Decision (EU) 2018/1674

What it is

to recognise the equivalence of legal requirements and official controls of Brazil and Moldova for the certification of seeds. PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: Council Decision 2003/17/EC grants equivalence to certain non-EU countries as regards field inspections and production of seed of certain species that are carried out in accordance with Union law. The national provisions governing seed harvested and controlled in these countries afford the same assurances as regards the seed’s characteristics and the arrangements for examining it, for ensuring seed identification, for marking and for control as the provisions applicable to seed harvested and controlled within the European Union. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the report by Adam SIEKIERSKI (EPP, PL) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2003/17/EC as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in Brazil on fodder plant seed-producing crops and cereal seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of fodder plant seed and cereal seed produced in Brazil, and as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in Moldova on cereal seed-producing crops, vegetable seed-producing crops and oil and fibre plant seed- producing crops and on the equivalence of cereal seed, vegetable seed and oil and fibre plant seed produced in Moldova. The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows. The purpose of this Regulation would be to grant equivalence in respect of field inspections relating to: fodder plant seed-producing crops and cereal seed-producing crops, and to fodder plant seed and cereal seed produced and certified in Brazil and as regards fodder plant seed and cereal seed produced in Brazil and officially certified by its national authorities; cereal seed-producing crops, vegetable seed-producing crops and oil and fibre plant seed-producing crops in Moldova , and as regards cereal seed, vegetable seed and oil and fibre plant seed produced in Moldova and officially certified by its authority. Taking into consideration the applicable rules of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), it is appropriate that the third country concerned provide an official statement that the seed has been sampled and tested in accordance with the provisions set out in the ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing ('ISTA Rules') with regard to Orange International Seed Lot Certificates, and that the seed lots be accompanied by such a certificate. Any reference to Croatia as a third country should be deleted, in view of its accession to the Union in 2013. The European Parliament adopted by 543 votes to 75, with 45 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending…

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