92/221/EEC: Council Decision of 30 March 1992 amending Seventh Decision 85/355/EEC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed- producing crops and Seventh Decision 85/356/EEC on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries

COUNCIL DECISION of 30 March 1992 amending Seventh Decision 85/355/EEC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and Seventh Decision 85/356/EEC on the equivalence of seed produced in third  countries (92/221/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (1), 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 seed (2), 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 and oil and fibre plants (3), and in particular Article 15 (1) (b) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas, in its Decision 85/355/EEC (4), the Council determined that field inspections carried out in certain third countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfied the conditions laid down in Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966  on the marketing of beet seed (5) and in Directive 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC;
Whereas, in its Decision 85/356/EEC (6), the Council determined that seed of certain species produced in certain third countries was equivalent to corresponding seed produced in the Community;
Whereas, in the case of Austria in respect of maize and Australia in respect of lucerne and sunflower, additional detailed information was requested; whereas the equivalence granted in respect of those countries was limited to a period thought necessary  to examine and assess that additional information, namely a period expiring, with regard to Austria, on 31 March 1992 and, with regard to Australia, on 30 June 1992;
Whereas, the examination and assessment of the information requested of the abovementioned third countries is still being carried out for the species concerned; whereas it is therefore appropriate to extend the abovementioned periods until 30 June 1995,  the date on which Decisions 85/355/EEC and 85/356/EEC expire in respect of the majority of third countries;
Whereas it has since been established that in Morocco there are also rules on seed control for a range of plant species, which include provision for official field inspections to be carried out during the period of seed production;
Whereas an examination of the said rules and of the manner in which they are applied in Morocco has shown that, for certain species, the prescribed field inspections satisfied the conditions laid down in Annex I to Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC or  69/208/EEC, as the case may be, and the conditions governing seed harvested and controlled there afforded, as regards the seed's characteristics, namely identity, examination, marking and control, the same assurance as do the conditions applicable to  such seed harvested and controlled within the Community;
Whereas Morocco should therefore be granted equivalence in respect of certain species;
Whereas Decisions 85/355/EEC and 85/356/EEC should be amended as a result,