Agricultural statistics: production potential of plantations of fruit trees (repeal. Directive 76/625/EEC)

PURPOSE: to propose a Directive of the European Parliament and Council concerning statistical surveys in order to determine the production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees. CONTENT: Council Directive 76/625/EEC concerns the statistical surveys to be carried out by the Member States in order to determine the production potential of plantations of certain species of fruit trees. It was adopted in 1976, and has allowed the Member States to effect five five-yearly surveys of fruit trees. The Directive has been amended almost a dozen times to take account of the various changes which have arisen during the 20 years it has been in force - in particular the gradual enlargement of the Union. However, experience in applying the Directive has indicated an urgent need to allow more flexibility in the practical aspects of carrying out surveys. This need has been seized as an opportunity to re-draft the Directive in a form which would be simpler and clearer to understand and implement than an old text several times amended. The newly-introduced flexibility relates in particular to the following points: - survey methodology: a rigid threshold is replaced by a target defined in terms of sample representativity; - Timing of the survey: the former rigid timing (Spring) has been removed. The only constraint is the transmission of results to the Commission. This flexibility will allow Member States to select the most suitable time for the survey.�