Commissie wil dat Cyprus, Polen en Frankrijk voldoen aan regels voor fruitteelt
The European Commission has asked France, Cyprus and Poland to notify national implementing measures as required by Directive 2008/90/EC on fruit plant propagating material. The request takes the form of a "reasoned opinion" under EU infringement procedures. In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may decide to refer the above-mentioned Member States to the EU's Court of Justice.
France, Cyprus and Poland have not communicated the measures implementing Directive 2008/90/EC on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production. The term propagating material refers to seeds and plant parts that are used to reproduce plants. The cultivation of fruit plants plays an important part in the agricultural activity of the European Union. The production of healthy, high-quality fruit depends to a large extent on the standard of the material used for fruit plant cultivation. Healthy, high-quality fruit means a more competitive EU producer and a citizen with good-quality options.
The Commission initiated the infringement procedure, described in Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), early this year by sending a letter of formal notice to the three Member States. By the sending of a "Reasoned Opinion," the Commission formally asks the Member States concerned to take action to comply with EU law within a period of two months. Subsequently, the Commission may decide to refer the Member States to the ECJ if action to ensure compliance is not taken.
Background
This Directive harmonises conditions at EU level and ensures that purchasers throughout the EU receive propagating material and fruit plants which are healthy and of good quality. Member States were supposed to implement Directive 2008/90/EC by March 31, 2010, but France, Cyprus and Poland have failed to do so.
For more information on the infringement procedure, please see:
For more information on fruit plant propagating material legislation, please visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/propagation/fruit/index_en.htm