Article 21
1. The Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, shall determine whether seed potatoes harvested in a third country and affording the same assurances as regards their characteristics and the arrangements for their inspection, for ensuring identity, for marking and for control are equivalent in these respects to basic seed potatoes or certified seed potatoes harvested within the Community and complying with the provisions of this Directive. 2. Until such time as the Council has taken a decision under paragraph 1, the Member States shall be free to take such decisions themselves. This right shall expire on 1 July 1975. 3. Member States are hereby authorised to extend until 31 March 2002 the validity of decisions taken in accordance with paragraph 2, it being understood that these decisions may be used only in accordance with Member States' obligations under the common rules on plant health laid down by Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread in the Community(6). The period in the first subparagraph may be extended for third countries, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 25(2), if the available information does not permit a determination according to paragraph 1 and for as long as such information does not permit such a determination. 4. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply in respect of any new Member State from the date of its accession to the date on which it is to bring into force the laws, regulations or administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive.