CELEX: 51977PC0098
Language: en
Date: 1977-03-22
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the equivalence of seed potatoes produced in third countries (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (77) 98
Vol. 1977/0041
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                  COM(77 ) 98 final
                                                   Brussels , 22nd. March 1977
                           Proposal for a
                          COUNCIL DECISION
 on the equivalence of seed potatoes produced in third countries
           ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission)
 COM(77 ) 98 final
 ---pagebreak--- Explanatory memorandum
For several years , Italy has imported seed potatoes from Canada .
In acceptance with Council Directive 66/ 403/ EEC on the marketing of seed
potatoes harvested in third countries and intended for marketing within
the Community , it is necessary to determinate the equivalence of such seed
potatoes .
In the past Member States were free to' take equivalence decisions themselves ;
this right was due to expire on 1st July 1975 .   By Directive 76/ 30^/ EEC , the
Council extended the period of the validity of equivalences established
nationally until 31 December 197F, in order to permit Community Authorities
to examine , particularly for Canada , the conditions of seed potato production
and to make a decision on possible equivalence for this Country .
Now enquiries to evaluate a community equivalence of seed potatoes harvested
in Canada have been carried out with the result that it seems advisable to
grant an equivalence to this Country , limiting however the effect of this
equivalence solely to Italy for plant health reasons .
The enclose Draft Proposal of the Commission takes this conclusion into
account .
 ---pagebreak---                                                               784/VI/77-E
Council Decision of                  on the equivalence of seed, potatoes produced
in third countries
THE COUNCIL OP THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard, to the Treaty establishing the European Economio Community ,
Having regard, to Council Directive 66/403/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing
of seed potatoes ( l ), as last amended by Directive 76/307/EEC ( 2), and in
particular Artiole 15 0 ) thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Whereas there are rules in Canada providing for a varietal and qualitative
control of seed potatoes ; whereas examination of those rules and the manner in
which they are applied has shown that the conditions governing seed potatoes
harvested and controlled in that country as regards their characteristics , and
the arrangements for their inspection , for ensuring their identity , for marking
and for control afford the same assurances as the conditions and arrangements
applicable to seed potatoes harvested and controlled within the Community ;
Whereas , however , this determination of equivalence does not eliminate the risk
that certain potato diseases which are known in Canada and are not widespread
in the Community may be introduced, into the latter as long as the campaign of
eradication of these diseases in Canada has not been completely effective ;
Whereas , having regard to Articles 13 ( 2 ) and 20 of the said Directive , the
effects of the determination of equivalence should be limited, to those territories
of the Community where experience over many years , including that under the system
of national equivalence , has shown that seed potatoes produced in Canada have not
created problems for the protection of plant health under the specific ecological
conditions of these territories ;
Whereas this Decision does not prevent Community findings from being revoked
nor the period of their validity from not being extended if it becomes apparent
that the conditions on which such findings are based are not or are no longer
satisfied;
( 1 ) OJ No 125 , 11.7.1966 , p. 2320/66
( 2 ) OJ No L 72 , 18.3.1976 , p. 16
 ---pagebreak---                                                              784/VI/77-E
                                  - 2 -
Whereas therefore further practical information on seed potatoes produced
in Canada should be obtained by growing and checking samples of such seed
as part of comparative Community tests ,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION l
                                Article 1
It is hereby declared that , provided that the special conditions laid down
in the Annex hereto are satisfied , the seed potatoes which are harvested in
the country specified in the Annex and officially controlled by the authority
listed therein and which belong to the categories specified therein , are
equivalent , as regards the Member State specified in the Annex , 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 January 1977 to 20 June 1978-
                                Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                78VVI/77-E
                                  ANNEX
                                                  Categories
                                                                     Special
  Country     Service       Member State In the country   In the    conditions
•
                                            concerned   Community
       1         2                3            k             5           6
  Canada  Department of        Italy                      Basic       1, 2, J, k%
          Agriculture                      Foundation     seed        5 , 6 , 7, δ
          Plant Protectio 1                               potatoes
          Division
          Ottawa
                                           Certified      Certified   1 , 2 » 3 , V,
                                                          seed po-    5* 6 , 7 ♦ S
                                                          tatoes
 ---pagebreak--- Seed potatoes are harvested in the following regions :
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island .
 Seed potatoes shall be officially certified and their containers officially
 marked and sealed in accordance with national provisions . Seed potatoes nnd
 the details on the label shall meet at least the requirements of Community
 rules and conform to the European standard for seed potatoes recommended
by the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Foodstuffs of the
 Economic Commission for Europe .
Field inspection shall be carried out by State authorities or by any le^al
 person whether governed by public or by private law , acting under the
 responsibility of such authorities , provided that such person derives no
 private gain from the result of the inspection .
 Any chemical treatment of the seed potatoes shall be noted either on the
 official label or on a special label and on the container or inside it .
The colour t>f the label shall be :
- white for basic seed potatoes ;
- blue for certified seed potatoes .
           /
         /
The label states the region of production .
The label states that EEC rules and standards are satisfied nnd particularly
 ail tolerance     ^or Spin(ne tuber and Corynebacterium sepedonicum.
All information shall be given in at least one of the official lanr-ua^es
of the European Communities .