Commission Implementing Directive 2014/98/EUShow full title

CHAPTER 2 REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPAGATING MATERIAL AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, FRUIT PLANTS

SECTION 1 Requirements for pre-basic material

Article 3 Requirements for the certification of pre-basic material

1. Propagating material, other than mother plants and other than rootstocks not belonging to a variety, shall, on request, be officially certified as pre-basic material if it has been found to fulfil the following requirements:

(a) it is directly propagated from a mother plant in accordance with Article 13 or Article 14;

(b) it is true to the description of its variety and its trueness to the description of the variety is verified pursuant to Article 7;

(c) it is maintained pursuant to Article 8;

(d) it complies with the health requirements of Article 10;

(e) where the Commission has granted a derogation pursuant to Article 8(4) to grow pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material in the field under non-insect proof conditions, the soil complies with Article 11;

(f) it complies with Article 12 concerning defects.

2. The mother plant referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall either have been accepted in accordance with Article 5, or have been obtained by multiplication in accordance with Article 13 or micropropagation in accordance with Article 14.

3. Where a pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material no longer fulfils the requirements of Articles 7 to 12, the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material. That removed mother plant or material may be used as basic, certified or CAC material provided that it fulfils the requirements set out in this Directive for the respective categories.

Instead of removing that mother plant or that material, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that mother plant or that material complies with those requirements again.

Article 4 Requirements for the certification of rootstocks not belonging to a variety as pre-basic material

1. A rootstock not belonging to a variety, shall, on request, be officially certified as pre-basic material if it has been found to fulfil the following requirements:

(a) it is directly propagated, by vegetative or sexual propagation from a mother plant; in the case of sexual propagation pollinating trees (pollenisers) are directly produced by vegetative propagation from a mother plant;

(b) it is true to the description of its species;

(c) it is maintained pursuant to Article 8;

(d) it complies with the health requirements of Article 10;

(e) where the Commission has granted a derogation pursuant to Article 8(4) to grow pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material in the field under non-insect proof conditions, the soil complies with Article 11;

(f) it complies with Article 12 concerning defects.

2. The mother plant referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall either have been accepted in accordance with Article 6, or have been obtained by multiplication in accordance with Article 13 or micropropagation in accordance with Article 14.

3. Where a rootstock which is a pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material no longer fulfils the requirements of Articles 8 to 12, the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material. That removed rootstock may be used as basic, certified or CAC material provided that it fulfils the requirements set out in this Directive for the respective categories.

Instead of removing that rootstock, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that rootstock complies with those requirements again.

Article 5 Requirements for the acceptance of a pre-basic mother plant

1. The responsible official body shall accept a plant as a pre-basic mother plant if it complies with Articles 7 to 12, and if its trueness to the description of its variety is established in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.

That acceptance shall take place on the basis of an official inspection and the testing results, records and procedures pursuant to Article 30.

2. The responsible official body shall establish the trueness of the pre-basic mother plant to the description of its variety by the observation of the expression of the characteristics of the variety. That observation shall be based on one of the following elements:

(a) the official description for varieties registered in any of the national registers, and for varieties legally protected by a plant variety right;

(b) the description accompanying the application for varieties which are the subject of an application for registration in any Member State, as referred to in Article 5(1)of Commission Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU(1);

(c) the description accompanying the application for varieties which are the subject of an application for registration of a plant variety right;

(d) the officially recognised description, if the variety subject to that description is registered in a national register.

3. Where point (b) or point (c) of paragraph 2 applies, the pre-basic mother plant shall only be accepted if a report, produced by any responsible official body in the Union or in a third country, is available proving that the respective variety is distinct, uniform and stable. However, pending the registration of the variety, the mother plant concerned and the material produced from it may only be used for the production of basic or certified material and shall not be marketed as pre-basic, basic or certified material.

4. Where the establishment of the trueness to the description of the variety is only possible on the basis of the characteristics of a fruiting plant, the observation of the expression of the characteristics of the variety shall be carried out on the fruits of a fruiting plant propagated from the pre-basic mother plant. Those fruiting plants shall be kept separate from the pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material.

Fruiting plants shall be visually inspected in the most appropriate periods of the year taking into account climatic and growing conditions of plants of the genera or species concerned.

Article 6 Requirements for the acceptance of a rootstock not belonging to a variety

The responsible official body shall accept a rootstock not belonging to a variety as a pre-basic mother plant if it is true to the description of its species and if it complies with Articles 8 to 12.

That acceptance shall take place on the basis of an official inspection and the testing results, records and procedures used by the supplier pursuant to Article 30.

Article 7 Verification of trueness to the description of the variety

The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall regularly verify the trueness of pre-basic mother plants and of pre-basic material to the description of their variety, in accordance with Article 5(2) and (3), as appropriate for the variety concerned and the propagation method used.

In addition to the regular verification of pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material, the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall, after each renewal, verify the pre-basic mother plants resulting from it.

Article 8 Requirements concerning the maintenance of pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material

1. The suppliers shall maintain pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material in facilities, which are designated for the genera or species concerned, and which are insect proof and ensure freedom from infection through aerial vectors and any other possible sources throughout the production process.

Candidate pre-basic mother plants shall be kept under insect proof conditions, and physically isolated from pre-basic mother plants in the facilities referred to in the first subparagraph, until all tests concerning compliance with Article 9(1) and (2) have been concluded.

2. Pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material shall be maintained in a manner that ensures that they are individually identified throughout the production process.

3. Pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material shall be grown or produced, isolated from the soil, in pots of soil-free or of sterilised growing media. They shall be identified by labels ensuring their traceability.

4. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 a Member State may be granted authorisation to produce pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material in the field under non-insect proof conditions for specific genera or species. Such material shall be identified by labels to ensure its traceability. That authorisation shall be granted provided that the Member State concerned ensures that appropriate measures are taken to prevent infection of the plants by aerial vectors, root contact, cross infection by machinery, grafting tools and any other possible sources.

5. Pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material may be maintained by cryopreservation.

6. Pre-basic mother plants may only be used for a period calculated on the basis of the stability of the variety or the environmental conditions under which they are grown and any other determinants having an impact on the stability of the variety.

Article 9 Health requirements for candidate pre-basic mother plants and for pre-basic mother plants produced by renewal

1. A candidate pre-basic mother plant shall be free from the pests listed in Annex I, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The candidate pre-basic mother plant concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities and fields be found free from the pests listed in Annex I, as regards the genus or species concerned.

That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

In case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests, the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out sampling and testing of the candidate pre-basic mother plant concerned.

2. A candidate pre-basic mother plant shall be free from the pests listed in Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The candidate pre-basic mother plant concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities and fields, and by sampling and testing, be found free from the pests listed in Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

That visual inspection, sampling and testing shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

That sampling and testing shall take place in the most appropriate period of the year taking into account the climatic conditions and the growing conditions of the plant, and the biology of the pests relevant for that plant. Sampling and testing shall also take place at any time of the year in case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests.

3. As regards the sampling and testing, as provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States shall apply protocols of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, the responsible official body shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall submit the samples to laboratories officially accepted by the responsible official body.

The testing method for viruses, viroids, virus-like diseases and phytoplasmas applied to candidate pre-basic mother plants shall be biological indexing on indicator plants. Other test methods may be applied in case the Member State considers, on the basis of peer reviewed scientific evidence, that they produce results as reliable as biological indexing on indicator plants.

4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, where a candidate pre-basic mother plant is a seedling, visual inspection, sampling and testing shall only be required in respect of viruses, viroids or virus-like diseases transmitted by pollen and listed in Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned, provided that an official inspection has confirmed that the seedling concerned was grown from a seed produced by a plant free from symptoms caused by those viruses, viroids and virus-like diseasesand that that seedling has been maintained in accordance with Article 8(1) and (3).

5. Paragraphs 1 and 3 shall also apply to a pre-basic mother plant produced by renewal.

A pre-basic mother plant produced by renewal shall be free from the viruses and viroids listed in Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

That pre-basic mother plant shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, and by sampling and testing, be found free from those viruses and viroids.

That visual inspection, sampling and testing shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

Article 10 Health requirements for pre-basic mother plants and for pre-basic material

1. A pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material shall be free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The pre-basic mother plant or the pre-basic material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

The percentage of pre-basic mother plants or pre-basic material, which is infested by the pests listed in Part B of Annex I, shall not exceed the tolerance levels as set out therein. The pre-basic mother plants or the pre-basic material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found to comply with those levels. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

In case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests, the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out sampling and testing of the pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material concerned.

2. The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out visual inspection, sampling and testing of a pre-basic mother plant or pre-basic material, as set out in Annex IV as regards the genus or species concerned.

3. As regards sampling and testing, as provided for in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, the responsible official body shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall submit the samples to laboratories officially accepted by the responsible official body.

4. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material during cryopreservation.

Article 11 Soil requirements

1. Pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material may only be grown in soil that is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species. Freedom from such pests shall be established by sampling and testing.

That sampling shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out before the pre-basic mother plants or the pre-basic material concerned is planted, and it shall be repeated during growth where there is suspicion concerning the presence of the pests referred to in subparagraph 1.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out taking into account the climatic conditions and the biology of the pests listed in Annex III, and where those pests are relevant for the pre-basic mother plants or the pre-basic material concerned.

2. Sampling and testing shall not be carried out where plants which are hosts for the pests listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, have not been grown in the soil of production for a period of at least five years and where there is no doubt concerning the absence of the relevant pests in that soil.

Sampling and testing shall not be carried out when the responsible official body concludes on the basis of an official inspection that the soil is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species.

3. In the case of sampling and testing as referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of the EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, Member States shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

Article 12 Requirements concerning defects likely to impair quality

Pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material shall be found practically free from defects on the basis of visual inspection. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier. Injuries, discoloration, scar tissues or desiccation shall be considered as defects, if they affect the quality and usefulness as propagating material.

Article 13 Requirements concerning multiplication, renewal and propagation of pre-basic mother plants

1. The supplier may multiply or renew a pre-basic mother plant accepted in accordance with Article 5(1).

2. The supplier may propagate a pre-basic mother plant to produce pre-basic material.

3. Multiplication, renewal and propagation of pre-basic mother plants shall take place in accordance with the protocols referred to in paragraph 4.

4. Member States shall apply protocols concerning multiplication, renewal and propagation of pre-basic mother plants. Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, Member States shall apply relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

The protocols referred to in subparagraph 1 of this paragraph shall have been tested on the relevant genera or species for a period of time considered appropriate for those genera or species. That period of time shall be considered appropriate when it allows phenotype validation of the plants as regards the trueness to the description of the variety based on the observation of the fruit production or of the vegetative development of rootstocks.

5. The supplier may only renew the pre-basic mother plant before the end of the period referred to in Article 8(6).

Article 14 Requirements concerning multiplication, renewal and propagation by micropropagation of pre-basic mother plants

1. In the case of multiplication, renewal and propagation by micropropagation of pre-basic mother plants, for the production of other pre-basic mother plants or pre-basic material, it shall take place in accordance with the protocols set out in paragraph 2.

2. Member States shall apply protocols concerning micropropagation of pre-basic mother plants and pre-basic material which are protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, Member States shall apply relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

Member States shall only apply protocols which have been tested on the relevant genus or species for a period of time considered sufficient to allow phenotype validation of the plants as regards the trueness to the description of the variety based on the observation of the fruit production or of the vegetative development of rootstocks.

SECTION 2 Requirements for basic material

Article 15 Requirements for the certification of basic material

1. Propagating material, other than basic mother plants and other than rootstocks not belonging to a variety, shall, on request, be officially certified as basic material if it fulfils the requirements of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.

2. The propagating material shall be propagated from a basic mother plant.

A basic mother plant shall fulfil one of the following requirements:

(a) be grown from pre-basic material; or

(b) be produced by multiplication from a basic mother plant in accordance with Article 19.

3. The propagating material shall fulfil the requirements set out in Article 7, Article 8(6) and Article 12.

4. The propagating material shall fulfil the additional requirements concerning:

(a) health, as set out in Article 16;

(b) soil, as set out in Article 17;

(c) maintenance of basic mother plants and basic material as set out in Article 18; and

(d) specific conditions for propagation, as set out in Article 19.

5. A rootstock not belonging to a variety, shall, on request, be officially certified as basic material if it is true to the description of its species, it fulfils the requirements set out in Article 8(2) and (6), and the additional requirements of Articles 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

6. For the purpose of this Section, any reference in the provisions referred to in paragraphs 3 and 5 to pre-basic mother plants shall be construed as reference to basic mother plants, and any reference to pre-basic material shall be construed as reference to basic material.

7. Where a basic mother plant or basic material no longer fulfils the requirements of Article 7, Article 8(2) and (6) and Articles 12, 16 and 17 the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other basic mother plants and basic material. That removed mother plant or material may be used as certified or CAC material provided that it fulfils the requirements set out in this Directive for the respective categories.

Instead of removing that mother plant or that material, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that mother plant or that material complies with those requirements again.

8. Where a rootstock not belonging to a variety is a basic mother plant or basic material that no longer fulfils the requirements of Article 8(2) and (6) and Articles 12, 16 and 17, the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other basic mother plants and basic material. That removed rootstock may be used as certified or CAC material provided that it fulfils the requirements set out in this Directive concerning the respective categories.

Instead of removing that rootstock, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that rootstock complies with those requirements again.

Article 16 Health requirements

1. A basic mother plant or basic material shall be free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The basic mother plant or the basic material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

The percentage of basic mother plants or basic material, which is infested by the pests listed in Part B of Annex I, shall not exceed the tolerance levels as set out therein. The basic mother plants or the basic material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found to comply with those levels. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

In case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests, the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out sampling and testing of the basic mother plant or basic material concerned.

2. The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out visual inspection, sampling and testing of a basic mother plant or basic material, as set out in Annex IV as regards the genus or species concerned.

3. As regards sampling and testing, as provided for in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, the responsible official body shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall submit the samples to laboratories officially accepted by the responsible official body.

4. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to basic mother plants and basic material during cryopreservation.

Article 17 Soil requirements

1. Basic mother plants and basic material may only be grown in soil that is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species. Freedom of such pests hosting viruses shall be established by sampling and testing.

That sampling shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out before the basic mother plants or the basic material concerned is planted and it shall be repeated during growth where there is suspicion concerning the presence of the pests referred to in subparagraph 1.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out taking into account the climatic conditions and the biology of the pests listed in Annex III, and where those pests are relevant for the basic mother plants or the basic material concerned.

2. Sampling and testing shall not be carried out where plants which are hosts for the pests listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, have not been grown in the soil of production for a period of at least five years and where there is no doubt concerning the absence of the relevant pests in that soil.

Sampling and testing shall not be carried out when the responsible official body concludes on the basis of an official inspection that the soil is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species.

3. In the case of sampling and testing as referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, Member States shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

Article 18 Requirements concerning the maintenance of basic mother plants and basic material

1. Basic mother plants and basic material shall be maintained in fields isolated from potential sources of infection by aerial vectors, root contact, cross infection by machinery, grafting tools and any other possible sources.

2. The isolation distance of the fields referred to in paragraph 1 shall depend on regional circumstances, the type of propagating material, the presence of pests in the area concerned and the relevant risks involved as set out by the responsible official body based on official inspection.

Article 19 Conditions for multiplication

1. The basic mother plants which are grown from pre-basic material within the meaning of Article 15(2)(a) may be multiplied in a number of generations to obtain the necessary number of basic mother plants. The basic mother plants shall be multiplied in accordance with Article 13 or shall be multiplied by micropropagation in accordance with Article 14. The maximum permitted number of generations, and the maximum permitted life span of basic mother plants, shall be as set out in Annex V for the relevant genera or species.

2. Where multiple generations of basic mother plants are permitted, each generation, other than the first one, may derive from any previous generation.

3. Propagating material of different generations shall be kept separately.

SECTION 3 Requirements for certified material

Article 20 Requirements for certification of certified material

1. Propagating material, other than mother plants, and fruit plants shall, on request, be officially certified as certified material if they fulfil the requirements set out in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.

2. The propagating material, and fruit plants, shall be propagated from a certified mother plant.

A certified mother plant shall fulfil one of the following requirements:

(a) be grown from pre-basic material;

(b) be grown from basic material.

3. The propagating material, and fruit plants, shall fulfil the requirements set out in Article 7, Article 8(6) and Articles 12, 21 and 22.

4. The propagating material, and fruit plants, shall fulfil the health requirements set out in Article 21.

The propagating material and fruit plants shall be propagated from a certified mother plant which fulfils the soil requirements of Article 22.

5. A rootstock not belonging to a variety, shall, on request, be officially certified as certified material if it is true to the description of its species, it fulfils the requirements set out in Article 8(6) and the additional requirements of Articles 12, 21 and 22.

6. For the purpose of this Section, any reference in the provisions referred to in paragraphs 3 and 5 to pre-basic mother plants shall be construed as reference to certified mother plants, and any reference to pre-basic material shall be construed as reference to certified material.

7. Where a certified mother plant or certified material no longer fulfils the requirements of Article 7, Article 8(6) and Articles 12, 21 and 22, the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other certified mother plants and certified material. That removed mother plant or material may be used as CAC material provided that if fulfils the requirements set out in Section 4.

Instead of removing that mother plant or that material, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that mother plant or that material complies with those requirements again.

8. Where a rootstock not belonging to a variety is a certified mother plant or certified material that no longer fulfils the requirements of Article 8(6) and Articles 12, 21 and 22, the supplier shall remove it from the vicinity of other certified mother plants and certified material. That removed mother plant or material may be used as CAC material provided that if fulfils the requirements set out in Section 4.

Instead of removing that rootstock, the supplier may take appropriate measures in order to ensure that that rootstock complies with those requirements again.

Article 21 Health requirements

1. A certified mother plant or certified material shall be free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The certified mother plant or the certified material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found free from the pests listed in Part A of Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

The percentage of certified mother plants or certified material, which is infested by the pests listed in Part B of Annex I, shall not exceed the tolerance levels as set out therein. The certified mother plants or the certified material concerned shall, by visual inspection in the facilities, fields and lots, be found to comply with those levels. That visual inspection shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

In case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests, the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out sampling and testing of the certified mother plant or certified material concerned.

2. The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall carry out visual inspection, sampling and testing of a certified mother plant or certified material, as set out in Annex IV as regards the genus or species concerned.

3. As regards sampling and testing, as provided for in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, the responsible official body shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

The responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier shall submit the samples to laboratories officially accepted by the responsible official body.

4. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to certified mother plants and certified material during cryopreservation.

Article 22 Soil requirements

1. Certified mother plants may only be grown in soil that is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species. Freedom of such pests hosting viruses shall be established by sampling and testing.

That sampling shall be carried out by the responsible official body and, where appropriate, the supplier.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out before the certified mother plant concerned is planted, and it shall be repeated during growth where there is suspicion concerning the presence of the pests referred to in subparagraph 1.

That sampling and testing shall be carried out taking into account the climatic conditions and the biology of the pests listed in Annex III, and where those pests are relevant for the certified mother plants or the certified material concerned.

2. Sampling and testing shall not be carried out where plants which are hosts for the pests listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, have not been grown in the soil of production for a period of at least five years and where there is no doubt concerning the absence of the relevant pests in that soil.

Sampling and testing shall not be carried out when the responsible official body concludes on the basis of an official inspection that the soil is free from any pests which are listed in Annex III, for the genus or species concerned, and which host viruses affecting that genus or species.

Sampling and testing shall not be carried out in the case of certified fruit plants.

3. In the case of sampling and testing as referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall apply protocols of EPPO, or other protocols which are internationally recognised. Where such protocols do not exist, Member States shall apply the relevant protocols established at national level. In that case, Member States shall, on request, make available those protocols to the other Member States and to the Commission.

SECTION 4 Requirements for CAC material

Article 23 Conditions for CAC material, other than rootstocks not belonging to a variety

1. CAC material, other than rootstocks not belonging to a variety, may only be marketed if it has been found to fulfil the following requirements:

(a) it is propagated from an identified source of material recorded by the supplier;

(b) it is true to the description of the variety, in accordance with Article 25;

(c) it complies with the health requirements of Article 26;

(d) it complies with Article 27 concerning defects.

2. The actions to comply with paragraph 1 shall be carried out by the supplier.

3. In case CAC material no longer complies with paragraph 1, the supplier shall carry out one of the following actions:

(a) remove that material, from the vicinity of other CAC material; or

(b) take appropriate measures to ensure that that material complies with those requirements again.

Article 24 Conditions for CAC material in the case of rootstocks not belonging to a variety

1. In the case of rootstocks not belonging to a variety, CAC material shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) it is true to the description of its species;

(b) it complies with the health requirements of Article 26;

(c) it complies with Article 27 concerning defects.

2. The actions to comply with the requirements of paragraph 1 shall be carried out by the supplier.

3. In case CAC material no longer complies with the requirements of paragraph 1, the supplier shall carry out one of the following actions:

(a) remove that material, from the vicinity of other CAC material; or

(b) take appropriate measures to ensure that that material complies with those requirements again.

Article 25 Trueness to the description of the variety

1. The trueness of CAC material to the description of its variety shall be established by the observation of the expression of the characteristics of the variety. That observation shall be based on one of the following elements:

(a) the official description for registered varieties, as referred to in Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU and for varieties legally protected by a plant variety right; or

(b) the description accompanying the application for varieties which are the subject of an application for registration in any Member State, as referred to in Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU;

(c) the description accompanying the application for a plant variety right;

(d) the officially recognised description of a variety as referred to in Article 7(2)(c)(iii) of Directive 2008/90/EC.

2. The trueness of the CAC material to the description of its variety, shall be regularly verified through the observation of the expression of the characteristics of the variety in the CAC material concerned.

Article 26 Health requirements

1. CAC material shall be practically free from the pests listed in Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

The CAC material concerned shall, by visual inspection carried out by the supplier in the facilities, fields and lots, be found practically free from the pests listed Annex I and Annex II, as regards the genus or species concerned.

In case of doubts concerning the presence of those pests, the supplier shall carry out sampling and testing of the CAC material concerned.

2. The supplier shall carry out visual inspection, sampling and testing of CAC material, as set out in Annex IV as regards the genus or species concerned.

3. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to CAC material during cryopreservation.

4. In addition to the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2, CAC material that belongs to the species Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, and Poncirus Raf.shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(a) it shall be produced from an identified source of material, and that source of material shall be found free, on the basis of sampling and testing, from the pests as listed for those species, in Annex II;

(b) since the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation it shall be found practically free, on the basis of visual inspection, sampling and testing, from the pests as listed in Annex II, as regards species concerned.

Article 27 Requirements concerning defects

CAC material shall be found practically free from defects, on the basis of visual inspection. Injuries, discoloration, scar tissues or desiccation shall be considered as defects, if they affect the quality and usefulness as propagating material.

(1)

Commission Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards the registration of suppliers and of varieties and the common list of varieties (see page 16 of this Official Journal).