Council Directive 2002/56/EC on the marketing of seed potatoes.

This Directive shall apply to the production with a view to marketing, and to the marketing, of seed potatoes within the Community. It shall not apply to seed potatoes shown to be intended for export to third countries. Member States shall provide that seed potatoes may not be placed on the market unless they have been officially certified as "basic seed potatoes" or "certified seed potatoes" and unless they satisfy the minimum conditions laid down in Annexes I and II. Annex I lays down minimum conditions to be satisfied by seed potatoes, whereas Annex II lays down minimum quality conditions applicable to lots of seed potatoes. The Member States shall provide that seed potatoes which do not, during marketing, satisfy the minimum conditions laid down in Annex II may be sorted. The tubers which are not rejected shall then undergo a further official examination (art. 3). Article 5 allows Member States to impose additional or more stringent requirements for the certification of seed potatoes produced in their own territory. Annex III establishes labelling requirements.