L 226/16 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 8. 98 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 98/56/EC of 20 July 1998 on the marketing of propagating material of ornamental plants THE 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 Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), (1) Whereas the production of ornamental plants occupies an important place in the agriculture of the Community; (2) Whereas satisfactory results in the cultivation of ornamental plants depend to a large extent on the quality and health of the material used for their propagation; (3) Whereas the establishment of harmonised conditions at Community level will ensure that purchasers throughout the Community receive propagating material which is healthy and of good quality; (4) Whereas, so far as they ...