24.2.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 53/21 COUNCIL DECISION of 16 February 1998 amending Decision 95/514/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (98/162/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Directive 66/400/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of beet seed ('), and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (?), and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed (°), and in particular Article 16(1)(b) thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants (*), and in particular Article 15(1)(b) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas, in Decision 95/514/EC (%) it has been deter- mined for a limited period that field inspections carried out in certain third countries on seed-producing crops of certain species satisfies the conditions laid down in Directives 66/400/EEC, 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 69/208/EEC; whereas in Decision 95/514/EC it has also been determined that seed of certain species produced in certain third countries was equivalent to corresponding seed produced in the Community; Whereas Decision 95/514/EC expired on 31 December 1997; whereas a new decision is therefore necessary; () OJ 125, 11. 7. 1966, p. 2290/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10). (3 OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2298/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10). () OJ 125, 11. 7. 1996, p. 2309/66. Directive as last amended by Directive 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10). (" OJ L 169, 10. 7. 1996, p. 3. Directive as last amended by D1rect1ve 96/72/EC (OJ L 304, 27. 11. 1996, p. 10). () OJ L 296, 9. 12. 1995, p. 34. Decision as last amended by Dec1s10n 97/33/EC (OJ L 13, 16. 1. 1997, p. 31). 4 5 Whereas in Decision 95/514/EC, reference to the OECD schemes for the varietal certification of seed moving in international trade was made as one of the bases for Community equivalence; Whereas in 1995 a system of alternative seed certification was included in these schemes as an experiment; Whereas, the results of this experiment have not yet been evaluated; Whereas, in these circumstances, it appears desirable to ensure continuation of the equivalence, but to limit it, under this Decision, to a further two years, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 In Article 6 of Decision 95/514/EC ‘31 December 1997’ shall be replaced by ‘31 December 1999’. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 16 February 1998. For the Council The President J. CUNNINGHAM