CELEX: 51997PC0686
Language: en
Date: 1997-12-11
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               Brussels, 11.12.1997
                                               COM(97) 686 final
                                Proposal for a
                            COUNCIL DECISION
amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried
 out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of
                     seed produced in third countries
                       (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC on the
marketing of beet seed, fodder plant seed, cereal seed and seed of oil and
fibre plants respectively, provide for the Council to determine whether
field inspections in third countries and seed harvested in third countries
are equivalent to those in the Community.
By Decision 95/514/EC the Council has determined for a limited period that
field inspections carried out in certain third countries on seed-producing
crops of certain species satisfies the conditions laid down in the
Community legislation on the marketing of seed; by the same Decision
95/514/EC the Council also determined that seed of certain species produced
in the same third countries was equivalent to corresponding seed produced
in the Community. This Decision covered twenty-one third countries and
established the conditions under which seed of agricultural plant species
might be imported into the Community.
The Decision 95/514/EC will expire on 31 December 1997.
In that Decision, reference to the OECD schemes for the varietal
certification of seed moving in international trade was made as one of the
bases for Community equivalence. In 1995 a system of alternative seed
certification was included in these schemes as an experiment. However the
results of this experiment have not yet been evaluated. In these
circumstances, it appears desirable to ensure continuation of the
equivalence, but to limit it, under a new Decision, to further two years,
i.e. from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999.
There are no subsidiarity implications given that the proposal aims at
extending the period of validity of an existing measure to ensure further
uniform applications throughout the Community.
                                   £
 ---pagebreak---                                PROPOSAL FOR A
                              COUNCIL DECISION
amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried
  out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of
                      seed produced in third countries
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the
marketing of beet seed , and in particular Article 16(1) (b) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the
marketing of fodder plant seed , and in particular Article 16(1) (b)
thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the
marketing of cereal seed , and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the
marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants , and in particular
Article 15(1)(b) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas, in Council Decision 95/514/EC  it has been determined for a
limited period that field inspections carried out in certain third
      OJ No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2290/66, as last amended by Commission
      Directive 96/72/EC (OJ No L 304, 27.11.1996, p. 10).
      OJ No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2298/66, as last amended by Commission
       Directive 96/72/EC (OJ No L 304, 27.11.1996, p. 10).
       OJ No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2309/66, as last amended by Commission
       Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27.11.1996, p. 10).
       OJ No L 169, 10.07.1969, p. 3, as last amended by Commission
       Directive 96/72/EC (OJ No L 304, 27.11.1996, p. 10).
       OJ No L 296, 09.12.1995, p. 34. Decision as last amended by
       Commission Decision 97/33/EC (OJ No L 13, 16.01.1997, p. 31).
                                     3
 ---pagebreak--- countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfies the
 conditions laid down in Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and
 69/208/EEC; whereas in Decision 95/514/EC it has also been determined that
 seed of certain species produced in certain third countries was equivalent
 to corresponding seed produced in the Community;
Whereas Decision 95/514/EC will expire on 31 December 1997; whereas a new
decision is therefore necessary;
Whereas, in this Decision, reference to the OECD schemes for the varietal
certification of seed moving in international trade was made as one of the
bases for Community equivalence;
Whereas in 1995 a system of alternative seed certification was included in
these schemes as an experiment;
Whereas, the results of this experiment have not yet been evaluated;
Whereas, in these circumstances, it appears desirable to ensure
continuation of the equivalence, but to limit it, under this Decision, to
further two years;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                  Article 1
In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC "31 December 1997" is replaced by
"31 December 1999".
                                  Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels,                                      For the Council
                                     ^
 ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(97) 686 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                03   10 14
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-708-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-78-29072-6
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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