THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed ( 1 ), as last amended by Directive 78/1020/EEC ( 2 ), and in particular Articles 2 (1a) and 21a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed ( 3 ), as last amended by Directive 78/1020/EEC, and in particular Articles 2 (1a) and 21a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 69/208/EEC of 30 June 1969 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants ( 4 ), as last amended by Directive 78/1020/EEC, and in particular Articles 2 (1a) and 40a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 70/458/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the marketing of vegetable seed ( 5 ), as last amended by Directive 78/692/EEC ( 6 ), and in particular Articles 2 (1a) and 40a thereof,

Whereas, in the light of the development of scientific knowledge, a number of the botanical names used in the Directives on the marketing of seeds have been shown to be incorrect or of doubtful authenticity;

Whereas those names should be aligned with those normally accepted internationally;

Whereas Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 69/208/EEC and 70/458/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed, cereal seed, seed of oil and fibre plants and vegetable seed should therefore be amended;

Whereas certain provisions of the abovementioned Directives and of Council Directive 70/457/EEC of 29 September 1970 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species ( 7 ), as last amended by Directive 78/55/EEC ( 8 ), use the concept of species, thereby determining the scope of those provisions; whereas the changes to the nomenclature made by this Directive should not affect the interpretation of those provisions;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

1. In Article 2 (1) (A) (a) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

2. In Article 2 (1) (A) (b) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

3. In Article 2 (1) (A) (b) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

4. In Article 3 (1) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

5. In Annex I (2), Annex I (4), Annex II (I) (1) and Annex II (II) (1) the name of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

6. In Annex II (I) (2) (A), Annex II (II) (2) (A) and Annex III the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

7. In Annex II (I) (2) (A), Annex II (II) (2) (A) and Annex III the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

8. In Annex II (I) (2) (B) (e) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

1. In Article 2 (1) (A) the names of the two following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

2. In Article 2 (1) (A) the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following:

3. In Annex I (5) (B) (a), Annex II (1) (A), Annex II (1) (A) and Annex III the names of the following species:

shall be replaced by the following: