Propagation Material of Vines Regulations, 2004 (L.N. 470 of 2004)

B 7499 L.N. 470 of 2004 PLANT QUARANTINE ACT, 2001 (ACT NO. XVIII OF 2001) Propagation Material of Vines Regulations, 2004 IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 32 of the Plant Quarantine Act, 2001, the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment has made the following regulations> 1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Propagation Material of Vines Regulations, 2004. (2) These regulations shall come in force on the 15th December, 2004. . 2. (1) The scope of these regulations is to make provisions for assuring that any vine propagation material produced, placed on the market in Malta or being transhipped through Malta prior to its transport to another Member State meets specified standards of quality. (2) These regulations shall apply to plant material utilised for the vegetative propagation of vines, hereinafter referred to as the propagation material as hereinafter defined, produced and marketed within the European Union. 3. For the purpose of these regulations, the following definitions shall apply> “the Act” means the Plant Quarantine Act, 2001< “basic propagation material” refers to propagation material that> (i) has been produced under the responsibility of the grower according to accepted practices for the maintenance of the identity of the variety and, where applicable, of the Title and commencement. Scope. Interpretation. Suppliment tal-Gazzetta tal-Gvern ta’ Malta, Nru. 17,675, 12 ta’ Novembru, 2004 Taqsima B –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– B 7500 clone, and for the prevention of diseases, and which is obtained by vegetative propagation directly from initial propagation material< (ii) is intended for the production of certified propagation material< (iii) satisfies the conditions laid down in Schedules I and II for basic propagation material< and (iv) has been found by official examination, to satisfy the above mentioned conditions< “certified propagation material” refers to propagation material that> (i) is obtained directly from basic or initial propagation material< (ii) is intended for (aa) the production of young plants or parts of plants for use in the production of grapes, or (bb) the production of grapes< (iii) satisfies the conditions laid down in Schedules I and II for certified propagation material< and (iv) has been found by official examination, to satisfy the above conditions< “clones” are the vegetative progeny of a variety that is true to a vine stock chosen on account of its varietal identity, its phenotypic characters and its health status< “the Department” means the department responsible for plant health< “the Director” means the Director responsible for the department and includes to the extent of the authority given, any officer authorised by him, in writing, to act in that behalf for any of the purposes of the Act< “initial propagation material” refers to propagation material that> B 7501 (i) has been produced under the responsibility of the grower according to accepted practices for the maintenance of the identity of the variety and, where applicable, of the clone, and for the prevention of diseases< (ii) is intended for the production of basic or certified propagation material< (iii) satisfies the conditions laid down in Schedules I and II of these regulations for basic propagation material. These Schedules may be amended to alter or set additional or more stringent conditions for the certification of initial propagation material< and (iv) has been found by official examination, to satisfy the above conditions< “marketing” refers to the sale, holding with a view to sale, offer for sale and any disposal, supply or transfer, aimed at the commercial exploitation of propagation material to third parties, whether or not for consideration. Trade in propagation material not aimed at commercial exploitation of the variety, such as the following operations, shall not be regarded as marketing> (a) the supply of propagation material to official testing and inspection bodies< and (b) the supply of propagation material to providers of services for processing or packaging, provided that the provider of services does not acquire title to propagation material thus supplied. The rules for the application of these provisions shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure established by the European Union< “National Certification Service” is made up of the Plant Health Service includingt the Seeds and other Propagation Material Unit< “nurseries” may be subdivided as follows (a) multiplication nurseries which are nurseries used for the cultivation of rooted cuttings or rooted grafts< and (b) stock nurseries which are nurseries utilised for the production of rootstock cuttings for grafting, nursery cuttings or top-graft cuttings< B 7502 “official measures” are measures taken (a) by the National Certification Service, (b) by any legal person whether governed by public or by private law, acting under the responsibility of the same Service, or (c) in the case of ancillary activities which are also subject to the Service’s control, by any natural person duly sworn for that purpose> Provided that the persons mentioned under paragraphs (b) and (c) derive no private gain from such measures< “propagation material” refers to (a) young vine plants> (i) rooted cuttings which are ungrafted pieces of rooted vine shoot or herbaceous shoot intended for planting ungrafted or for use as rootstocks< (ii) rooted grafts that are pieces of vine shoot or herbaceous shoot joined by grafting, the underground part of which is rooted< (b) parts of young vine plants> (i) vine shoots which are one-year old shoots< (ii) herbaceous cuttings which are non-lignified shoots< (iii) rootstock cuttings that can be grafted and that are pieces of vine shoot or herbaceous shoot intended to form the underground part when preparing rooted grafts, (iv) top-graft cuttings which are pieces of vine shoot or herbaceous shoot that are intended to form the part above ground when preparing rooted grafts or when grafting plants in situ< (v) nursery cuttings being pieces of vine shoot or herbaceous shoot intended for the production of rooted cuttings< “standard material” refers to propagation material that> B 7503 (i) has varietal identity and purity< (ii) is intended for (aa) the production of young plants or parts of plants for use in the production of grapes, or (bb) the production of grapes< (iii) satisfies the conditions laid down in Schedules I and II for standard material< and (iv) has been found by official examination, to satisfy the above mentioned conditions< “variety” means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank that can be> (a) defined by the expression of the characters resulting from a given genotype or combination of genotypes< (b) distinguished from any other plant grouping by the expression of at least one of the said characters< and (c) considered as an entity in view of its ability to be propagated unchanged< “vines” are plants of the genus Vitis (L.) intended either for the production of grapes or to be used as propagation material for such plants. 4. (1) No person shall produce, place on the market in Malta or tranship through Malta prior to its transport to a Member State any vine propagation material unless this has been certified by the National Certification Service for any such purpose. (2) No person shall market any vine propagation material prior to registration according to the Plant Quarantine (Harmful Organisms) Regulations, 2004 . 5. (1) Any person producing, placing on the market in Malta or transhipping through Malta prior to its transport to a Member State any propagation material shall notify the National Certification Service. (2) A notice submitted in accordance with sub-regulation (1) of this regulation shall be submitted on such form and in such manner Certification. Notification. B 7504 and within such time as the Director may from time to time by notice in the Gazette, establish. 6. (1) Upon receipt of a notice in accordance with the provisions of regulation 5 hereof, the National Certification Service shall ascertain that the conditions for certification have been met and the National Certification Service shall issue such a certificate only if the propagation material meets such conditions or standards. (2) Prior to certifying any propagation material in accordance with sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, the National Certification Service shall inspect, collect and test such sample or samples as may be required to establish that any provisions of these regulations are satisfied. (3) Any certificate issued in accordance with this regulation shall only be valid for the propagation material for which the inspection, sample and testing were carried out in accordance with sub regulation (2) hereof. 7. (1) A catalogue of vine varieties and where applicable, clones, shall be established, maintained, updated and managed by the Seeds and other Propagation Material Unit. (2) The catalogue shall be divided into three sections> (a) one section dedicated to varieties for the production of table grapes< (b) one section dedicated to varieties for the production of grapes for wine production< (c) one section dedicated to rootstock varieties. (3) The catalogue shall be open to public inspection. (4) Each variety registered in the catalogue shall bear an indication as to its official acceptance for certification and for checking as standard propagation material in Malta by the National Certification Service. The varieties and, where applicable clones, accepted, shall be officially checked at regular intervals. If any of the conditions for acceptance for certification or checking is no longer satisfied, acceptance shall be revoked and the variety shall be deleted from the list. All applications or withdrawals of applications for acceptance of a variety, entries in a catalogue of varieties and amendments made to it, shall be immediately communicated to the other Member States and to the European Commission. General certification procedure. Conditions for listing of varieties. B 7505 (5) The catalogue shall indicate the principal morphological and physiological characters by which the varieties can be distinguished from one another. (6) No variety shall be accepted unless it is distinct, stable and sufficiently uniform. (7) A variety shall be deemed to be distinct if it is clearly distinguishable, by reference to the expression of the characteristics resulting from a particular genotype or combination of genotypes, from any other variety whose existence is a matter of common knowledge in the European Union. A variety shall be deemed to be a matter of common knowledge in the European Union if, on the date on which application is duly made for its acceptance, it is either> (a) entered in the Maltese catalogue or in the catalogue of another Member State, or (b) the subject of an application for acceptance in Malta or in another Member State, unless the conditions referred to in this sub-regulation are no longer met in all the Member States concerned before a decision is made regarding the application for acceptance of the new variety being assessed. (8) A variety shall be regarded as being stable if the expressions of the characters which are included in the examination for distinctness, as well as any others used for the variety description, remain unchanged after repeated propagation. (9) A variety shall be deemed to be uniform if, subject to the variation that may be expected from the particular features of its propagation, it is sufficiently uniform in the expression of those characters which are included in the examination for distinctness, as well as any others used for describing the variety. (10) Acceptance of varieties to the catalogue shall be requested through an official application addressed to the Seeds and other Propagation Material Unit. Acceptance to the catalogue shall be based on the results of official examinations, particularly growing trials, covering a sufficient number of characters for the variety to be described as indicated in Schedules V and VI. The methods used for determining characters must be exact and reliable and shall also comply with the regulations prescribed under the Wine Act (2001). B 7506 (11) The following shall be determined by the Viticulture and Oenology Unit, with the advice of the Seeds and other Propagation Material Unit, in accordance with the procedures adopted by the European Union> (i) the characters to be covered as a minimum by the examinations< and (ii) the minimum requirements for carrying out the examinations. (12) Synonyms and, or, homonyms shall also be indicated in the catalogue. (13) Varieties and clones accepted in the catalogues of the other Member States are also accepted for certification and for the checking of standard propagation material in Malta without prejudice to Council Regulation No 1493/1999 of the 17th May, 1999 on the common organisation of the market of wine. (14) Varieties, and where applicable, clones coming from other Member States are subject to the same requirements as those which apply to domestic varieties or clones, in particular as regards the acceptance procedure. (15) If and when genetically-modified varieties within the meaning of Article 2 of Directive 2001/18/EC of 12th March, 2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council are available, such varieties shall only be accepted if all appropriate measures have been taken to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment. Those varieties accepted must be clearly indicated as such in the catalogue of varieties. The National Certification Service shall further ensure that any person marketing such a variety clearly indicates in the vine sales catalogue that the variety is genetically-modified and states the purpose of the modification. 8. (1) It shall be required that varieties and where applicable, clones, accepted in the catalogue are maintained by selection for conservation. (2) Maintenance must always be verifiable on the basis of records made by those responsible for maintenance of a variety and, where applicable, of a clone. Samples may be requested from those responsible for the maintenance of a variety. Where necessary, samples may be taken officially. Maintenance of varieties. B 7507 (3) Maintenance may be carried out in another Member State with the authorisations of both the Seeds and other Propagation Material Unit and the Viticulture and Oenology Unit. 9. (1) Vine propagation material may not be placed on the market unless> (a) it has been officially certified as initial propagation material, basic propagation material or certified propagation material or, in the case of propagation material not intended for use as rootstocks, is officially checked as standard material and satisfies the conditions laid down in Schedule II< (b) notwithstanding paragraph (a) as a transitional measure up to 1st January 2005, the marketing in Malta’s territory of standard material intended for use as rootstocks and taken from parent plants in existence on 23rd February, 2002, shall be allowed< (c) notwithstanding paragraph (a), the National Certification Service may authorise local producers to place on the market appropriate quantities of propagation material> (i) for trials or scientific purposes< (ii) for selection work< or (iii) intended to help preserve genetic diversity> (d) The conditions under which the authorisation is granted in respect of subparagraph (c) shall be determined in accordance with the procedures of the European Union. If and when genetically-modified material is available, such authorisation may be granted only if all the appropriate measures have been taken to avoid endangering human health and the environment. Environmental risk assessments and other checks have to be carried out in this respect< (e) in the case of propagation material produced by means of in vitro propagation techniques, the following provisions may be adopted in accordance with the procedures of the European Union> (i) derogation from specific provisions of these regulations< (ii) conditions applicable to such propagation material< Certification. B 7508 (iii) designations that may be used for such propagation material< and (iv) conditions to guarantee that the varietal authenticity has first been verified. 10. While growing, during lifting or removal from the parent vine, packaging, storage and transportation, propagation material shall be kept in separate batches and shall be marked with the variety and, where applicable, in the case of original propagation material, basic material and certified material, with the clone. 11. (1) Packages and bundles of propagation material shall be sealed officially or under official supervision, in such a manner that they cannot be opened without damaging the seal or without the official label referred to in sub-regulation 12(1) or, in the case of packaging, the packaging showing signs of tampering. To ensure proper sealing, the sealing device must comprise at least either the official label or an official seal. Further sealing may take place only officially or under official supervision. (2) The sealing method or methods referred to in sub regulation (a) shall be determined and authorised by the National Certification Service. 12. (1) It shall be required that an official label in Maltese or in English, conforming to the specifications of Schedule IV be affixed on the outside of packages and bundles of propagation material by means of the sealing device. The colour of the label shall be white with a diagonal violet stripe for initial material, white for basic material, blue for certified material and dark yellow for standard material. Delible printing shall not be permitted. (2) However, producers may be authorised to market more than one package or bundle of grafted or rooted vines with the same characteristics using a single label conforming to the specifications in Schedule IV. In such cases, the packages or bundles shall be attached together in such a way that the attachment is damaged on separation and can no longer be put back. The label shall be affixed by means of the attachment. No resealing shall be authorised. (3) In the case of genetically-modified material, any label and document, official or otherwise, which is affixed to or accompanies the batch of material under this legislation shall clearly indicate that the variety has been genetically-modified and shall name the genetically modified organisms. Packaging, storage and transportation of propagation material. Packaging of propagation material. Labelling of packages. B 7509 (4) Without prejudice to Article 23(2) of Council Regulation No 1493/1999, it may be required that each delivery of material produced in Malta also be accompanied by a uniform document featuring the following particulars inter alia> (i) the nature of the goods< (ii) the variety and, where applicable, the clone< (iii) category< (iv) quantity< (v) consignor< and (vi) recipient. The conditions to be set regarding this accompanying document shall be established by the National Certification Service, upon the advice of the Viticulture and Oenology Unit, in accordance with the rules of the European Union. (5) The official label provided for under sub-regulation (1) may also include the phytosanitary accompanying document provided for in the Act regarding plant passports. However, all of the conditions applicable to the official labelling and plant passports are defined and must be recognised as equivalent. (6) The National Certification Service may indicate that the official labels must be preserved by the recipient of the material for the vegetative propagation of the vine for at least one year and made available to the official control authority. 13. (1) It shall be required that propagation material be marketed only in sufficiently homogeneous batches and in sealed packages or bundles bearing, as prescribed in regulations 12 and 13, a sealing device and markings. Packaging shall comply with the provisions of Schedule III. (2) By derogation from sub-regulation (1) hereof as regards packaging, sealing and marking, the National Certification Service may determine the provisions applicable to the sale of small quantities to final consumers and also to market vines in pots, crates or boxes. Marketing of propagation material B 7510 14. (1) The National Certification Service shall ensure that the identity of the propagation material is preserved, from the time of its lifting, or its removal from the parent vines until its delivery to the final consumer, by a system of official controls laid down by the National Certification Service. The Service shall make suitable arrangements for propagation material to be officially controlled during marketing, at least by check sampling, as regards its compliance with the requirements of these regulations. (2) Without prejudice to the free movement of material within the European Union, all the necessary measures shall be taken to ensure that the competent authorities are supplied with the following particulars during the marketing of propagation material imported from a third country> (i) species (botanical name)< (ii) variety and, where applicable, clone< in the case of rooted grafts, such information shall apply both to the rootstock and to the top-graft cutting< (iii) category< (iv) nature of propagation material< (v) country of production and official control authority< (vi) country of despatch, if different from the country of production< (vii) importer< and (viii) quantity of material. The manner in which these particulars are to be presented may be determined by the National Certification Service in accordance with the procedures established by the European Union. 15. It shall be provided that propagation material obtained directly from basic material certified in a Member State and grown in another Member State, may be certified in the State which produced the basic material if the propagation material has undergone field inspection satisfying the conditions laid down in Schedule I and if official examination has shown that the conditions stated in Schedule II are satisfied. Identity of propagation material. Propagation material certified and grown in different countries. B 7511 16. (1) To eliminate any temporary difficulties in the supply of propagation material that cannot be overcome in any other way the National Certification Service may authorise for a specified period, the marketing of such quantity of propagation material of a category satisfying less stringent requirements. (2) For a category of propagation material of any given variety, the colour of the label shall be that provided for the corresponding category. In all other cases it shall be brown. The label shall always state that the propagation material in question is of a category satisfying less stringent requirements. 17. The National Certification Service may, as regards the conditions laid down in Schedules I and II, impose additional or more stringent requirements for the certification of propagation material or the checking of standard material produced in Malta. 18. (1) Propagation material of vine varieties and where applicable, clones, which have been officially accepted in one or more Member States for certification and for checking as standard propagation material in accordance with these regulations, shall not be subject to any marketing restrictions as regards its characteristics, examination arrangements, marking and sealing, other than those laid down in these regulations, and are not subjected to any marketing restrictions based on the variety, and, where applicable, clones, without prejudice to Council Regulation No. 1493#1999. (2) The National Certification Service, upon the advice of the Viticulture and Oenology Unit, may provide that after specified dates, propagation material of certain vine varieties may not be placed on the market unless it has been officially certified as basic material or certified material. 19. The National Certification Service may, as a transitional measure, after the entry into force of these regulations, provide that propagation material which has been used for establishing stock nurseries or multiplication nurseries is equivalent to propagation material certified or checked in accordance with the provisions of these regulations, if before being so used it afforded the same assurances as propagation material certified or checked in accordance with these regulations. Less stringent requirements. Additional or more stringent requirements. Marketing restrictions. Equivalence. B 7512 SCHEDULE I Conditions relating to the growing crop Section A - General conditions 1. Varietal identity and purity The crop shall have varietal identity and purity. The cultural condition of the plantation and the stage of development of the plants shall be such as to permit varietal identity and purity to be adequately checked. 2. Crop health The greatest care shall be taken to ensure that the soil, for stock and multiplication nurseries intended for the cultivation of basic or certified material, is not infected with harmful organisms or their vectors, in particular nematodes (especially Xiphinema index) which carry viral diseases. All other nematodes should be present in very low populations. Harmful organisms that reduce the usefulness of the propagation material and harmful viral diseases, especially grapevine fan-leaf and leaf roll must not be present in crops intended for the production of basic material. Crops intended for the production of propagation material of the other categories shall be kept free from plants showing symptoms of harmful diseases. 3. Failure Rate The failure rate attributable to harmful organisms shall not exceed> (i) 5% in stock nurseries intended for the production of certified propagation material, and (ii) 10% in stock nurseries intended for the production of standard propagation material< If failure can be ascribed to other than plant health factors and if the failure rate exceeds the abovementioned percentages, these reasons shall be entered in the file. 4. Crop inspections There shall be at least one crop inspection per year. A second crop inspection shall be carried out in cases of disputes on matters which can be decided without prejudice to the quality of the propagation material. B 7513 Section B - Special conditions 1. Isolation distances Multiplication nurseries shall not be established within, or within ten meters from vineyards for the production of fruit. In the case of terraced fields, a multiplication nursery should always be established on the top terrace when vineyards for fruit production already exist. 2. Production of rooted cuttings and rooted grafts The parts of vine plants used for the production of rooted cuttings and rooted grafts shall be taken from stock nurseries that have been inspected and approved. B 7514 SCHEDULE II Conditions relating to propagation material Section A - General conditions Varietal identity and purity Propagation material shall have varietal identity and a 1% tolerance shall be accepted for the marketing of standard material. The minimum technical purity shall be 96%. The following shall be regarded as technically impure> (i) wholly or partly desiccated propagation material, even when it has been seeped in water after desiccation, (ii) damaged, bent or injured propagation material, in particular when damaged by hail or frost or when crushed or broken. 2. Health of propagation material Propagation material should not be infected with harmful viral diseases, especially grapevine fan-leaf and leaf roll, and harmful organisms that reduce its usefulness, or their vectors, in particular nematodes (especially Xiphinema index) which carry viral diseases. Section B - Special conditions Rooted grafts> 1.1 Rooted grafts consisting of basic material grafted on to basic material or of basic material grafted on to certified material, shall be classified as basic material. Rooted grafts consisting of certified material grafted on to basic material or of certified material grafted on to certified material shall be classified as certified material. All other combinations shall be classified as standard material. 1.2 Parts of young vine plants> The vine shoots shall have reached an adequate state of maturity of the wood. The wood/pith ratio shall be normal for the variety. B 7515 Section C - Grading 1. Rootstock cuttings for grafting, nursery cuttings and top-graft cuttings> 1.1 Diameter This shall be measured at the widest point of the top cross-section. 1.1.1 rootstock cuttings for grafting and top-grafting cuttings> 1.1.1.1 top diameter> (i) Vitis rupestris and its crossing with Vitis vinifera, 6 to 12mm< (ii) other varieties, 6.5 to 12mm< The number of shoots with a diameter of not more than 7mm in the case of Vitis rupestris and its crossings with Vitis vinifera, and not more than 7.5mm for other varieties, shall not exceed 25% of the batch. 1.1.1.2 maximum butt-end diameter, 14mm except in the case of top-graft cuttings for grafting plants in situ. The cut shall be made at least 2cm below the lowest eye. 1.1.2 nursery cuttings> minimum top diameter, 3.5mm. 1.2 Length> 1.2.1 rootstock cuttings for grafting> minimum length from the lowest part of the lowest node taking into account the uppermost internode, 1.05m. 1.2.2 nursery cuttings> minimum length from the lowest part of the lowest node taking into account the uppermost internode, 55cm< in the case of Vitis vinifera, 30cm. 1.2.3 top-graft cuttings> with five usable eyes, minimum length from the lowest part of the lowest node taking into account the uppermost internode, 50cm, B 7516 with one usable eye, minimum length 6.5cm< the cut shall be made at a minimum distance of 1.5cm above the eye and 5cm below the eye. Rooted cuttings> 2.1 Diameter> The diameter measured at the middle of the internode immediately under the extension growth and along the longest axis, shall be not less than 5mm. 2.2 Length> The distance from the lowest point at which the roots emerge to the base of the extension growth, shall be not less than> 2.2.1 for rootstocks, 30cm< 2.2.2 for other rooted cuttings, 22cm. 2.3 Roots Each plant shall have at least three well-developed and well-spaced roots. However, the 420A variety may have only two well-developed roots, provided that they are on opposite sides. Rooted grafts> 3.1 The stem shall be at least 20cm long. 3.2 Roots> Each plant shall have at least three well-developed and well-spaced roots. However, the 420A variety may have only two well-developed roots, provided that they are on opposite sides. 3.3 Union> Each plant shall have an adequate, regular and secure union. B 7517 SCHEDULE III Packaging Composition of packages or bundles Table 1.1> Nature Number Rooted grafts 25 Rooted cuttings or roots 50 Top-graft cuttings with five usable eyes- 100 or 200 with one usable eye 500 or a multiple thereof Rootstock cuttings for grafting 200 Nursery cuttings for grafting and of varieties of Vitis vinifera 200 or 500 Other nursery cuttings 200 B 7518 SCHEDULE IV Official Labelling (1) Required information> (i) “EC standards”< (ii) Name and address of the person responsible for sealing or his identification number< (iii) Authority responsible for certification or checking and Member State< (iv) Reference number of batch< (v) Variety and, where appropriate, the clone (for rooted grafts, the clones of rootstocks and top-graft cuttings)< (vi) Category< (vii) Country of production< (viii) Quantity. In the case of rooted cuttings and rooted grafts, the particulars referred to in points (i),(ii),(v),(vi) and (vii) of (1) are sufficient. (2) Additional information allowed for basic propagation material and for certified propagation material> “The basic material/the materials of a vegetative stage prior thereto have been tested by … (authority) and have been confirmed free of … (viral disease) according to … (test method)”. For basic and certified propagation material, this information can refer to leaf roll and fan-leaf and in the case of rootstock also to mottling. The tests must be officially recognised. They must have been carried out over a period of at least three years by an officially recognised and controlled authority. The following test methods may be applied> for all viral diseases, the indexing methods in the case of vine plants< for fan-leaf, in addition to the preceding methods, the indexing method in the case of herbaceous plants, and also the serology method. (3) Minimum dimensions (i) 110 X 67mm for rootstock cuttings for grafting, top-graft cuttings and nursery cuttings< and (ii) 80 X 70mm for rooted cuttings and rooted grafts. (4) Colour of the label It shall be white for basic material, blue for certified material and dark yellow for standard material. B 7519 SCHEDULE V Characteristics considered in the examination for distinctness, stability and homogeneity Section A - Morphological characteristics 1. Leaf-bud formation on a growing branch 10 to 20cm long> 1.1 shape 1.2 colour (on opening to allow observation of the anthocyanins) 1.3 pilosity. 2. Herbaceous branch at time of flowering> 2.1 transveral cross-section (shape and contour) 2.2 pilosity. 3. Ligneous shoot> 3.1 surface 3.2 merithallus. 4. Distribution of tendrils 5. Young leaves at the top on a growing branch 10 to 30cm long (first three leaves clear of the leaf-bud formation counted from that point)> 5.1 colour 5.2 pilosity. 6. Mature leaf (situated between the 8th and the 11th node)> 6.1 photograph 6.2 drawing or direct print with scale 6.3 general shape 6.4 number of foliar lobes 6.5 petiolar sinus 6.6 depth of the upper and lower lateral sinus 6.7 pilosity of the lower surface 6.8 surface 6.9 lateral serration. B 7520 7. Flower> 7.1 apparent sex. 8. Bunch of grapes at industrial maturity (as regards wine grape varieties and table grape varieties)> 8.1 photograph (with scale) 8.2 shape 8.3 size 8.4 peduncle (length) 8.5 average weight in grams 8.6 picking off 8.7 compactness of bunch. 9. Berry at industrial maturity (as regards wine grape varieties and table grape varieties)> 9.1 photograph (with scale) 9.2 shape 9.3 shape with indication of average weight 9.4 colour 9.5 skin (as regards table grape varieties) 9.6 number of pips (as regards table grape varieties) 9.7 pulp 9.8 juice 9.9 flavour. 10. Seeds (as regards wine grape varieties and table grape varieties)> 10.1 photograph of the two sides and profile (with scale). Section B - Physiological characteristics 1. Vegetative phenomena> 1.1 Establishment of phenological dates> These are established in comparison with one or more of the control varieties> 1.2 Date of opening> Date on which half the eyes of a normally pruned vine have burst open, showing their internal pilosity in relation to that of control varieties. 1.3 Date of full flowering> B 7521 Date when for a certain number of plants, half the flowers are open compared with control varieties. 1.4 Maturity (as regards wine grape varieties and table grape varieties)> In addition to the period of maturity, an indication shall be given of the density or probable degree of the must, its acidity and the corresponding yield of grapes expressed in kilograms per hectare, compared with one or more control varieties, giving if possible yields of a similar size. Cultivation characteristics> 2.1 Vigour 2.2 Habit of growth (position of first fruit-bearing bud, preferred size) 2.3 Production> 2.3.1 regularity 2.3.2 yield 2.3.3 anomalies 2.4 Resistance or sensitivity> 2.4.1 to unfavourable conditions 2.4.2 to pests 2.4.3 proneness to bursting of the grape. 2.5 Behaviour during vegetative propagation> 2.5.1 grafting 2.5.2 propagation by cuttings. 3. Utilisation> 3.1 wine grapes 3.2 table grapes 3.3 as rootstocks 3.4 for industrial uses. B 7522 SCHEDULE VI Minimum conditions for carrying out inspections on vine varieties 1. Ecological information: 1.1 Place 1.2 Geographical conditions> 1.2.1 longitude 1.2.2 latitude 1.2.3 altitude 1.2.4 exposure and slope 1.3 Climatic conditions 1.4 Type of soil. 2. Technical procedure: 2.1 For wine grapes and table grapes> 2.1.1 twenty-four vines if possible on several different rootstocks 2.1.2 at least 3 years of production 2.1.3 at least two places having different ecological conditions 2.1.4 the taking of the graft should be examined with at least three varieties of rootstocks. 2.2 For rootstock varieties: 2.2.1 five vines with at least two forms of growth habits 2.2.2 five years after planting 2.2.3 three places having different ecological conditions 2.2.4 the taking of the graft should be examined with at least three varieties of scion. The National Certification Service may authorise any changes to this Schedule and such changes shall be reported in the catalogue. Ippubblikat mid-Dipartiment ta’ l-Informazzjoni (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta — Published by the Department of Information (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta Mitbug[ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern — Printed at the Government Printing Press Prezz 48ç – Price 48c