SHORT REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROPAGATING MATERIAL AND PLANTS OF FRUIT GENERA AND SPECIES (SCPOF) HELD ON 9 OCTOBER 2004 Chairman: Mr. Valvassori All the Member States were present with the exception of Malta and Sweden. Estonia was not present at the time of the vote on item. For the purpose of the vote Malta mandated United Kingdom and in the case of item, Sweden mandated Denmark; Estonia not present at the time of the vote on item mandated Lithuania. The Committee noted that item 2 was withdrawn from the agenda.. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE OPINION ON A DRAFT COMMISSION DECISION SETTING OUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMMUNITY COMPARATIVE TRIALS AND TESTS ON PROPAGATING MATERIAL OF FRAGARIA X ANANASSA DUCH. UNDER COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/34/EEC FOR THE YEAR 2005 (DOC. SANCO/256/04) A short discussion took place about some technical conditions to be fulfilled in carrying out the tests and trials. Voting: Favourable opinion by unanimity. 3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE OPINION ON A DRAFT COMMISSION DECISION AMENDING DIRECTIVE 92/34/EEC TO EXTEND THE DEROGATION RELATING TO IMPORT CONDITIONS FOR FRUIT PLANT PROPAGATING MATERIAL AND FRUIT PLANTS INTENDED FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION FROM THIRD COUNTRIES (DOC. SANCO/294/04) The Commission is required, by 3 December 2004, to decide whether fruit plant propagating material, produced in a third country and affording defined guaranties, are equivalent to the fruit propagating material produced in the Community. However the information presently available on the conditions applied in third countries is still not sufficient to enable the Commission to make any such decision in respect of any third country at this stage. The Committee collected further data in order to update and complete the information already available, on the following: - main third countries exporting to the EU, - individual plant species concerned, - experiences on the quality of the material as regards obligations of the supplier, identity characteristics, plant health, growing medium, packaging, inspections arrangements, marking and sealing. Voting: for 00; against 0; abstentions 0; not represented not participating 4.
4. CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON A POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR PROPAGATING MATERIAL (REF. TO ART 3 AND 4 OF DIR. 92/34/EEC, DIR 93/48/EEC AND RNQP-REGULATED NON QUARANTINE PESTS) As agreed at the Standing Committee meeting held on 2 April 2004, Member States continued the discussion on the report prepared by an ad hoc group of rapporteurs integrated with comments and proposals submitted by Member States authorities. The discussion progressed on: - The need to improve the existing legislation concerning a possible certification system or an improved CAC qualification of fruit plants propagating material, - The economic impact for a compulsory or not compulsory harmonised system which could considerably modify the existing national schemes, - The absence of international certification schemes for some species, - The links with legislation on propagating material and plant health (Non Quarantine Regulated Pests), - The increased need for a full traceability concerning the varietal identity, - The adoption of a list of registered varieties, and - The existence of some difficulties on the acceptance of a single certification scheme of propagating material replacing national schemes. Based on such information, a group of rapporteurs will prepare a draft document including a harmonised approach to the EU legislation on propagating material and plant health. 5. EXCHANGE OF POINTS OF VIEWS ABOUT MATTERS RELATED TO ART. 6.4, 9., 9.2 AND 0 OF DIRECTIVE 92/34/EEC AND POSSIBLE PROPOSALS Article 6.4: supervision and monitoring of suppliers, Article 9. reference to a variety for propagating material marketed, Article 9.2 varieties to which reference shall be made and Article 0 keeping propagating material in separate lots: Member States provided some information about the interpretation of those articles. Based on the experience achieved Member States emphasised several critical points to be discussed. The Committee agreed that a group of rapporteurs will prepare a draft document including a harmonised approach to the identification of varieties and lots and to the supervision activity carried out by official bodies. 6. DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTING MEASURES CONCERNING THE EQUIVALENCE FOR IMPORTATION. Member States agreed that a discussion about a possible decision on equivalence should start after possible implementing measures related to the Articles mentioned under items 4 and 5 be adopted.
7. OTHER BUSINESS The Commission informed that the List of Official Bodies concerning Ornamental Plants (Directive 92/34/EEC Article 3(k) last paragraph) was updated to 9 October 2004. Member States are requested to check it and send the relevant amendments to the Commission Services. Bernard Van Goethem Acting Director
List of participants to be joined to the Summary Report Meeting of the Standing Committee on Propagating Material and Plants of Fruit Genera and Species Date: 9 October 2004 Etat Membre B CZ Ministère ou Organisme Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap Ministère de la Région Wallonne Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ) Nombre des participants DK Plantdirektoratet DE Bundessortenamt EE Ministry of Agriculture 2 EL Ministry of Agriculture ES Ministerio de Agricultura Pesca y Alimentacion FR Ministère de l agriculture et de la pêche IE Department of Agriculture and Food IT Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali CY Department of Agriculture LV Ministry of Agriculture LT Ministry of Agriculture LU Ministère de l agriculture HU National Institute for Agricultural Quality Control 2 NL Naktuinbouw AT BM-Land- und Forstwirtschaft PL General Inspectorate of Plant Inspection and Seed Service 2 PT Ministerio de Agricultura SI Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Food SK Central Institute for Testing in Agriculture (UKSUP)
FI Plant Production Inspection Centre (KTTK) UK DEFRA 2 COM European Commission 4