Commissie verzoekt Hongarije en Polen om informatieverstrekking zaden en groenten op orde te brengen (en)

BRUSSELS, 16 June 2011 - The European Commission asked Hungary and Poland today to notify national implementing measures as required by Directive 2009/145/EC on conservation varieties and the marketing of seeds varieties.

Biodiversity and the conservation of seed varieties and vegetable varieties, which have been traditionally grown in specific regions and are now threatened by genetic erosion, play an important part in the agricultural activity of the European Union. They also enhance consumer choice in good-quality products, which are naturally adapted to the environmental conditions of their region.

Hungary and Poland have not communicated the measures implementing this directive, which provides for certain derogations in the marketing of these vegetable and seed varieties.

The Commission's request to the two Member States takes the form of a "reasoned opinion" under EU infringement procedures.

Earlier this year the Commission initiated the infringement procedure, described in Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), by sending a letter of formal notice to Hungary and Poland.

Since the two Member States continue to not comply with the Commission's request, a "Reasoned Opinion," is being sent to formally request their compliance within a period of two months. Subsequently, the Commission may decide to refer the Member States to the EU's Court of Justice if action to ensure compliance is not taken.

For more information on the infringement procedure, please see:

MEMO/11/312

For more information on the Conservation varieties, please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/propagation/conservation_varieties/index_en.htm

MEMO/11/408