for which agreements were made with IPGRl (then IBPGR) for the
long-term conservation of crop gencpools:

2 sce "A catalogue of the ^nld relatives of cultivated plants native to Europe", by Vernon H
Heyvvood and Daniel Zohary. published in flora Meditcrranea. volume 5, pages 3 75 to «11 5 •

_Regulation 1467/94_ Xtx

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_ _B.2 Full_ _text_

Belgium Jardin Botanic National de Belgique, Meise; Wild _Phaseolus_ spp.,
Wild _Vigna_ spp.

France INRA - CIRAD, Corsica; _Citrus_ and related species Regional: Africa
+ Mediterranean (field genebank)

France CIRAD-CA, Montpellier; _Gossypium_ spp.

Germany Institut fuer Pflanzen-zuechtung und Kultur-pfianzenforshung,
Gatersleben; _Lycopersicon_ spp. _Lupinus_ spp.

Germany Institut fuer Pflanzenbati (FAL), Braunschweig - Voelkenode; A vena
spp. _Beta_ spp. _Brassica carinata,_ _B.campestris,_ _B.juncea,_ _B.napus,-_
_Sinapis_ spp., _Phaseolus_ spp.

Greece Greek Gene Bank. Thessaloniki; _Brassica,_ _Nicotiana, Beta_ spp.

Italy Germplasm Institute (CNR). Bari; Wheats

The Netherlands Centre for Genetic Resources, (CGN); Wageningen Lettuce,
_Allium cepa, A.ampeloprasum,_ Wild _Allium_ spp., _Capsicum_ spp., _Bras-_
_sica oleracea, Solanum melongena_

Portugal Portuguese Gene Bank, Braga; Maize

Spain Universidad Politecnica, Madrid; Wild relatives of cruciferous crops

_*_
Spain INIA, Madrid; _Citrus_ and wild species _Cucun)is_ spp., _Citrullus_ spp.

Sweden Nordic Gene Bank (NGB), Alnarp; _Pisum_ spp., _Hordeum_ spp., _Avena_
spp.. _Secale_ spp., _Beta_ spp.

United Kingdom Royal Botanic Garden (RBG), Kew; Tn'/b/i'um spp. _Cenchrus_
spp., _Digitaria_ spp., _Lotononis_ spp".

United Kingdom Horticulture Research International (HRI), Wellesbourne;
Carrot, _Brassica oleracea, B.campestris, B.juncea, B.napus, Raphanus_
spp., _Allium_ spp., _Beta_ spp.

In general, the level of safety duplication of collections in Europe is
difficult to judge. Much of the material, particularly in some of the eastern European collections, is advanced cultivars which are common to many
genebanks. However, only a few programmes have, as yet, identified unique
holdings and ensured their safety duplication. This means that important
accessions are at some risk. _Rationalisation and safety duplication is a mat-_
_ter of priority._ _(It_ _is, moreover, a key requirement which is placed on all_ _relevant projects under 1467/94)._

There is some concern over the fate of germplasm material which is no
longer of direct interest to breeders: it is suggested that there is a risk that
material which finds no immediate may be neglected by conservationists.
A _more coordinated approach in this area is_ _needed;_ _it is part of the require-_
_ments in every project under 1467/94._

Material which is readily available elsewhere does not need to "be held at
all. Methodologies and agreements need to be developed and implemented,
to identify and eliminate duplicate, accessions. Some curators have identified significant gaps in their collections and indicate'that collecting has to

XX _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full_ _text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

be carried out. But good management requires that before engaging in further collecting, the material already collected should first be inventoried. _In_
_order to confirm that the apparent_ _"gaps"_ _in collections are real, and impor-_
_tant, better tests of provenance and relatedness are required. It is important_
_to note (hat all collecting must respect the international obligations imposed_
_by the Convention on Biodiversity. This is particularly important where (he_
_collected genetic resources may leave the country of_ _origin._

Many Member States are recognizing the need to restrict the size of national collections; either by concentrating on a "core" collection, or by limiting the collection to germplasm originating jn the country and of particular
value to it.

Some preserved germplasm may be at risk through low viability. Regulation 1467/94 allows the regeneration of material as an eleigible expense in
shared cost actions. _Experience in the Member States suggests that_ _method-_
_ologies for regeneration of germplasm respecting the genetic integrity of the_
_accessions still need to be improved, especially for outcrossing species._

B.2.7 Plant genetic resources: Characterisation

Characterization and evaluation are essential to make the resources more
immediately useful. These tasks require substantial inputs. _There is a need_
_to increase the use of rapid and cheap evaluation tools, using biochemical_
_and molecular techniques for germplasm characterization, Training in these_
_modern techniques may need to be developed and_ _offered._

Potential users of germ plasm collections need to be able to find the data
they are looking for. At present, only a few collections have a complete and
convivial documentation system, but with the development of technology
for the internet / World Wide Web, the necessary tools are becoming available.

It seems that almost each germ plasm collection has its own system for
storing the results of characterisatation. Some argue for the centralised
harmonization of documentation systems at both national and Community
level. However, as noted above, it seems more cost effective to adopt a
distributed, decentralised model, which offers universal access with decentralised maintenance, and less duplication of effort). The chief issues in
realising this potential arc the development of data standards, and the establishment of quality control procedures. _Because all databases used in_
_1467/94_ _projects need to be able to exchange data, in the interests of_ _Euro-_
_pean solidarity, work may be needed on data standards._

B.2.S Plant genetic resources: Utilisation

No country is self-sufficient in PGR nor can all countries accumulate resources which would satisfy all their needs. This means that Member State .
experts need to collaborate at local, regional and international levels. _In_ _any_
_collaboration_ _bet^veen_ _Member States, quarantine rules for the safe move-_
_ment of germplasm need to be scrupulously_ _obeyed._

The level of utilization of PGR stored in genebanks is difficult to assess. There is a general lack of feedback documentation on the final use of
the distributed material. _Cancbank_ _managers_ _need to be helped_ _to collect_

>CX_i

_Reaulation_ _1467/94_ w i _111,'_ _?4K6v,>rO_ »..» .. . .., --.

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE_ _STUDY_ _B.2 Full text_

_data from the users of their collections._ This is an eligible cost in 1467/94
projects.

In order to produce crops less dependent on chemical products, plant
breeders are searching for resistance to abiotic stress (e.g. drought, cold),
resistance to biotic stress (e.g. diseases, pests),'quality traits, and better
use of inputs without detriment to income. There is a growing demand for
a wider choice and variety of horticultural crops and agricultural products,
for which diversity in taste, colour, nutritional values and earliness/lateness
is highly valued by the market. _The characteristics required by consumers_
_may be found in germplasm collections; the need is to make the search as_
_quick and efficient as possible._

Recent years have seen the development of rapid chemical methods to
measure genetic characteristics, and of biométrie methods of handling the
resulting data sets. The resulting calculation of the "genetic distance" between accessions can be used to identify a small subset or "core" which
contains a large proportion of the total variability of all the accessions. It is
then possible to characterization and evaluate the "core" collection, knowing that most of the variability has been sampled. The establishment of
core collections is one means of simplifying access to the wider diversity
in collections. This cost-effective approach to documenting collections is
being pursued in a number of centres. _The practical pros and cons of the_
_"core" collection approach need to be evaluated. Training in (he approach_
_may*need_ _to be developed._

[Public interest in underutilized crops seems to.be increasing. However](http://to.be)
it is unclear just how large, and just how stable, is the market for any of
these new products from minor crops. _In_ _order_ _to_ _encourage the sustainable_
_utilisation of genetic resources, and to define market_ _opportunities,_ _costs and_
_benefits, the economic and business aspects of genetic resources need to be_
_studied._

B.2.9 Animal genetic resources for agriculture: Background

Evidence from a range of recent studies shows that animals are inherently
less diverse than plants. Conservation operations for animals are both more
time consuming than they are for plants. The resources of domestic animals
have tended to receive less attention from conservators than the resources
of agricultural plants. Thus management aspects of animal, and of plant,,
genetic resources are significantly different, and is sometimes argued that
animals are relatively "disadvantaged".

B.2.10 Animal genetic resources: International context

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, at Rio de
Janeiro in June 1992. adopted a number of documents including "Agenda
21". Chapter 14 of Agenda 21. entitled "promoting sustainable agriculture
and rural development" notes that animal genetic resources are under threat
and recommends that vocal animal breeds with their specific adaptations
and disease resistances should be preserved. It goes on to state that a 10
year programme of action is needed for the description of all breeds of
livestock and it calls for programmes to be established to preserve breeds

_'ndon_ _1467/04_

_B.2_ _Full text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

at risk and to develop measures for the survival and development of indigenous animal breeds. Endangered animal species should be identified,
it suggests.

Agenda 21 created the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development but the Agenda itself is not a legal agreement or instrument.
Governments and other agencies are free to pursue its recommendations,
or not. Some Member State governments and non governmental bodies were
already pursuing the above objectives before the Rio meering; others have
begun to implement some measures more recently. At a concerted level the
most significant event has been the publicatjon of the "Hannover" database,
also known as the EAAP Animal Genetic'Data Bank (FAAP: European Association of Animal Production). This database corresponds to some of the
objectives established by Agenda 21. In particular it monitors information
on cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses, in the 15 Member States and in 18
other non member European countries as well.

The aim is to watch over developments and risks, and to encourage use
and conservation of the genetic diversity of farm animals in Europe. It contains information on a total of _877_ breeds of farm animals.

The same data have been provided to the Global Databank for Farm Animal Genetic Resources, being develop and maintained by the FAO. This
enables the European situation to be put into global perspective.

The Member States are registered on the Hannover data habeas holding
586 races of farm animals (172 races of cattle, 229 sheep. 52 goats, 68 pigs,
65 horses). The data for Europe are provided in the recent FAO publication
"World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity" (FAO. 1995 [3] ). Both the
'Hannover' database and the 'FAO' database are now available on the internet, making available information from the Member States. The FAO data
base provides information by country, by species group, by risk status and
in alphabetical order by name.

According to FAO, Europe possesses around two-thirds of earth's animal
genetic resources for the chicken, duck and goose species, half of the cattle,
horses and turkeys, and one-third of its goat, pig and quail breeds.

In the Member States, the estimated numbers of races are defined .as
_critical, endangered, critical-maintained,_ _endangered-maintained_ are as follows:

cattle « 1 3 critical

     - 15 endangered

    - 23 critical-maintained

     - 21 endangered-maintained

goat - 7 critical

     - 11 endangered

    - 0 critical-maintained

     - 6 endangered-maintained

horse/ass - 13 critical

    - 23 endangered

3 !SBN92-S-10 37 29-9 X X \ V \

_B_ _APPENDIX_ - _THE_ _STUD Y_ - 5.2 _Full text_

    - 6 critical-maintained

     - 10 endangered-maintained

sheep - 1 5 critical

     - 19 endangered

_•_ 5 critical-maintained

     - 19 endangered-maintained

pig _*_ 5 critical

    - 4 endangered

     - 7 critical-maintained

    - 3 endangered-maintained

poultry - 47 critical

     - 57 endangered

    - 0 critical-maintained

    - 0 endangered-maintained

B.2.11 Ajoimal genetic resources: International developments

Although domestic animal diversity was recognised as an important component of global biodiversity by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro June 1992), by the Biodiversity
Convention and by Agenda 21, formal international activities on the conservation of animal genetic resources for agriculture are still very sparse
compared with those on plant generic resources. This is not to neglect
the informal activities of workers on animal genetic resources, who have
worked together across national boundaries for many year. These contacts
have intensified recently with the development, for example, of cooperative
international repositories for genetic information on the pig, bovine and
poultry genomes.

At the formal level, in January 1992, the Commission convened an ad
hoc group of experts. Their recommendations ate mentioned at.various
places in this document. In April 1992 FAO convened an International Expert Consultation on animal genetic resources. The FAO group made recommendations in four areas;

  - international structures,

  - monitoring animal genetic resources and criteria for prioritization of
threatened breeds,

« breed development and conservation programmes.

  - biotechnology

These recommendations are to be implemented by FAO under the aegis
of the Genetic Resources Commission. The Commission, and the Member
States, are full members of the Commission. Little has been discussed as yet.
_It_ _may be appropriate and timely to launch a European Expert Consultation_
_on (he Management of Animal Genetic_ _Resources,_ _based on the needs of the_

xxiv _Regulation 1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full_ _text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_

_Common Agricultural_ _Policy,_ _and considering also the recommendations of_
_the FAO experts. The results of the consultation should be forwarded to the_
_Programme Committee for Genetic Resources in Agriculture._

_It has already been suggested that the Committee should keep under re-_
_view_ _(he_ _implementation of the_ _FAO_ _Global Plan for_ _Plant_ _Genetic Resources._
_It may also be_ _appropriate_ _to keep under review the activities of_ _FAO_ _and_
_other international bodies in the field of animal genetic resources._

_In any event, as the work of the FAO Commission progresses, full Com-_
_munity coordination will be_ _needed._

In technical terms, the most notable event during the period under review has been the appearance of a World Watch List for Domestic Animal
Diversity. This was published by the FAO with the support of UNEP. The
contents of the database owe considerably to European work; in particular
the "World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties", which was
originally an in-house document of the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau
(UK), and. later published by them, and the database "Dat?bank on Animal
Genetic Diversity in Europe", maintained at Hannover, Germany, funded by
the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and organised under the aegis of
the European Association on Animal Production (EAAP). The EAAP has had
support from the European Union for a number of years. It may be appropriate to support actions to enhance the quantity and quality of the data in
the EAAP database. In fact, a project on this subject is has been selected in
the context of the Second Call for Offers (see A.2.7, page ix above).

Member State governments and others can now consult the FAO and
EAAP databases over the internet. Because they are mostly conserved in
vivo, animal genetic resources are very much more evanescent than plant
genetic resources. The databases therefore require regular monitoring and
reporting. _It would seem useful to encourage the persons responsible for the_
_maintenance of_ _"animal"_ _databases in the Member States to meet together_
_from time to time._

Member State governments can also obtain a copy of the databank entries for the animal genetic resources located in their territory. It is sometimes argued that the endangered status and concern for any particular
breed is already well known in the country concerned, and that effort on
databanking is misplaced. Others point out that databanks are particularly
useful for four types of management enquiry;

  - what is the utilisation potential of any particular breed ?

  - what is the risk of genetic erosion for any particular breed ?

  - what is the urgency of conserving any particular endangered breeds
(what are its specific genetic qualifications, its cultural importance, do
similar breeds exist in other countries. ...) ?

  - which conservation management should be performed (change risk
factors, what type of cryoconservation. ...)?

_It would be useful for experts_ _who_ _have some experience with the_ _FAO_ _and_
_EAAP databanks to meet together as a community of da(abase-users from all_
_Member S(a(es, (o consider experience and recommendations for enhancing_
_tlie_ _value of_ _(lie_ _database to end-users._

_Regulation 1467/94_ xxv 4ÉÉ

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE STUDY_ _B.2_ _Full text_

B.2.12 Animal genetic resources: International partnerships

As noted above, the European Association on Animal Production (EAAP) is
one of the very few international fora or programmes in which experts on
animal genetic resources have become used to working together. The NGO
sector is represented by organisations such as SAVE (Safeguard for Agricultural Varieties in Europe), and Rare Breeds International. The Danube
countries collaborate in DAGENE (Germany and Austria with Czech Republic, Slovenia. Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania)

_In the general context of Animal genetic_ _resources,_ _(he management team_
_of_ _1467/94_ _should_ _maintain_ _regular contacts with the other international_
_fora, both formal and informal._

Little cooperation exists between breeders of the same breed across national frontiers (the exemplary collaboration between Austria and Italy and
also Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, for breeders of the Lipizzan, is an exception). Such collaboration is not established overnight. _It might be appropri-_
_ate to consider a special action under 1467/94_ _"accompanying_ _measures" for_
_exchanges between breeders of (he same or_ _closely_ _similar breeds in different_
_countries, with the objective of developing joint programmes of conservation._

B.2.13 Ariimal genetic resources: National partnerships

Under the Biodiversity Convention, "States have sovereignty over their own
biological resources", and are responsible for "conserving their biological
diversity and for using their biological diversity in a sustainable manner".
Thus, both under the Biodiversity Convention, and under Community rules
of subsidiarity, the conservation and use of animal genetic resources must
first be organised at local and national level. _We_ _have already noted that the_
_Genetic Resources committee may need to keep under review the activities_
_of international bodies in the field of animal genetic resources;the committee_
_should also receive reports from time to time of activities at national level on_
_animal genetic resources._

Although some countries (e.g. France, Spain) have passed laws making
conservation fall under national regulation, and though several countries
give state support for genetic resources preservation (subsidies to owners
of rare breeds, support of cryopreservation programmes, coordinationbf
work at a national level), there is still relatively little work coordinated at
the national level on the conservation, sustainable use and accessibility of
animal genetic resources for agriculture.

On the other hand national activities in animal genetic resources are
well developed in one domain in particular; that is, the work of the herdbook societies. Herdbook societies can be regarded as industry oriented
organisations. Many societies possess uniquely detailed information on the
genealogies of every animal in the country which belongs to their particular
race. Major breeds tend to rely on national societies, minor breeds tend to
be supported on a more local scale.

In recent years other NGO's. interested in the conservation and use of
animal genetic resources, have sprung up. and (as noted below) much of
the practical work on _in situ_ conservation of the rarer animal breeds is done
by NGO's. Often this work is local in character. _The Committee should con-_
_sider whether tliere would be value in encouraging international exchanges_

xxvi _Rcaulution_ _1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full text_ _B_ _APPENDIX_ - _THE STUDY_

_between national breed societies._

B.2.14 Ajiimal genetic resources: _In vivo_ conservation

Breeds at risk of extinction, orgenes of a particular animal, may be conserved in the form of live animals in their original location _[in situ,_ in vivo),
as live animals in zoo parks or rescue stations _(ex situ, in vivo),_ or as frozen
sperms, oocytes or embryos _(in vitro)._

_In vivo_ conservation satisfies cultural and historical interests, it ebnables
gene-combinarions to be preserved, and regeneration time is the shortest
possible. On the other hand, _in vivo_ conservation is expensive, the material
is at risk _of_ inbreeding depression and mutation, and of fiscal accidents.
Some but not all countries invoke Regulation 2078/92, which is one of the
Accompanying Measures of the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy,
and which enables payment of a subsidy to owners of rare breeds, on a
headage basis. (It is appropriate to note here that in September 1994 the
Council discussed some technical aspects of Regulation 2078/92, regarding
alternative criteria of rarity, and alternative modalities of payment.) Since
animals of the same (or very similar) rare breed may be found in more than
one Member State Member States which maintain breeds that are similar
may need to be helped to coordinate their actions at a European level. For
example, in the case where it is impossible to conserve all of a group of
endangered breeds, their genes may be preserved by forming a gene pool
with random mating (in botanic terms, a polycross). _It may be appropri-_
_ate to consider whether activities such as forming a gene pool for the most_
_endangered breeds_ _should,_ _and can, be organized at European level._

The activities under 2078/92 are considered an important contribution
to in vivo conservation. _In other respects than 207S/92,_ in vivo _conservation_
_of individual local breeds in individual Member States is considered to be an_
_action for Member States alone._

B.2.15 Animal genetic resources: 7/7 _vitro_ conservation

_In vitro_ conservation enables a high proportion of genetic diversity to be
preserved indefinitely; it facilitates managed breeding programmes, it maintains genepools against introgression (cross-breeding) and genetic drift, and
it maintains the potential for applying new technologies. Some insist on
the need for the conservation of oocytes, or embryos, or for conservation
in situ. But it is generally agreed that the collection and storage of semen
from a number of sires is the simplest, least expensive and most effective
method of genetic conservation for animal genetic resources. It provides a
safeguard against genetic erosion; both in minor and in the most numerous
breeds.

The latest figures for _in vitro_ conservation of rare or endangered breeds
in Europe are as follows (data from the EAAP databank):

Cattle Total of 232 breeds noted in the Member States, semen stored for
65% of 71 breeds regarded as endangered

Sheep Total of 2S3 breeds noted in the Member States, semen stored for
11% of 5 1 breeds regarded as endangered

_Regulation_ _1467/94_ _**m**_

_G_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE_ _STUDY_ _B.2 Full text_

Pigs Total of 73 breeds noted in the Member States, semen stored for 23%
of 30 breeds regarded as endangered

In many cases, only a few males have been sampled. Only for 5% of all
breeds have samples been obtained from more than 25 males; 25 is regarded
by many experts as an absolute minum. It is to be noted, moreover, that
geographical Europe comes first in the World tables for numbers of breeds
of cattle, goat, horse and sheep. (The EAAP database notes 76 breeds of
goat, 110 breeds of horse, in the Member States).

This suggests that there is urgent need for action in Europe to ensure that
semen has been stored from a signficant number (more than 20) of distantlyrelated males of each endangered and distinct breed of cattel. sheep and pig.

It is not necessary to conserve sperm from every male, nor yet from every
breed; to be a candidate for conservation, a breed needs to be considered as
genetically unique. Member States which maintain breeds that are similar
may need to be helped to coordinate their actions at a European level. _In_
_other respects,_ in vitro _conservation of local breeds is considered to be an_
_action for Member States themselves to undertake in the first place._

Many of the animal breeds currently found overseas are European in
origin. For example, the cattle that settlers took to Latin America had their
origin in the Iberian peninsula. _Actions on_ _"European"_ _breeds should take_
_into consideration, as appropriate, the results of genetic distancing work on_
_related work on related breeds in other countries._

_Ex_ _situ_ conservation raises some questions, as yet unresolved, regarding
rights of access, ownership of offspring, and legititmate rights and ownership of intellectual property incorporated in any given genome. _In view of_
_the current difficult international discussions on access to and ownership of_
_plant genetic resources, it would be wise for_ _(he_ _Union to establish a_ _unified_
_position on animal genetic resources,_ _pre-emplively._

B.2.16 Animal genetic resources: Characterisation

In January 1992, the Commission convened an ad-hoc group of experts.
They identified in particular the need for research on genetic distancing
and mapping. During the period under review the technologies have become considerably more effective. The long term goal, so far as Conservation is concerned, is to investigate the extent to which two breeds may share
a common DNA heritage. The characterising of genetic distance sharpens
the scientific rigour of choosing which breeds should be preserved. _Genetic_
_distance mapping is an important activity, to follow on the primary charac-_
_terisation of each animal_ _breed._ _The resulting data need to be made available_
_in the databases._

Some of the rare breeds are claimed to be uniquely adapted to their
particular environment, or to have a general "hardiness". The databases
should contain such information, but it is important to indicate the degree
of fiabilily, from anecdotal, via farmer-tested experience, to replicated trials, including on-farm trials. While characterising is an important activity
under 1467/94. research work to test some particular hypothesis is not eligible. _It_ _may be appropriate to consider supporting under the Framework_
_Programme, research to test anecdotal reports of adaptability_ _(etc)_ _of partic-_
_ular rare breeds._

xxviu _Regulation_ _1467/94_

_B.2_ _Full text_ _B APPENDIX - THE STUDY_

Council Directive 77/504/EEC of 25 July 1977 (OJ No L 206, 12. 8. 1977
p. 8) (as modified by Commission Decision of 27 July 1994, OJ L 207/30
10.8.94, and earlier) lays down performance monitoring methods and methods for assessing cattle's generic value for pure-bred breeding animals of the
bovine species. The data are to be collected and published by approved bodies in each Member State. _Community inventories supported under 1467/94_
_do not need to incorporate the data that are available on genetic values, but_
_they do need to provide pointers to where such results can be_ _found._

Genome mapping may eventually lead to the isolation of DNA sequences
that code for particular traits that constitute "hardiness", such as tolerance
to parasites. Indeed, work is already, under way in these areas. _There is_
_no need to incorporate the results of work on genome mapping into Com-_
_munity inventories supported under 1467/94, but it is important that these_
_databases provide pointers to where such results can be_ _found._ 

B.2.17 Animal genetic resources: Utilisation

All Member States have already undertaken, as signatories of the Convention on Biological diversity (June 1992), to developnational strategies, plans
or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diver»
sity, including agricultural biodiversity. Regulation 1467/94 is part of this
planning in the European Union, covering animal genetic resources as well
as plant genetic resources.

It is convenient to classify the utilisation of animal genetic .resources in
an ascending scale of economic worthiness;

  - Culture in the broadest sense (e.g. farm park and touristic activities)

  - Environmental preservation (e.g. animals as grazer-maintainers of
firebreaks in forests)

  - ' Quality of product (e.g. Reggiana cattle for the production of Parmesan
cheese)

  - Diversity of product (e.g. the recent appearance in supermarkets of the
meat of game animals, and of exotic animals such as ostrich, crocodile)

  - Production in particular environments (e.g. North Ronaldsay sheep,
adapted to life on the shoreline and a diet of seaweed). Minor breeds
may be used either in their own rights, or in a breeding scheme, providing one half or one quarter of the genome of the final productive
animal.

While the animal's owner is well aware of the particular characteristics and
utilisation potential of that breed, the information is not always diffused
and classified in the standard literature. _There may be a need to_ _collect,_ _test_
_and diffuse anecdotal information on agriculturally useful characteristics of_
_rare breeds, and to_ _encourage_ _formal tests of such claims._

B.2.18 Special characteristics of animal genetic resources

There has been some criticism, in the case of animal projects, of the stepwise procession of the work in 1-167/9-1 through 6 obligatory steps; it is

**XXvXs**

_Reaulation_ _1467/94_ xxix _HuÈÊÊÉÈÊÈÊÈÊÊUtÊÊtUmÊm_

_B_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _THE_ _STUDY_ _B.2 Full text_

argued that these are not appropriate in animal work. When the point was
discussed in the Programme Committee it was pointed out that the objective of the Council Regulation in imposing the "steps" is to ensure that every
project should proceed in a coordinated and coherent fashion. _The_ _"steps"_
_laid down in the Work Programme of 1467/94 should not be changed in any_
_future revision, if this would be to the detriment_ _of_ _good project management._

The committee has also discussed the observation that. In the member
states, the work of NGOs is very important for Genetic Resource conservation. This position was contrasted with the low level of _NGO_ participation in
this Programme. _It_ _may be appropriate to make particular use of the accom-_
_panying measures of 1467/94 to help_ _NGOs to_ _coordinate in the preparation_
_of proposals to_ _1-467/94._

The Committee has also debated the the needs, and the difficulties, of
management of genetic resources across national borders. Clearly, trans national cooperation is much easier on endangered varieties of plants than'it
is on endangered races of farm animals. The creation and updating of an inventory of animal races in Europe, with full details of the current number of
breeding males and females, should be a useful first step (see A.2.7, page ix);
_it may next be appropriate to convene a_ _discussion_ _meeting on trans-border_
_aspects of the management of animal genetic_ _resources'for_ _agriculture (ob-_
_servations requested from Member States at the last meetinq, 16 October_
_1996)._

XXX _Regulation_ _1467/94_

C _APPENDIX_               - _PUBLICATIONS_

##### C Publications in the Official Journal

C.l Regulation 1467/94 (OJ L159 pi of 28.06.94)

The text of the Regulation is attached in annex C.I.

C.2 Work Programme and additional information for proposers
of concerted action and shared cost action

The text of the Information Package is attached in annex C.2.

C.3 First CaU for Proposals (OJ C36S p24 of 23.12.94)

The text of the Official Journal is attached in annex C.3.

C.4 Second Call for Proposals (OJ C114 p21 of 19.04.96)

The text of the Official Journal is attached in annex C.4.

_Regulation_ _1467/94_ xxxi

_D_ _APPENDIX_ _-_ _DECLARATIONS_ _BY_ _EU._

###### D Declarations by the European Union

D. 1 Declaration of the European Corrimunity at the FAO preparatory meeting of the European Region, Nitra. Slovakia
(Sept. 1995)

The text is attached in annex D.i.

D.2 Declaration of the European Community at the Second
extraordinary meeting of the FAO Corrtmission on Genetic Resources, Rome (March 1996)

The text is attached in annex D.2.

D.3 Declaration of the European Community at Leipzig (June
1996)

The text is attached in annex D.3.

D.4 A preliminary List of European Union Legislation in the
area of Plant Genetic Resources

The text is attached in annex D.4.

m xxxii _Regulation 1467/94_

ISSN 0254-1475

### COM(97) 327 final

# DOCUMENTS

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