That amendment discontinues the possibility for Finland to grant national aid for seeds and cereal seed and, in order to provide farmers in Finland with the opportunity to prepare for a situation without national aid, provides for a final, additional transitional period during which national aid for the production of seeds and cereal seed, with the exception of Timothy seeds, may be granted by Finland.

Subject to Commission authorisation, Finland may grant aid for certain quantities of seeds, with the exception of Timothy seeds (Phleum pratense L.), and for certain quantities of cereal seed produced solely in Finland up to and including the 2010 harvest.

The aid granted by Finland, without prior authorisation from the Commission, from 1 January 1996 to 1998 within the limits of the areas and amounts laid down in the Annex for certified seeds of varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) listed in Finland's national catalogue and which, except for small quantities cultivated in regions bordering on Finland, are produced solely in that Member State is compatible with the second paragraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 and is therefore ...[+++]authorised.

The maximum amounts of aid or lower amounts set by Finland, without prior authorisation from the Commission, for 1999 within the limits of the areas and amounts laid down in the Annex for certified seeds of varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) listed in Finland's national catalogue and which, except for small quantities cultivated in regions bordering on Finland, are produced solely in that Member State are compatible with the second paragraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 and ...[+++] are therefore authorised.