Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/94 of 20 June 1994 on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture
Modified by
Council Regulation (EC) No 1103/97of 17 June 1997on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro, 31997R1103, June 19, 1997
Council Regulation (EC) No 806/2003of 14 April 2003adapting to Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in Council instruments adopted in accordance with the consultation procedure (qualified majority), 32003R0806, May 16, 2003
Council Regulation (EC) No 1590/2004of 26 April 2004establishing a Community programme on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1467/94(Text with EEA relevance), 32004R1590, September 30, 2004
Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/94of 20 June 1994on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agricultureTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the CommissionOJ No C 266, 1. 10. 1993, p. 2.,Having regard to the opinion of the European ParliamentOJ No C 128, 9. 5. 1994.,Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social CommitteeOJ No C 52, 19. 2. 1994, p. 20.,Whereas, with a view to the preservation of biological and genetic diversity in agriculture in the Community, which constitutes an irreplaceable fund of biological and genetic resources, genetic resources should be preserved; whereas all necessary measures should be taken to conserve, characterize, collect and utilize those resources to promote the aims of the common agricultural policy and safeguard biological diversity in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity ratified by the Community in 1993; whereas all forward-looking solutions which might prove necessary should be applied;Whereas in this Regulation "agriculture" should be taken in the broad sense of the term and genetic resources in agriculture should therefore include genetic resources in forestry;Whereas genetic resources in agriculture include both plant and animal genetic resources within the meaning of this Regulation;Whereas the aim of effective development and coordination of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture must be to organize, for the general good, work undertaken in the Member States, to utilize the results of that work effectively, to direct that work towards ends compatible with the needs of the common agricultural policy and in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to pool the resources necessary for implementing actions responding to the needs of the Community taking into account, where it is appropriate, those actions undertaken in the same area by international organizations recognized as competent and by European countries outside the Union;Whereas, in order to attain that objective, the permanent exchange of information and, in particular, reciprocal consultation on programmes in the Member States, existing and planned, for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture should be established;Whereas the coordination, at Community level, of work already under way at national level for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture must enable that work to be made more effective;Whereas current work appears inadequate, either because of the nature of the work itself or because the means available to the Member States do not enable them to increase their efforts in the field of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture; whereas, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the European Community should be able to support and supplement the efforts made in the Member States in such cases, thus helping to meet the obligations which weigh on the Community to protect the environment and maintain the countryside, and to develop and implement plans for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; whereas the problem of conservation of genetic resources in agriculture has a transnational dimension and concerns all Member States, but to date there has been no specific programme of action in this area at Community level; whereas the best solution is to add value by concerting existing actions and supporting new high-priority actions; whereas inaction would lead to inefficiency and loss of genetic resources;Whereas the work undertaken in the field of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture should increase diversification in agriculture, help to maintain biological diversity, improve the quality of agricultural products and reduce inputs and agricultural production costs by promoting, in particular, the extensification of agricultural production;Whereas, given that the coordination of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture is directly linked to the common agricultural policy, measures adopted to that end must be applied as rapidly as possible;Whereas, for the purposes of coordination, in view of the geographical spread of the genetic wealth of Community agriculture and owing to the need to implement relevant measures, close and permanent cooperation between the Commission and the Member States on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture should be established;Whereas the coordination of work at national level calls for a broad and detailed knowledge of the situation regarding the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture in each Member State; whereas the relevant information should be gathered and the procedures for providing access thereto laid down;Whereas work carried out at Community level should be directed, in particular, towards improving the quality of agricultural products and finding new uses for traditional or new agricultural products with a view to increasing their added value;Whereas a Community programme of measures for the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture must help to preserve biological diversity in the Community, increase the competitiveness of agriculture and improve the management of agricultural resources;Whereas such a Community programme of long-term measures could lead to new forms of production, thus benefiting agriculture, the environment and the countryside;Whereas it is important to ensure that the results of work on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture to which the Community makes a contribution is made available to the Community;Whereas within the framework of the general policy on the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture developed by the Community with the aid of the relevant consultative bodies, the establishment of a committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission is the most suitable means for developing cooperation, such a committee being able to provide the appropriate aid and advice to the Commission in the execution of those tasks entrusted to it in the coordination of the conservation, characterization, collection and utilization of genetic resources in agriculture;Whereas, to permit the utilization of the results obtained, their dissemination and the provision of advice should be promoted; whereas in order to achieve as broad and appropriate use of the action programme as possible it will be supplemented by publications covering the results and advisory activities,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: