EEC on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine - Main contents

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dossier	COM(2000)59 - Amendment of Directive 68/193/EEC on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine.
document	COM(2000)59
date	February 14, 2002

(1) In the context of consolidating the internal market and in the light of experience, various provisions of Directive 68/193/EEC(4) should be amended or repealed to remove all barriers to trade likely to prevent the free movement of vinepropagating material in the Community. To that end, any possibility for Member States to make unilateral derogations from the Directive should be removed.

(2) It should be made possible, on certain conditions, to market propagating material produced by new production methods.

(3) The Commission, assisted by the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry, should be able to lay down the conditions under which Member States may authorise the marketing of propagating material for trials, scientific purposes or selection work.

(4) In the light of the experience gained in other sectors regarding the marketing of seed and propagating material, temporary trials should be organised, subject to certain conditions, to find better alternatives to certain provisions of the Directive.

(5) As a result of scientific and technical progress, it is now possible to modify vine varieties genetically. It is therefore important that genetically modified vine varieties are not accepted unless all the appropriate measures have been taken to avoid any risk to human health or the environment.

(6) A specific environmental risk assessment should be carried out equivalent to that provided for in Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC(5) where vine variety propagating material is composed of genetically modified organisms. The Commission should submit to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal for a Regulation ensuring the equivalence of risk assessment and other relevant requirements, in particular those regarding risk management, labelling, any monitoring required, public information and a safeguard clause with those established by Directive 2001/18/EC. Pending the entry into force of that Regulation, the provisions of Directive 2001/18/EC should remain applicable.

(7) Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients(6) includes provisions on genetically modified food and food ingredients. In determining whether a genetically modified vine variety can be accepted on the market and in order to protect public health, it is necessary to ensure that novel foods and novel food ingredients were subject to a safety assessment.

(8) To ensure that the movement of vine-propagating material is adequately monitored, it is appropriate that Member States should be able to require a document to accompany each lot.

(9) It is desirable to ensure that genetic diversity is preserved. Appropriate biodiversity conservation measures to guarantee the conservation of existing varieties must be taken. The Commission should take into account not only the concept of variety but also that of genotype and of clone.

(10) The measures necessary for the implementation of Directive 68/193/EEC should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(7).

(11) Council Directive 74/649/EEC of 9 December 1974 on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine produced in third countries(8) should be repealed.