Commission Implementing Directive 2012/1/EU of 6 January 2012 amending Annex I to Council Directive 66/402/EEC as regards the conditions to be satisfied by the crop Oryza sativa  Text with EEA relevance

7.1.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 4/8
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE 2012/1/EU
of 6 January 2012
amending Annex I to Council Directive 66/402/EEC as regards the conditions to be satisfied by the crop Oryza sativa
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed (1), and in particular Article 21a thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Recent information and studies from Member States have shown the need to introduce a threshold for the presence of plants infected by Fusarium fujikuroi in fields where seed of Oryza sativa is produced, since Fusarium fujikuroi causes damage to rice and is not susceptible to efficient treatment with the available plant protection products. Those studies have also shown the need to reduce the presence of wild or red-grain plants in fields where seed of Oryza sativa is produced, since under the current threshold the yield and quality of rice seed are significantly decreased.
(2) In view of that, a threshold for the presence of plants infected by Fusarium fujikuroi, in fields where seed of Oryza sativa is produced, should be introduced and the threshold for the presence of wild or red-grain plants, in fields where seed of Oryza sativa is produced, should be reduced for the production of the category of certified seed. Those thresholds should be set on the basis of the studies carried out by Members States.
(3) Directive 66/402/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,