(16) For plant protection products containing fipronil, where Member States grant any period of grace in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, this period should expire on 28 February 2014 at the latest. Accordingly, the prohibition of placing on the market of treated seeds should apply as of 1 March 2014 in order to allow for a period of transition.
(17) Within two years from the date of entry into force of the present Regulation the Commission will initiate a review of the new scientific information, including new studies, information on new product formulations provided by the applicants, which it has received.
(18) Article 36(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 provides that Member States may, under certain circumstances, impose further risk mitigation measures or restrictions to the placing on the market or use of the plant protection products containing fipronil. Concerning the placing on the market and use of the seeds treated with plant protection products containing fipronil, Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 provides for the possibility of Member States to take emergency measures pursuant to Article 71 thereof.
(19) Seeds treated with plant protection products containing fipronil, which are subject to the restrictions referred to in Article 1 of this Regulation, may be used for experiments or tests for research or development purposes pursuant to Article 54 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.
(20) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
Prohibition of placing on the market of treated seeds
Seeds of crops which have been treated with plant protection products containing fipronil shall not be used or placed on the market with the exception of seeds intended to be sown in greenhouses and seeds of leek, onions, shallots, and the group of
Brassica
vegetables intended to be sown in fields and harvested before flowering.
Article 3
Transitional measures
Member States shall, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, where necessary amend or withdraw existing authorisations for plant protection products containing fipronil as active substance by 31 December 2013.
Article 4
Period of grace
Any period of grace granted by Member States in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 shall be as short as possible and shall expire on 28 February 2014 at the latest.
Article 5
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force and apply from the day following that of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Union
.
However, Article 2 shall apply from 1 March 2014.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 14 August 2013.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO
(1)
OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1
.
(2)
OJ L 230, 19.8.1991, p. 1
.
(3)
OJ L 214, 17.8.2007, p. 3
.
(4)
OJ L 65, 13.3.2010, p. 27
.
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