Marketing of seeds, propagating and planting materials: Community comparative tests and trials

PURPOSE : to present a Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directives 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed, 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed, 68/193/EEC on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine, 92/33/EEC on the marketing of vegetable propagating and planting material, other than seed, 92/34/EEC on the marketing of propagating and planting material of fruit plants, 98/56/EC on the marketing of propagating material of ornamental plants, 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed, 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed, 2002/56/EC on the marketing of seed potatoes and 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants as regards Community comparative tests and trials. CONTENT : in the past 25 years Community comparative tests and trials have been carried out for agricultural crops as cereals, potatoes, fodder and oil and fibre plants on the basis of the relevant legislation. In the last years new legislation on the marketing of propagating material of fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants laying down, inter alia, detailed rules for Community comparative tests and trials, increased the size of the exercise. This post control system on seed and propagating material marketed in the Community is recognised as a very important tool for the harmonisation of marketing by Member States. The above tests and trials were executed thanks to a Community financial contribution. In the interest of transparency a clear legal basis for this financial contribution is needed and provisions for Community financial measures for carrying out the Community comparative tests and trials, which involve compulsory Community budget expenditure should therefore be made.�