THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed, and in particular Article 13a thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Decision 2009/109/EC sets out the organisation, until 31 May 2014, of a temporary experiment allowing for the marketing of seed mixtures intended for use as fodder plants which also include certain species not listed in Council Directive 66/401/EEC, Council Directive 66/402/EEC, Council Directive 2002/55/EC or Council Directive 2002/57/EC, with the aim to verify whether such species fulfil the requirements to be included in Article 2(1)(A) of Directive 66/401/EEC.
(2)
Information regarding the production, certification conditions and marketing acceptance of seed mixtures for feed use is still insufficient and needs to be completed and consolidated. It is therefore necessary to extend the duration of the temporary experiment.
(3)
Since the beginning of the temporary experiment and as a result of research and development projects, several other species are now being studied and considered of interest in future mixtures. The species Lathyrus cicera, Medicago doliata and Trifolium isthmocarpum should therefore be included in the scope of the experiment.
(4)
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: