Commission Directive 93/3/EEC of 5 February 1993 amending Directive 66/403/EEC on the marketing of seed potatoes

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 93/3/EEC of 5 February 1993  amending Directive 66/403/EEC on the marketing of seed potatoes
THE COMMISSION OF  THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/403/EEC  (1) of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of seed  potatoes, as last amended by Commission Directive 92/17/EEC  (2), and in particular Article 15 (2a)  thereof,
Whereas in principle, with effect from certain dates, Member States may no longer determine for  themselves the equivalence of seed potatoes harvested in third countries with seed potatoes  harvested within the Community and complying with that Directive;
Whereas, however, since work to establish Community equivalence for all the third countries  concerned had not been completed, Article 15 (2a) of that Directive permitted Member States to  extend to 31 March 1992 the period of validity of equivalence which they had already of certain  countries not covered by the Community equivalences;
Whereas the said work is still incomplete;
Whereas the authorization may only be extended in accordance with Member States' obligations under  the common rules on plant health, laid down by Council Directive 77/93/EEC  (3), as last amended by  Commission Directive 92/10/EEC  (4);
Whereas by Commission Decisions 92/467/EEC  (5) and 92/468/EEC  (6) derogations provided for by  certain Member States from certain provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of seed potatoes  originating in Poland and Canada respectively have been approved until 31 December 1992;
Whereas Commission Decision 93/33/EEC  (7) extends that period further in respect of Canada until  31 March 1993;
Whereas the authorization granted to Member States by Article 15 (2a) should accordingly be  extended;
Whereas 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,