18. 6. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 160/11 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 4 June 1997 authorizing the Member States to permit temporarily the marketing of seed of soja bean (Glycine max (L) Merr.) not satisfying the requirements of Council Directive 69/208/EEC (97/379/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants ('), as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (%), and in particular Article 16 thereof, Having regard to the request submitted by Austria, Whereas in Austria the production of seed of very early varieties of soja bean (Glycine max (L) Merr) satisfying the requirements of Directive 69/208/EEC in relation to minimum germination capacity has been insufficient in 1996 and is therefore not adequate to meet that country’s needs; Whereas it is not possible to cover this demand satisfact- orily with seed from other Member States, or from third countries, satisfying all the requirements laid down in the said Directive; Whereas Austria should therefore be authorized to permit for a period expiring on 30 June 1997 the marketing of seed of the abovementioned species subject to less strin- gent requirements; Whereas, moreover, other Member States which are able to supply Austria with such seed not satisfying the re- quirements of the Directive should be authorized to permit the marketing of such seed; o L 169, 10. 7. 1969, p. 3. o L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10. ZZ Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horti- culture and Forestry, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Austria is authorized to permit, for a period expiring on 30 June 1997, the marketing in its territory of a maximum of 200 tonnes of seed of very early varieties of soja bean (Glycine max (L) Merr.) which does not satisfy the requirements laid down in Annex II to Directive 69/208/EEC with regard to the minimum germination capacity, provided that the following requirements are satisfied: (a) the germination capacity is at least 62 % of pure seed; (b) the official label shall bear the endorsement ‘minimum germination capacity 62 %. Article 2 Member States other than the applicant Member State are also authorized to permit, on the tems set out in Article 1 and for the purposes intended by the applicant Member State, the marketing in their territory of the seed auth- orized to be marketed under this Decision. Article 3 Member States shall immediately notify the Commission and the other Member States of the various quantities of seed labelled and permitted to be marketed in their ter- ritory pursuant to this Decision.