THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 234/68 of 27 February 1968 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots and the like, cut flowers and ornamental foliage ( 1 ), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the first indent of Article 2 (1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/68 of 12 March 1968 fixing quality standards for flowering bulbs, corms and tubers ( 2 ), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2971/76 ( 3 ), provides that if produce listed in Article 1 does not conform to the quality standards it may not within the Community be displayed for sale, offered for sale, sold or delivered to the consumer for his personal needs by a trader or directly by a producer;

Whereas produce intended for consumers may be packed at the production stage or at the wholesale stage;

Whereas, to ensure simpler and more effective control, the packed produce should be subjected to the quality standards;

Whereas also the Annex to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/68 lays down provisions on size gradings; whereas these provisions do not apply to products of the following genera: Allium, Anemone, with the exception of the coronaria species, Chionodoxa, Endymion, Fritillaria, Puschkinia, Tigridia, Triteleia, and to the Scilla sibirica species, its cultivars and hybrids with the exception of the atrocaerulea (Spring beauty) cultivar; whereas, in order further to achieve the objectives of the quality standards, provisions on size grading should also be laid down for these products,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

— within the Community:

— 

— be exported to third countries.’