By way of derogation from Article 20 of Directive 2002/55/EC, Member States may provide that seed of a variety developed for growing under particular conditions may be verified as standard seed of a variety developed for growing under particular conditions if it meets the following requirements:
the seed complies with the requirements for the marketing of ‘standard seed’ provided for in Directive 2002/55/EC, with the exception of the requirements in respect of minimal varietal purity;
the seed has sufficient varietal purity.
1.Member States shall ensure that tests are carried out to check that seed of varieties developed for growing under particular conditions complies with the requirements provided for in Article 26.
2.The tests referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out in accordance with current international methods, or, where such methods do not exist, in accordance with any appropriate methods.
Member States shall ensure that seed of varieties developed for growing under particular conditions is marketed in small packages, not exceeding the maximum net weight set out per species in Annex II.
1.Member States shall ensure that seed of varieties developed for growing under particular conditions may be marketed only in closed packages bearing a sealing device.
2.Seed packages shall be sealed by the supplier in such a manner that they cannot be opened without damaging the sealing system or leaving evidence of tampering on the supplier’s label or on the package.
3.In order to ensure sealing in accordance with paragraph 2, the sealing system shall comprise at least the label or the affixing of a seal.
Member States shall ensure that packages of seed of varieties developed for growing under particular conditions bear a supplier’s label or a printed or stamped notice including the following information:
the words ‘EC rules and standards’;
the name and address of the person responsible for affixing the labels or his identification mark;
the year of sealing expressed as: ‘sealed …’ (year), or the year of the last sampling for the purposes of the last testing of germination expressed as: ‘sampled …’ (year);
the species;
the denomination of the variety;
the words ‘variety developed for growing under particular conditions’;
the reference number of the lot given by the person responsible for affixing the labels;
the declared net or gross weight, or declared number of seeds;
where weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the chemical treatment or additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of clusters or pure seeds and the total weight.
Member States shall ensure that the seed of a variety developed for growing under particular conditions is subject to official post control by random inspections to verify its varietal identity and purity.
The official post control referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out in accordance with current international methods, or, where such methods do not exist, in accordance with any appropriate methods.
Member States shall ensure by official monitoring during production and marketing that the seed complies with this Chapter, paying particular attention to the variety and quantities.