THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 70/457/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species ( 1 ), as last amended by Directive 78/55/EEC of 19 December 1977 ( 2 ), and in particular Article 15 (2) and (3) thereof,

Having regard to the request made by the French Republic,

Whereas, under Article 15 (1) of the said Directive, seed or propagating material of varieties of agricultural plant species which have been officially accepted during the year 1975 in one or more of the Member States and which fulfil the conditions provided for in that Directive are, after 31 December 1977, no longer subject to any marketing restrictions relating to variety in the Community;

Whereas, however, Article 15 (2) thereof provides that a Member State may be authorized upon application to prohibit the marketing of seed and propagating material of certain varieties;

Whereas the French Republic has applied for such authorization in respect of some varieties of maize;

Whereas the varieties of maize concerned have an FAO maturity class index of 700 or over; whereas it is well known that the varieties of maize which have an FAO maturity class index of 700 or over at present are not yet suitable for cultivation in the French Republic (Article 15 (3) (c), second case thereof);

Whereas, therefore, the application of the French Republic in respect of these varieties should be granted in full;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: