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1.A temporary experiment is organised at Union level aiming at assessing whether the production, under certain conditions, of seed tubers produced from plantlets grown from true potato seed may constitute an improved alternative to the production from seed potatoes and thus may be considered as accepted practice for the maintenance of the variety and of health as provided for in Article 2(b)(i) of Directive 2002/56/EC.
2.The purpose of the experiment is to assess the following elements:
(a)whether the production of seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1 can be considered as ‘accepted practice’ within the meaning of Article 2(b)(i) of Directive 2002/56/EC and whether true potato seed can be considered as seed of a generation prior to basic seed within the meaning of Article 2(c)(i) of that Directive;
(b)whether seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1 having a smaller size than the minimum size set out in Article 10(1) of Directive 2002/56/EC are acceptable;
(c)whether a different number of generations of basic seed potatoes and certified seed potatoes than the maximum number set out in point 7 of Annex I to Directive 2002/56/EC is acceptable;
(d)whether seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1 having a higher percentage of external blemishes than the maximum percentage set out in point 3 of Annex II to Directive 2002/56/EC are acceptable;
(e)whether seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1 maintain sufficient varietal identity and purity after several cycles of vegetative multiplication, and whether for such seed tubers different ceilings than the maximum percentages set out for basic seed potatoes in point 1(b) and for certified seed potatoes in point 2(b) of Annex I to Directive 2002/56/EC are acceptable;
(f)whether seed-borne diseases affect the quality of seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1 and, if so, whether specific requirements should be set out in relation to those diseases;
(g)whether it is necessary to introduce specific requirements concerning traceability, identity, quality and health during the production of true potato seed and seedlings grown from true potato seed with a view to ensure quality, identification and health of seed tubers as referred to in paragraph 1; and
(h)what is the most appropriate production pathway from true potato seed to certified seed potatoes under the agro-climatic conditions prevalent in the Union.