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Council Directive
2002/57/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed of oil
and fibre plants aims to improve the quality of
Community oil and fibre plant seed by means of
a uniform certification scheme for the
Community which permits, as a general rule,
Member States to restrict the marketing of oil
and fibre plant seed to that which has been
officially certified. Certification can only be
granted if the seed has been found by official
examination to fulfil the conditions laid down
in the Directive, notably previous cropping,
identity and purity of variety, minimum
distances from neighbouring pollen sources and
the presence of harmful organisms in respect of
crops; and varietal identity and purity,
germination, analytical purity, content of
seeds of other plant species and the presence
of harmful organisms in respect of seeds. Oil
and fibre plant seed harvested in countries
outside the European Community may only be
marketed within the EU if the seed affords the
same assurances as seed officially certified
within the Community. Furthermore, the
Directive addresses the need for the identity
of seed to be ensured throughout the marketing
processes and lays down rules to ensure this,
namely that seed be marketed in sufficiently
homogenous lots and in sealed tamper-proof
packaging. In addition, specific requirements
are set out regarding sealing, labelling and
documentation.
It should be noted
that a Community legislation has been in place
since 1969 (former Council Directive
69/208/EEC; consolidated through Council
Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed
of oil and fibre plants). It should be noted
that some Member States have been released from
the obligation of applying the Directive to
certain oil and fibre plant species not
normally reproduced or marketed in their
territory.
Where appropriate,
the Commission is assisted by Member States in
adopting measures related to Council Directive
2002/57/EC through the Standing Committee on
Seeds and Propagating Material for
Agricultural, Horticulture and Forestry.
 Legislation
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