Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed

Extract

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Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2002/56/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed potatoes THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (1 ),

Having consulted the Economic and Social Committee,

Whereas:

(1) Council Directive 66/403/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of seed potatoes (2 ) has been frequently and substantially amended (3 ). For reasons of clarity and rationality the said Directive should be codified.

(2) Potato production occupies an important place in the agriculture of the Community.

(3) Satisfactory results in potato cultivation depend to a large extent on the use of appropriate seed potatoes.

(4) Greater productivity will be achieved in Community potato cultivation if for the choice of the varieties permitted to be marketed the Member States apply uniform rules which are as strict as possible, in particular as regards health status. A common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species is therefore provided for in Council Directive 2002/53/EC (4 ).

(5) It is desirable to establish a uniform certification scheme for the Community based on the experience gained in the application of schemes in the Member States and that of the Economic Commission for Europe. In the context of the consolidation of the Internal Market, the Community scheme should cover the production of seed with a view to marketing and to marketing within the Community, and should offer no possibilities for the Member States to derogate unilaterally in a way that would hinder the free movement of plants within the Community.

(6) As a general rule, seed potatoes should be allowed to be marketed only if they have been officially examined and certified, in accordance with the rules for certification, as basic seed potatoes or certified seed potatoes. The choice of the technical terms basic seed potatoes and certified seed potatoes is b...

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