http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudr/2016/317

Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/317

of 3 March 2016

amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the official label of seed packages

(Text with EEA relevance)

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 seed1, and in particular Article 21a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed2, and in particular Article 21a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/54/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of beet seed3, and in particular Article 27 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed4, and in particular Article 45 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/56/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed potatoes5, and in particular Article 24 thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/57/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants6, and in particular Article 24 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC lay down rules as regards the official labelling of seed packages.

(2)

In recent years some cases of fraudulent use of official labels have been detected. The security of the official labels should therefore be improved, in line with the currently available technical knowledge, to ensure that such fraudulent practices are avoided. In this view, and in order to allow the competent authorities to better record and control the printing, distribution and use of individual official labels by operators, and to track seed lots, the security of the official labels should be improved by introducing an officially assigned serial number in the official labels of basic seed, certified seed, commercial seed and mixtures of seed, and also in the label and document provided in the case of seed not certified, harvested in another Member State.

(3)

Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: