Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed^f1 and Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed^f2, and in particular to Article 17(1) thereof,

Whereas:

The unusual warm and dry climate in 2018 in Sweden has caused a lack of soil moisture, which damaged and stressed the vegetation leading to lower yields and quality of seed.

The supply difficulties in seed were also accelerated by the wet harvesting season of 2017 causing in Sweden the shortage of seed for spring sowing in 2018.

Therefore, Sweden has now at its disposal only a limited amount of spring fodder plant seed and spring cereal seed left from the previous season, and will not be able to harvest enough seed to cover the demand in the spring of 2019.

Other Member States, also partly facing harvesting problems, have been able to cover the seed needs of Sweden only to a limited degree.

In the light of these circumstances, temporary difficulties in the general supply of spring fodder plant seed and spring cereal seed have occurred and are expected to continue in Sweden. These difficulties cannot be overcome otherwise than through permitting, for a specified period and subject to an appropriate maximum quantity, the marketing in the Union of certified spring fodder plant seed and certified spring cereal seed produced in Sweden from the category of certified seed of the second generation.

Therefore, the derogation provided for in this Decision should authorise the marketing in the Union of certified spring fodder plant seed and certified spring cereal seed produced in Sweden from the category of certified seed of the second generation, subject to certain conditions and limitations.

It appears from the information provided to the Commission by Sweden that, in total, a quantity of 2 525 tonnes for spring fodder plant seed and 18 240 tonnes for spring cereal seed is necessary to resolve these supply difficulties for a period expiring 30 June 2019.

The derogation should not prejudice the application of the other conditions for the category of certified seed, second generation, as laid down in Directives 66/401/EEC and 66/402/EEC.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: