The Commission welcomes the political agreement on seeds and other plant reproductive material

The European Commission welcomes the political agreement reached last night by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on the revision and simplification of EU legislation on plant reproductive material (PRM). Today’s agreement modernises the current legislation, enabling producers and businesses to benefit from the latest innovations, technologies and digitalisation in this field. The revision also consolidates the various directives currently in force into a single Regulation, providing greater legal clarity and consistency for operators and public authorities.

Plant reproductive material comprises seeds and other plant material used for the production of new plants. It forms the basis of agriculture, ensuring that farmers and the agricultural industry have access to plants that meet their needs. Having the right plants helps to increase the resilience of plants and crops, combating resistance to certain pests and improving productivity. The new rules will ensure the quality of these products and strengthen this sector in Europe.

The revised Regulation maintains the marketing system for plant reproductive material, which includes the evaluation and registration of new varieties, as well as certification to ensure their high quality. In addition, it introduces new exceptions to these rules to facilitate market access for various types of producers and increase the availability of a wider variety of products, particularly for non-professional users, for conservation purposes and to meet specific local needs.

Once fully adopted and implemented, the revision agreed today will enable:

• Ensure the high quality and availability of plant reproductive material, thereby boosting the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
• Support investment and innovationin the sector by promoting the adoption of the latest techniques and digital solutions to transform plant reproductive material into a forward-looking sector.
• Improve the performance of official controlsthrough harmonisation and the adoption of a risk-based approach, thereby ensuring the quality of plant reproductive material.
• Strengthentheconservation of plant genetic resourcesby increasing the availability of more genetically diverse materials to meet future needs and improve resilience.

Background

EU legislation on plant reproductive material dates back to the 1960s. On 5 July 2023, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material (‘Regulation on plant reproductive material’). The aim of the proposed Regulation was to replace and simplify the existing marketing Directives for cereal seeds, beet seeds, forage plant seeds, oil and fibre plant seeds, fruit plants, vine propagating material, seed potatoes, vegetable seeds and vegetable propagating material.

Next steps

The revised Regulation must now be formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament.

The new rules will apply four years after the new Regulation enters into force.

More information: European Commission.