Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 70/458/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the marketing of vegetable seed^f1, as last amended by Directive 88/380/EEC^f2,, and in particular the final sentence of Annex I (4) (A) thereof,

Whereas Commission Directive 87/481/EEC^f3 amended the conditions laid down in Annex I (4) to Directive 70/458/EEC for crop isolation for the production of spinach beet seed and beetroot seed;

Whereas, according to Directive 87/481/EEC, the minimum distance from neighbouring plants of the same sub-species which might result in undesirable foreign pollination depends on whether the spinach beet or beetroot crop is of a variety belonging to the same group of varieties as those plants;

Whereas it is therefore necessary to determine the groups of varieties of spinach beet and beetroot referred to in Annex I (4) (A) of Directive 70/458/EEC;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: