Equivalence of field inspections carried out and equivalence of seed produced: period of application; in Bolivia on cereal and oil and fibre plant seed-producing crops, and of cereal seed and oil and fibre plant seed
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the report by Veronika VRECIONOVĂ (ECR, CZ) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2003/17/EC as regards its period of application and as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in Bolivia on cereal seed-producing crops and oil and fibre plant seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of cereal seed and oil and fibre plant seed produced in Bolivia.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading by taking over the Commission's proposal.
On 29 January 2016, Bolivia submitted a request to the Commission to consider seed of sorghum, maize and sunflower produced in Bolivia as offering the same assurances as regards identity, health and quality as seed produced in the EU on the basis of official controls carried out by the competent authorities of that country.
The proposed Decision aims to grant equivalence in respect of field inspections of seed producing crops of sorghum, maize and sunflower carried out in Bolivia and in respect of seed of sorghum, maize and sunflower produced in Bolivia and officially certified by its authorities.
As Decision 2003/17/EC expires on 31 December 2022, it is proposed to extend the period for which equivalence is recognised under that Decision by 7 years (until 31 December 2029) in order to avoid any risk of disruption of seed imports into the Union.