Strasbourg, 24 April 2024
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More flexibility for farmers to exchange between each other plant reproductive material
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Simpler rules and exceptions for conservation varieties of plants
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Cross-border cooperation to reforest areas affected by extreme weather
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QR code with instructions on how to take care of, store and plant forest reproductive material
Parliament adopts its position on EU rules for plant and forest reproductive material to guarantee high quality, resilient and diverse plants and forests in the EU.
On Wednesday, the Parliament adopted its proposals for changes to the new regulations on the production and marketing of plant (431 votes in favour, 104 against and 82 abstentions) and forest (416 votes in favour, 61 against, and 136 abstentions) reproductive material.
Plant reproductive material
MEPs propose to allow farmers to exchange between each other a limited quantity of any type of plant reproductive material. The allowed quantity should be set by the Commission for each species. The Parliament also wants to extend requirements for the production of plant reproductive material to imports to the EU.
To support the conservation of plant genetic resources, MEPs propose to make the marketing of conservation varieties easier. The access to, sale and transfer of conservation varieties in small quantities should be exempted from the rules, according to the adopted resolution. The text also extends the period of registration of conservation varieties to 30 years.
Forest reproductive material
MEPs propose mandatory mutual cooperation of Member states to ensure the supply of forest reproductive material for cross-border areas affected by extreme weather events or disasters.
They also stress the need to make forest reproductive material traceable from the collection to the marketing. Producers of forest reproductive material should have the obligation to notify national authorities of their intention to harvest forest reproductive material prior to harvesting in order to allow for the organisation of controls, say the MEPs in the adopted text.
MEPs propose to allow professional operators having sufficient competence, infrastructure and resources to issue official labels accompanying individual lots of forest reproductive material under the supervision of the competent authority. The label should include a QR code with instructions on how to take care of, store and plant the forest reproductive material, say the MEPs.
Quote
Rapporteur for the two regulations Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, IT) said:
“New rules for the production and marketing of plant and forest reproductive material increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden, support innovation, biodiversity and give farmers and forest owners a solid legislation.”
Next steps
The files will be followed up by the new Parliament after the 6 – 9 June European elections.
Background
The draft law on plant reproductive material replaces ten directives laying down the current rules. One of the main goals of the regulation is to improve declining agrobiodiversity in the EU by increasing the variety of plant reproductive material on the market.
The total value of seeds and planting stock used in EU agriculture was €13.3 billion in 2021. Around 2 million hectares of EU land are used for the production of certified seed. The EU seed sector employs around 52,000 people.
The proposed regulation on forest reproductive material intends to increase biodiversity and restoration of forest ecosystems as well as to improve climate adaptation and mitigation. In the EU, 60 % of forest stands are composed of even-aged trees, and more than 80 % have three species or less, which makes them susceptible to damage from droughts, fires, pests and diseases.
Further information