31998D0162

COUNCIL DECISION of 16 February 1998 amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (98/162/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of beet seed (1), and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (2), 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 (3), 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 of oil and fibre plants (4), and in particular Article 15(1)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, in Decision 95/514/EC (5) it has been determined for a limited period that field inspections carried out in certain third countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfies the conditions laid down in Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC; whereas in Decision 95/514/EC it has also been determined that seed of certain species produced in certain third countries was equivalent to corresponding seed produced in the Community;

Whereas Decision 95/514/EC expired on 31 December 1997; whereas a new decision is therefore necessary;

Whereas in Decision 95/514/EC, reference to the OECD schemes for the varietal certification of seed moving in international trade was made as one of the bases for Community equivalence;

Whereas in 1995 a system of alternative seed certification was included in these schemes as an experiment;

Whereas, the results of this experiment have not yet been evaluated;

Whereas, in these circumstances, it appears desirable to ensure continuation of the equivalence, but to limit it, under this Decision, to a further two years,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC '31 December 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1999`.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 16 February 1998.

For the Council

The President

J. CUNNINGHAM

(1) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2290/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(2) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2298/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(3) OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2309/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(4) OJ L 169, 10. 7. 1996, p. 3. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10).

(5) OJ L 296, 9. 12. 1995, p. 34. Decision as last amended by Decision 97/33/EC (OJ L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 31).