The Council adopts rules to improve forest reproductive material and support the EU seed sector

The Council has adopted new rules to improve the quality, availability and traceability of forest reproductive material (FRM), whilst supporting innovation and competitiveness in the EU seed sector.

“Today’s decision marks a crucial step towards more resilient and sustainable forests in Europe. It improves the quality of forest reproductive material, supports innovation and provides Member States with better tools to manage forests and respond to future challenges” – Maria Panayiotou, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment of the Republic of Cyprus.

The Regulation will strengthen the resilience of Europe’s forests to climate change, pests and diseases. It will support biodiversity, sustainable forest management and the conservation of genetic resources. Forest reproductive material, such as seeds and plants, is essential for forest regeneration, in particular reforestation and afforestation across the EU.

The key rules ensure that only approved and certified seeds and plants will be placed on the market, thereby helping to guarantee their quality and sustainability for planting. Furthermore, they strengthen traceability, making it possible to track seeds and seedlings across the EU.

Furthermore, the Regulation promotes more resilient forests by encouraging the use of seeds and seedlings that are resilient to climate change and resistant to pests. It also introduces a simpler and more harmonised system of controls, thereby facilitating the implementation of the rules in Member States.

More information: European Council.