Certification
By way of derogation from Article 20 of Directive 2002/55/EC, Member States may provide that seed of a conservation variety may be certified as certified seed of a conservation variety if it meets the following requirements:
(a)
the seed descends from seed produced according to well defined practices for the maintenance of the variety;
(b)
the seed complies with the requirements for certification of ‘certified seed’ provided for in Article 2(1)(d) of Directive 2002/55/EC, with the exception of the requirements in respect of minimal varietal purity and the requirements concerning official examination or examination under official supervision;
(c)
the seed has sufficient varietal purity.
Verification
By way of derogation from Article 20 of Directive 2002/55/EC, Member States may provide that seed of a conservation variety may be verified as standard seed of a conservation variety if it meets the following requirements:
(a)
the seed complies with the requirements for the marketing of ‘standard seed’ provided for in Directive 2002/55/EC, with the exception of the requirements in respect of minimal varietal purity;
(b)
the seed has sufficient varietal purity.
Seed testing
1. Member States shall ensure that tests are carried out to check that seed of conservation varieties complies with the requirements provided for in Articles 10 and 11.
2. The tests referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out in accordance with current international methods, or, where such methods do not exist, in accordance with any appropriate methods.
3. Member States shall ensure that samples taken for the tests referred to in paragraph 1 are drawn from homogeneous lots. They shall ensure that the rules on lot weight and sample weight provided for in Article 25(2) of Directive 2002/55/EC are applied.
Region of seed production
1. Member States shall ensure that seed of a conservation variety may only be produced in the region of origin.
If the seed cannot be produced in that region, due to a specific environmental problem, Member States may approve additional regions for seed production taking into account information from plant genetic resource authorities or from organisations recognised for this purpose by the Member States. However, seed produced in those additional regions shall be used exclusively in the region of origin.
2. Member States shall notify to the Commission and to the other Member States the additional regions which they intend to approve for seed production pursuant to paragraph 1.
The Commission and the other Member States may, within 20 working days from receipt of those notifications, request the matter to be referred to the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry. A decision shall be taken in accordance with Article 48(1)(b) of Directive 2002/55/EC, to lay down, if necessary, restrictions or conditions for the designation of such regions.
If neither the Commission nor other Member States make a request under the second subparagraph, the Member State in question may approve the additional regions for seed production as notified.
Marketing conditions
1. Member States shall ensure that seed of a conservation variety may only be marketed subject to the following conditions:
(a)
it has been produced in its region of origin or in a region referred to in Article 13;
(b)
marketing takes place in its region of origin.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), a Member State may approve additional regions in its own territory for the marketing of seed of a conservation variety provided that those regions are comparable to the region of origin as regards the natural and semi-natural habitats of that variety.
Where Member States approve such additional regions, they shall ensure that the amount of seed necessary for the production of at least the quantity of seed referred to in Article 15 is reserved to conserve the variety in its region of origin.
The Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of the approval of such additional regions.
3. Where a Member State approves additional regions for seed production in accordance with Article 13, it shall not use the derogation provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article.
Quantitative restrictions
Each Member State shall ensure that, for each conservation variety, the quantity of seed marketed per year does not exceed the quantity necessary for producing vegetables on the number of hectares set out in Annex I for the respective species.
Application of quantitative restrictions
1. Member States shall ensure that producers notify them before the beginning of each production season of the size and the location of the area for the seed production.
2. If, based on the notifications referred to in paragraph 1, the quantities laid down by the Member States in accordance with Article 15 are likely to be exceeded, Member States shall allocate to each producer concerned the quantity it may market in the respective production season.
Sealing of packages
1. Member States shall ensure that seed of conservation varieties may be marketed only in closed packages bearing a sealing device.
2. Seed packages shall be sealed by the supplier in such a manner that they cannot be opened without damaging the sealing system or leaving evidence of tampering on the supplier’s label or on the package.
3. In order to ensure sealing in accordance with paragraph 2, the sealing system shall comprise at least the label or the affixing of a seal.
Labelling
Member States shall ensure that packages or containers of seed of conservation varieties bear a supplier’s label or a printed or stamped notice including the following information:
(a)
the words ‘EC rules and standards’;
(b)
the name and address of the person responsible for affixing the labels or his identification mark;
(c)
the year of sealing expressed as: ‘sealed …’ (year), or the year of the last sampling for the purposes of the last testing of germination expressed as: ‘sampled …’ (year);
(d)
the species;
(e)
the denomination of the conservation variety;
(f)
the words ‘certified seed of a conservation variety’ or ‘standard seed of a conservation variety’;
(g)
the region of origin;
(h)
where the region of seed production is different from the region of origin, the indication of the region of seed production;
(i)
the reference number of the lot given by the person responsible for affixing the labels;
(j)
the declared net or gross weight, or declared number of seeds;
(k)
where weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the chemical treatment or additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of clusters or pure seeds and the total weight.
Official post control
Member States shall ensure that the seed of a conservation variety marketed under this Directive is subject to official post control by random inspections to verify its varietal identity and varietal purity.
The official post control referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out in accordance with current international methods, or, where such methods do not exist, in accordance with any appropriate methods.
Monitoring
Member States shall ensure by official monitoring during production and marketing that the seed complies with this Chapter, paying particular attention to the variety, locations of the seed production and quantities.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
