CELEX: 51996PC0604
Language: en
Date: 1996-11-26
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, 26.11.1996
                                              COM(%) 604 final
                               Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL DECISION
amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of f i e l d 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 1996.
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 12 months, i.e. from 1 January 1997
to 31 December 1997.
There are no subsidiarity implications given that the proposal
aimes at extending the period of validity of an existing measure
to ensure further uniform applications throughout the Coiï ïunity.
                         <L
 ---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,
I-.
    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 seed1, 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 seed2, 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 seed3, 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 plants4, and in particular
    Article 15(1)(b) thereof,
    Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
          0J No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2290/66. Directive as last amended by the
          1994 Act of Accession.
          0J No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2298/66. Directive as last amended by
          Commission Directive 96/18/EC (OJ No L 76, 26.03.1996, p. 21).
          OJ No 125, 11.07.1966, p. 2309/66. Directive as last amended by
          Commission Directive 95/6/EC (OJ L 67, 25.03.1995, p. 30).
          OJ No L 169, 10.07.1969, p. 3. Directive as last amended by
          Commission Directive 96/18/EC (OJ No L 76, 26.03.1996, p. 21).
                                     d
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas, in Council Decision 95/514/EC5 it has been 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 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 1996; whereas a new
decision is therefore necessary;
Whereas, in this Decision, reference to the 0ECD 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 12 months;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
                                  Article 1
In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC "31 December 1996" is replaced by
"31 December 1997".
                                  Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels,                    «                 For the Council
      OJ No L 296, 09.12.1995, p. 34. Decision as last amended by
      Commission Decision 96/217/EC (OJ No L 72, 21.03.1996, p. 37)
                               3
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       ISSN 0254-1475
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                                                               COM(96) 604 final
                                                  DOCUMENTS
    EN                                                                       03 11
                                        Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-596-EN-C
                                                                 ISBN 92-78-11704-8
    Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
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