Date: 2018-07-20Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2018/1027 of 19 July 2018 amending Council Directive 66/402/EEC as regards isolation distances for Sorghum spp. (Text with EEA relevance.)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary:
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2018/1027 amends Council Directive 66/402/EEC regarding isolation distances for Sorghum spp. The amendment considers areas where *S. halepense* or *S. sudanense* pose a cross-pollination risk. Member States must adopt and publish necessary provisions by December 31, 2018, and apply them from January 1, 2019.
Key Points / Main Content:
Amendments to Directive 66/402/EEC:
* Annex I of Directive 66/402/EEC is amended as detailed in the Annex of this Directive.
Isolation Distances for Sorghum spp.:
* Minimum isolation distances for Sorghum spp. are:
* 400 m for basic seed production.
* 200 m for certified seed production.
* In areas with cross-pollination issues due to *S. halepense* or *S. sudanense*:
* Basic seed production of *Sorghum bicolor* or its hybrids requires 800 m isolation.
* Certified seed production of *Sorghum bicolor* or its hybrids requires 400 m isolation.
* Minimum distances may be disregarded if there is sufficient protection from undesirable foreign pollination.
Transposition and Application:
* Member States must adopt and publish laws, regulations, and administrative provisions to comply with this Directive by December 31, 2018.
* These provisions must be applied from January 1, 2019.
* Member States must communicate the text of these provisions to the Commission.
* Member States must also communicate the main provisions of national law adopted in this field to the Commission.
Entry into Force:
* The Directive entered into force on August 9, 2018, the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Addressees:
* The Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Impact Analysis:
Member States:
* Impact: Required to incorporate the new isolation distances into their national laws and regulations regarding cereal seed marketing.
* Action Required: Adopt and publish the necessary provisions by December 31, 2018, apply them from January 1, 2019, and communicate the text of these provisions to the Commission.
Seed Producers (Sorghum spp.):
* Impact: Must adhere to the revised isolation distances for basic and certified seed production, especially in areas with *S. halepense* or *S. sudanense* cross-pollination issues.
* Action Required: Adjust seed production practices to comply with the new isolation distance requirements to ensure seed quality and certification.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Directive by Member States.
* Action Required: Monitor Member States' compliance and review the communicated national law provisions.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe, to which the directive is addressed.
Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2018/1027: The title of the directive being analyzed, amending Council Directive 66/402/EEC.
Council Directive 66/402/EEC: Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed which is being amended by this directive.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): An international organization that sets seed scheme standards, which Directive 66/402/EEC is based on.
Sorghum spp.: A genus of grasses, the isolation distances for which are being amended in the directive.
S. halepense: Johnson grass, a species of Sorghum that can cause cross-pollination issues.
S. sudanense: Sudan grass, a species of Sorghum that can cause cross-pollination issues.
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed: A committee whose opinion was considered before the adoption of the directive.
L 184/4 EN Official Journal of the European Union 20.7.2018
DIRECTIVES
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2018/1027
of 19 July 2018
amending Council Directive 66/402/EEC as regards isolation distances for Sorghum spp.
(Text with EEA relevance)
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 on the marketing of cereal seed (1), and in particular
Article 21a thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The conditions for seed production provided for in Directive 66/402/EEC are based on the international
standards established by the Seed Scheme of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
(2) At the 2017 Annual Meeting of the OECD on Seed Schemes, the standard for isolation distances for the
cultivation of Sorghum spp. was amended especially to take into account areas where the presence of S. halepense
or S. sudanense is a particular cross-pollination issue.
(3) Directive 66/402/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Amendments to Directive 66/402/EEC
Annex I to Directive 66/402/EEC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.
Article 2
Transposition
1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 31 December 2018 at the latest, the laws, regulations and adminis
trative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the
text of those provisions.
They shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2019.
When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such
a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be
made.
2. Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law
which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
(1) OJ 125, 11.7.1966, p. 2309/66.20.7.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 184/5
Article 3
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
Article 4
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 July 2018.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKERL 184/6 EN Official Journal of the European Union 20.7.2018
ANNEX
Point 2 of Annex I to Directive 66/402/EEC is replaced by the following:
‘2. The crop shall conform to the following standards as regards distances from neighbouring sources of pollen
which may result in undesirable foreign pollination:
Crop Minimum distance
Phalaris canariensis, Secale cereale other than hybrids:
— for the production of basic seed 300 m
— for the production of certified seed 250 m
Sorghum spp.
— for the production of basic seed(*) 400 m
— for the production of certified seed(*) 200 m
xTriticosecale, self-pollinating varieties
— for the production of basic seed 50 m
— for the production of certified seed 20 m
Zea mays 200 m
(*) In the areas where the presence of S. halepense or S. sudanense is a particular cross-pollination issue, the following shall
apply:
a) crops to produce basic seed of Sorghum bicolor or its hybrids must be isolated not less than 800 m from any source of
such contaminating pollen;
b) crops to produce certified seed of Sorghum bicolor or its hybrids must be isolated not less than 400 m from any source
of such contaminating pollen.
The minimum distances listed in the table above may be disregarded if there is sufficient protection from any
undesirable foreign pollination.’