20.3.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 82/29 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 18 March 2014 on the organisation of a temporary experiment providing for certain derogations for the marketing of populations of the plant species wheat, barley, oats and maize pursuant to Council Directive 66/402/EEC (notified under document C(2014) 1681) (Text with EEA relevance) (2014/150/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 Article Where: on the marketing of cereal seed (!), and in particular 13a thereof, as: Directive 66/402[EEC sets out specific requirements for the production and marketing of cereal seed. Those provisions prevent the marketing of seed not belonging to a variety. However, new research in the Union on plant repro- ductive material that does not fulfil the variety definition as regards uniformity, shows that there could be benefits of using this diverse material, in particular with regards to organic production or in low input agriculture for example to reduce the spread of diseases. To allow seed from those populations to be marketed, it would be necessary to amend points E, F and G of Article 2(1) of Directive 66/402/EEC by adding the possi- bility to market seed which does not fulfil the requirements concerning varietal aspects. In order to decide about such amendment to Directive 66/402/EEC, it is necessary to gather information on the marketing of seed from populations. In particular, it needs to be verified whether the identification of populations of particular species can be ensured, with guarantees similar to those resulting from the requirements concerning varietal aspects, on the basis of information on their breeding and production methods. Moreover, it should be assessed under this experiment whether the identity of the seed marketed as belonging to those () 0] 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2309/66. ) populations and the information to the user can be ensured, with guarantees similar to those resulting from Article 3(1) and Article 10, based on traceability requirements and identification of the places of production. Given the characteristics of populations, the certification of seed from populations might imply a disproportionate burden for authorities and for operators. It is therefore appropriate to gather information on the possibility to provide for a system of controls of the production and marketing of seed of populations not requiring certifi- cation. In view of their significance for the market sector of cereals and available research results, the species subject to this experiment should be wheat, barley, oats and maize. In order to clarify the nature of populations in comparison to varieties, it is necessary to lay down a requirement on the number of varieties used in the crossings to breed a population. The responsible official bodies should monitor this experiment through official controls on the production and marketing of seed from populations and their quan- tities, the persons maintaining those populations and the performance of those populations in specific areas. Conditions should be established for the submission of applications and authorisation of a population pursuant to this Decision, submission of a reference sample, denomination of the population, and registration of persons producing and marketing those populations. It is important that those conditions are assessed to ensure identity and traceability during the production and marketing of such population, effective controls by the responsible official bodies and avoidance of the creation of a market parallel to the one established pursuant to Directive 66/402/EEC.