30. 1. 97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 27/49 COMMISSION DECISION of 24 January 1997 extending the period referred to in Article 15 (2a) of Directive 66/403/EEC on the marketing of seed potatoes (97/90/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 66/403/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of seed potatoes ('), as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (3, and in particular Article 15 (2a) thereof, Whereas in principle, with effect from certain dates, Member States may no longer determine for themeselves the equivalence of seed potatoes harvested in third coun- tries with seed potatoes harvested within the Community and complying with that Directive; Whereas, however, since work to establish Community equivalence for all the third countries concerned had not been completed, Article 15 (2a) of that Directive permitted Member States to extend to 31 March 1996 the period of validity of equivalence which they had already for certain countries not covered by the Community equi- valence; Whereas the said work is still incomplete; Whereas the authorization may only be extended in accordance with Member States’ obligations under the common rules on plant health, laid down by Council Directive 77/93/EEC (%), as last amended by Commission Directive 96/78/EC (%); Whereas by Commission Decision 97/89/EC (%) deroga- tions provided for by certain Member States from certain provisions of Directive 77/93/EEC in respect of seed potatoes originating in Canada have been approved until 31 March 1997; Whereas the authorization granted to Member States by Article 15 (2a) of Directive 66/403/EEC should accord- ingly be extended; 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 In Article 15 (2a) of Directive 66/403/EEC, ‘31 March 1996 is replaced by ‘31 March 1997’ Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 24 January 1997. For the Commission Franz FISCHLER Member of the Commission (') OJ No 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2320/66. (» O] No L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10. () OJ No L 26, 31. 1. 1977, p. 20. () O] No L 321, 12. 12. 1996, p. 20. (%) See page 45 of this Official Journal.