CELEX: 51995PC0210
Language: en
Date: 1995-05-30
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the equivalence of seed potatoes produced in third countries

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                         Brussels, 30.05.1995
                                         COM(95)210 final
                          Proposal for a
                     COUNCIL DECISION
on the equivalence of seed potatoes produced in third countries
                 (presented by the Commission)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
Directive 66/403/EEC on the marketing of seed potatoes provides for the
Council to determine whether the conditions governing seed potatoes
harvested and controlled in a third country are equivalent to those in the
Community.
Decision 81/956/EEC established equivalence for seed potato produced in
Switzerland. That decision expires on 30 June 1995.
The present proposal renews the equivalence for Switzerland until
30 June 2000.
There are no subsidiarity implications given that the proposal is based on
Directives adopted under Article 43 of the Treaty on the European Community
and thus falls within the exclusive competence of the Community.
                                   yi
 ---pagebreak---                       Proposal for a Council Decision
                                     of
      on the equivalence of seed potatoes produced in third countries
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/403/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the
marketing of seed potatoes1, as last amended by the Act of Accession of
Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas there are rules on the official control of seed potato in
Switzerland;
Whereas the abovementioned rules provide that basic seed and certified seed
potato may be officially certified and their containers officially closed
in accordance with the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe
("UN/ECE") Standard for seed potato recommended by the Working Party on
Standardization of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the
Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations;
Whereas an examination of these rules and the manner in which they are
applied in Switzerland have shown that the conditions governing seed
potatoes harvested and controlled in this country afford the same
assurances as regards their characteristics and the arrangements for their
inspection, for ensuring identity, for marking and for control, as do the
conditions applicable to seed potatoes harvested and controlled within the
Community;
Whereas Decision 81/956/EEC2, as last amended by Decision 90/403/EEC3, which
established equivalence for seed potato produced in Switzerland, expires on
30 June 1995; whereas a new Decision is therefore necessary;
1
      OJ No 125, 11.06.1966, p. 2320/66
2
      OJ No L 351, 07.12.1981, p* 1
3
      OJ No L 208, 07.08.1990, p. 29
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 2 -
Whereas this Decision does not prevent Community findings from being
revoked if it becomes apparent that the conditions on which such findings
are based are no longer fulfilled; whereas, to this end, further practical
information on seed potatoes produced in the abovementioned countries
should be obtained by growing and checking samples of such seed within the
framework of the Community comparative tests;
Whereas this Decision does not affect the requirements which Member States
establish under Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on
protective measures against the introduction into the Member States of
organisms harmful to plants or plant products4, as last amended by the Act
concerning the conditions of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                 Article 1
It is hereby declared that, where the conditions laid down in Part II of
the Annex hereto are satisfied, seed potatoes which are harvested in the
country specified in Part I of the Annex hereto and officially controlled
by the Authorities listed therein and which belong to the categories
specified therein are equivalent to seed potatoes of corresponding
categories harvested within the Community and comply with Directive
66/403/EEC.
                                 Article 2
This Decision shall apply from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 2000.
                                 Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels,                               For the Council,
4
      OJ No L 26, 31.01.1977, p. 20
                                       3
 ---pagebreak---                                - 3
                                                 ANNEX
                              PART I
                               TABLE
                                              Categories
   Country             Authority       In the        In the
                                       country       Community
                                       concerned
      1                    2                3             4
Switzerland - Station fédérale de      Plants
              recherches agronomiques, certifiés
              Nyon                     - Classe A
                                       - Classe B    Certified
                                                     seed
            - Eidgenôssische           Anerkanntes   potatoes
              Forschungsanstalt fiir   Pflanzgut
              Landwirtschaftlichen     - Klasse A
              Pflanzenbau,             - Klasse B
              Zurich
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 4 -
                               PART II
                              Conditions
1. Seed potatoes shall be certified and their containers officially
   marked and sealed in accordance with the UN/ECE Standard for seed
   potato recommended by the Working Party on Standardization of
   Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the Economic Commission
   for Europe of the United Nations.
2. Examination of the conditions to be satisfied by the crops, the lots
   and the direct progeny of seed potatoes shall be carried out by the
   Authorities of the producing country listed in Part I of this Annex,
   or by any legal person charged exclusively with specific public
   functions, whether governed by public of private law, acting under
   the responsibility and supervision of such Authorities, provided that
   such person, and its members, have no personal interest in the
   outcome of the measures they take.
3. All particulars shall be provided in at least one of the official
   languages of the European Communities.
4. The colour of the label shall be blue.
                                ******
                                      r
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                            COM(95) 210 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                       03 11
                                     Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-237-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-89231-5
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
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