Commission Decision
of 18 December 2006
on a temporary experiment with regard to increasing the maximum weight of a lot of certain fodder plant seeds under Council Directive 66/401/EEC
(notified under document number C(2006) 6572)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2007/66/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Whereas:
Directive 66/401/EEC provides for the maximum weight of a lot to avoid heterogeneity in seed lots in the context of seed testing.
Changes in seed production and marketing practices, in particular the increased size of the seed crops and the methods of transporting seed including bulk shipment, suggest that an increase in the maximum prescribed lot weight for seed of grasses may be desirable.
Current international practice, namely the ISTA (International Seed Testing Association)/ISF (International Seed Federation) Technical Protocol, approved by the ISTA Executive Committee on 10 February 2006, and adopted by the Council of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) on 24 May 2006 permit procedures whereby the maximum weight of a lot may be increased for grasses.
To test in practice the conditions under which production plants are able to produce sufficiently homogeneous large seed lots, a temporary experiment should be organised increasing the maximum weight of a lot of grasses.
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and propagating material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: