Brussels, Belgium
July 5, 2023

Today, the Commission adopted a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming.

A soil monitoring law will put the EU on a pathway to healthy soils by 2050, by gathering data on the health of soils and making it available to farmers and other soil managers. The law also makes sustainable soil management the norm and addresses situations of unacceptable health and environment risks due to soil contamination. Today's proposals will also boost innovation and sustainability, by enabling the safe use of technical progress in new genomic techniques, to enable developing climate-resilient crops and reducing the use of chemical pesticides, and by ensuring more sustainable, high-quality and diverse seeds and reproductive material for plants and forests. Finally, new measures also propose to reduce food and textile waste, which will contribute to a more efficient use of natural resources and a further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from these sectors.

These measures will bring long-term economic, social, health and environmental benefits to everyone. By ensuring more resilient natural assets, the new rules in particular support people living directly from land and nature. They will contribute to prosperous rural areas, food security, a resilient and thriving bioeconomy, put the EU at the forefront of innovation and development and help reverse biodiversity loss and prepare for the consequences of climate change.

A new EU Law to increase the value of soil and its resources

60 to 70% of soils in the EU are currently unhealthy. In addition, a billion tonnes of soil are washed away every year due to erosion, which means that the remaining fertile top layer is disappearing quickly. Costs associated with soil degradation are estimated at over €50 billion per year.

The proposal for the first-ever EU legislation on soils provides a harmonised definition of soil health, puts in place a comprehensive and coherent monitoring framework and fosters sustainable soil management and remediation of contaminated sites. The proposal brings several sources of soil data under one roof, combining soil sampling data from the EU's Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey (LUCAS) with satellite data from Copernicus, and national and private data. The ultimate goal is to achieve healthy EU soils by 2050, in line with the EU Zero Pollution ambition.

Soil data will support innovation, technological and organisational solutions, notably in farming practices. It will help farmers and other landowners implement the most appropriate treatment methods and help them increase soil fertility and yields, while minimising water and nutrient consumption. In addition, this data will improve our understanding of trends on droughts, water retention and erosion, strengthening disaster prevention and management. Healthy soils and better data provide additional income opportunities for farmers and land managers, who can be rewarded for carbon farming, receive payments for ecosystem services or for increasing the value of healthy soils and food produced on them. The proposal does not impose any direct obligations on landowners and land managers including farmers.

Member States will define positive and negative practices for soil management. They will also define regeneration measures to bring degraded soils back to a healthy condition, based on national soil health assessments. These assessments will also inform into other EU policies, such as LULUCF, CAP and water management.

The proposal also requests that Member States address unacceptable risks for human health and the environment due to soil contamination, guided by the polluter pays principle. Member States will need to identify, investigate, assess and clean up contaminated sites.

More resilient food systems with New Genomic Techniques

Farmers and breeders need access to state of the art innovation. New technologies can help boost resilience for both agriculture and forested land and protect harvests from the effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. New Genomic Techniques (NGT) are innovative tools that help increase the sustainability and resilience of our food system. They allow developing improved plant varieties that are climate resilient, pest resistant, that require less fertilisers and pesticides and can ensure higher yields, helping to cut the use and risk of chemical pesticides in half, and reducing the EUs dependency on agricultural imports.

In most cases, these new techniques lead to more targeted, precise, and faster changes than conventional techniques, while growing a crop that is the same as what could have been achieved with classic techniques like seed selection and crossbreeding.

Our proposal will:

• establish two categories of plants obtained by NGTs: NGT plants comparable to naturally occurring or conventional plants, and NGT plants with more complex modifications;
• both categories will be subject to different requirements to reach the market taking into account their different characteristics and risk profiles. The plants from the first category will need to be notified. The plants from the second category will go through the more extensive process of the GMO directive;
• give incentives to steer the development of plants towards more sustainability;
• ensure transparency about all NGT plants on the EU market (for e.g., through labelling of seeds);
• offer robust monitoring of economic, environmental and social impacts of NGT products.

More sustainable and diverse Plant and Forest Reproductive Materials

The European seed sector is the largest exporter in the global seed market (20% of the global market with an estimated value of €7-10 billion and 7,000 companies mostly SMEs). It is important that the legislation is up to speed with the evolution of science. This proposal will update and simplify the current rules, some of which are more than 50-years old.

The proposed Regulation on the production and marketing of plant and forest reproductive materials will increase the diversity and quality of seeds, cuttings, and other plant reproductive material (PRM). They will guarantee stable yields by future-proofing plant varieties through sustainability testing (e.g., disease resistance). Seeds will also be better adapted to the pressures of climate change and help preserve the genetic diversity of cultivated crops and contribute to ensuring food security. The proposal will cut red tape and increase efficiency and efficacy of the registration and certification systems.

For the Forest reproductive materials, we will help ensure that the right tree is planted at the right place so that forests are better adapted to climate change. Tree breeding allows speeding up climate change adaptation of forests, thus ensuring their continued productivity in the future.

Reducing food and textile waste

Nearly 59 million tonnes of food (131 kg/inhabitant) are wasted in the EU each year with estimated market value of €132 billion. Over half of food waste (53%) is generated by households, followed by the processing and manufacturing sector (20%). Fighting food waste is a triple win: it saves food for human consumption and thereby contributes to food security. It helps companies and consumers to save money, and it lowers the environmental impact of food production and consumption.

To accelerate the EU's progress, the Commission proposes that, by 2030, Member States reduce food waste by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households).

Textile waste also burdens limited natural resources. Around 78% of the textiles waste is not separately collected by consumers and ends up in mixed household waste, destined to be incinerated or landfilled. More information on today's proposal is in a dedicated press release.

Next steps

The proposals will now be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure.

Background

The European Green Deal is a must for the health of our people and planet. Since its presentation in December 2019, it has set in motion a deep and holistic transformation of our society and our economy. Today's package completes the previous proposals under the ‘natural resources' pillar of the Green Deal.

These initiatives and their targets rely on solutions provided by nature as our best ally in the fight against climate change. To deliver on climate neutrality, in particular to enhance carbon removals by natural sinks, deliver on the EU Climate Law and uphold the European Union's international commitments under both the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, we must urgently strengthen the resilience of natural ecosystems across the EU, increase their ability to help us adapt to climate change and maintain their productive capacity to ensure lasting food and material security.

For More Information

Communication on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

New Genomic Techniques proposal

Questions and Answers on New Genomic Techniques

Factsheet on New Genomic Techniques

Animation on New Genomic Techniques

Plant and Forest Reproductive Material proposal

Questions and Answers on Plant and Forest Reproductive Material

Factsheet on Plant and Forest Reproductive Material

Food Waste proposal

Questions and Answers on Food Waste

Factsheet on Food Waste

Proposal on Soil

Questions and Answers on Soil

Factsheet on Soil

Animation on Soil

Proposal on Textile Waste

Press release on Textile Waste

Factsheet on Textile Waste

Quote(s)

Almost two years ago, we presented Fit for 55 to implement the climate pillar of the Green Deal. Today, we complement our earlier proposals on nature restoration and the reduction of chemical pesticides, to underpin the nature pillar of the Green Deal. These proposals are closely linked to each other and to the need for climate action: healthy soils absorb more carbon, retain more water and protect from droughts. And by enabling the safe use of new genomic techniques, farmers will have access to more resilient crops that require less pesticides.

Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal - 04/07/2023

Innovation is part and parcel of our Green Deal sustainability agenda, particularly in the area of food. We want to give our farmers the tools to produce healthy and safe food, adapted to our changing climatic conditions, and with respect for our planet. This includes new rules on the use of new genomic techniques and modernised rules on plants and forest seeds to boost diversity, sustainable practices, food security and drive EU competitiveness. We are also today stepping up our action against food waste to minimise food losses and reinforce our food security. We have an opportunity now to plan for the future, redesign the way we produce and consume our food and offer a larger choice of safe, sustainable and nutritious products to our citizens. This is also an opportunity for the EU farming sector and the food industry to take the lead on making sustainability their bankable trademark and stay ahead of the curve globally.

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety - 04/07/2023

Today we build the European Green Deal from the ground up! Literally. Our proposal, that will result in the first ever European law on soils, will boost Europe’s resilience and ensure a viable future for our farmers, landowners and people. In a nutshell, it legally defines healthy soils and allow us gather data on the state of soils, make a sustainable soil management the norm and very importantly help decontaminate polluted soils. Investing in our soils means putting the right foundation for everything else we build on.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries - 04/07/2023

Print friendly PDF: European Green Deal: sustainable use of natural resources
 

Frequently Asked Questions: Proposal on New Genomic Techniques

1. What are New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)?

New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) are innovative tools that can help increase the sustainability and resilience of our food system and support the goals of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. They allow precise and efficient development of improved plant varieties that can be climate resilient, pest resistant, require less fertilisers and pesticides, or ensure higher yields.

Each of these techniques can be used in various ways to achieve different results and products. Some of the changes to products derived from NGTs might also occur in nature or through conventional breeding. Other products may have multiple and extensive modifications. In most cases, these new techniques lead to more targeted, precise, and faster changes than conventional breeding or established genomic techniques.

2. Why do we need NGTs?

Since the invention of agriculture, humans have been improving grains, fruits, vegetables ever since we started growing them. Plants have been crossed and selected to get the right characteristics to get better crops. New genomic techniques allow us to do exactly the same, but faster and with more precision. The techniques identify and select the right characteristics from the plant's own DNA or from a related plant. Breeders can then use NGTs to develop new characteristics or improve existing plants with greater precision and speed than with conventional breeding techniques.

3. How would NGT plants be treated under this new legislation?

NGTs describes a variety of techniques that alter the genetic material of an organism. They did not yet exist in 2001, when the EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was adopted.

Currently, plants obtained by NGTs are subject to the same rules as GMOs. To better reflect the different risk profiles of NGT plants, the proposal creates two distinct pathways for NGT plants to be placed on the market.

NGT plants that could also occur naturally or by conventional breeding will be subject to a verification procedure, based on criteria set in the proposal. NGT plants that meet these criteria are treated like conventional plants and therefore exempted from the requirements of the GMO legislation. This means that for these plants no risk assessment has to be made and they can be labelled in the same way as conventional plants.

For all other NGT plants, the requirements of the current GMO legislation would apply. This means that they are subject to risk assessments, and they can only be put on the market following an authorisation procedure. For these plants there will be adapted detection methods and tailored monitoring requirements.

4. Does this proposal concern all NGTs?

No. This proposal only concerns plants produced by targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis and their food and feed products. Targeted mutagenesis induces mutations in the genome without insertion of foreign genetic material (e.g., changes are made within the same plant species). Cisgenesis is an insertion of genetic material into a recipient organism from a donor that is sexually compatible with the recipient organism (e.g., changes are made between naturally compatible plants).

The proposal does not include plants obtained by NGTs that introduce genetic material from a non-crossable species (transgenesis). Such techniques remain subject to the existing GMO legislation.

5. How can NGTs benefit farmers, consumers and citizens?

NGTs can contribute to the transition to a more sustainable agriculture and food system and help reduce EU's external dependencies for agri-food production. NGTs can support these objectives in multiple ways by benefitting different actors along the entire food chain.

Farmers would benefit from increased availability of plants tailored to satisfy the needs of the sector, such as climate resilience, pest resistance, improved yield and reduced need for fertilisers and pesticides.

Consumers would be able to choose from more food products with improved taste, better nutritional properties, or reduced levels of allergy-causing substances while also purchasing products that have contributed to sustainability.

Finally, manufacturers and traders can also see advantages in reduced use of natural resources and reduced emissions associated with food transport and properties facilitating processing.

6. Why is the Commission proposing this new legislation?

Since the adoption of the EU's GMO legislation in 2001, and especially in the last decade, a variety of NGTs have been developed based on advances in biotechnology.

To have a better understanding of all these recent advances, the Council requested the Commission in November 2019 to provide a study on NGTs. The 2021 Commission study Concluded that the current rules – mainly the existing GMO legislation - lags behind scientific and technological progress and do not sufficiently facilitate the development and placing on the market of innovative NGT products. The EU needs an adapted framework for safe NGT plants benefitting farmers, consumers, and the environment.

The legislative proposal therefore establishes a regulatory framework for NGT plants, and their products. It proposes different procedures for the placing on the market of NGT plants.

7. What evidence did the Commission use to elaborate this legislative proposal?

The Commission has relied on EU-level scientific advisory bodies. Safety issues have been thoroughly addressed by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA, which has adopted several scientific opinions on NGTs.

Furthermore, to assess how NGTs have evolved and to get an understanding of the current scientific state of the art, the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) analysed the latest scientific developments relating to NGTs. It has also carried out research to map the development pipeline of NGTs with respect to crop species, traits, and stage of the Research & Development process and analysed impacts of specific NGT plant case studies.

The Commission also collected and considered evidence and views provided by a large range of stakeholders and experts in preparation of the impact assessment.

8. Are there products obtained by NGTs already on the market or close to market?

Outside the EU, several NGT plant products are already or in the process of becoming available on the market or. These products have various useful characteristics e.g., resistance to pests and diseases, resistance to environmental stress (including from climate change), improved nutritional qualities/taste/texture, and in less need of pesticides. For instance, less bitter mustard greens are on the market in the US and will soon be in Canada. Non-browning bananas with the potential to significantly reduce food waste and CO2 emissions have already been approved in the Philippines.

A wide range of enhanced crops are also being developed, such as low-gluten wheat or virus-resistant maize.

9. How would the new legislation contribute to the objectives of the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy?

The proposal will create a legal framework so that NGTs can support the green transition of the agri-food system. It is designed to meet the demands of farmers for the development and commercialisation of new plant varieties with beneficial characteristics. These plants will help address new challenges posed by climate change and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers. The development of such varieties will help achieve the objectives of other EU policy initiatives, such as the Commission proposals on the sustainable use of pesticides and the revision of the EU waste framework Directive, which proposes legally binding targets to reduce food waste across the EU.

The proposal promotes innovation to contribute to sustainability by introducing for instance tolerance or resistance to plant diseases and pests (biotic stresses), plants with improved tolerance or resistance to climate change effects and extreme temperatures or droughts (abiotic stresses), improved nutritional characteristics or increased yield.

The proposed legislation is expected to entail more investments in agricultural biotechnology from the public sector, SMEs, and plant breeders. A special focus is put on ensuring easier and faster marketing of innovative products. This will offer a broader variety of crops to farmers and citizens.

10. Does the proposal guarantee high standards of safety for humans, animals and the environment?

Absolutely. The legislative proposal ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health and the environment. One of the main priorities of the Commission is to ensure that food in the EU is and remains safe.

In its scientific opinions, EFSA concluded that there are no new hazards specifically linked with targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis in plants. EFSA noted that some plants produced with these techniques may undergo small changes that might also occur in nature or through conventional breeding. Others may have multiple and extensive modifications that are similar to those in plants produced by established techniques of genetic modification used in the last two decades. EFSA therefore considers that the risk assessment of these techniques should be adapted to the techniques in question. EFSA developed, also at the request of the Commission, a statement on criteria for risk assessment. In addition, EFSA concluded that unintended modifications of the genome following targeted mutagenesis are of the same type, but fewer, than those occurring with conventional breeding techniques.

Based on EFSA's conclusions, the Commission is proposing that plants that are comparable to conventional plants (according to criteria defined in the proposal) are treated in the same way and not subject to a further risk assessment. Plants with complex combinations of mutations will, however, remain subject to a risk assessment and must be authorised before they can be placed on the market.

This approach ensures that all NGT plants released or placed in the EU market are safe.

11. Will there be transparency on NGT products placed on the EU market?

Yes. The legal proposal ensures transparency of all NGT products authorised on the EU market.

NGT products subject to an authorisation procedure would remain subject to the traceability and labelling requirements of the current GMO framework.

NGT plants that are similar to those occurring naturally or obtained by conventional breeding would not be subject to the labelling requirements of the GMO framework. They would be labelled in the same manner as conventional plants.

To ensure transparency and freedom of choice for farmers, all NGT plants will be listed in a public database. In addition, their seeds and other plant reproductive material will be labelled, and information on NGT plant reproductive material will be listed in the common catalogues of plant varieties so that farmers can freely choose to use such plants or not.

12. What measures are proposed to support SMEs?

The proposal intends to reduce red tape for companies and SMEs. In practice the proposed legislation will reduce the complexity, duration, and costs of authorisation applications. It also eliminates nearly all costs for NGTs subject to the verification procedure. This is very beneficial for SMEs.

Support measures will also be available, especially for SMEs. For instance, they will receive scientific advice before submission of an application The risk assessment procedures will be simplified as well.

This new framework will also make it much easier to place a wider range of traits or niche crop species important for local production on the market.

13. What does the proposal mean for organic production?

NGT plants will be prohibited in organic production.

For NGT plants subject to authorisation, the legislative proposal maintains the traceability and labelling requirements of the GMO legislation. Today, GMOs are banned in organic production by the EU Organic Production Regulation. In addition, the proposal makes the adoption of coexistence measures at national level mandatory. Member States have to adopt measures so that different types of cultivation can exist side by side, e.g., distances between the fields.

To exclude NGT plants from organic production – even those that have been verified to be comparable to conventional plants - organic and GM-free farmers can consult a public register of all NGT products and seed labelling in common catalogues of varieties.

14. Are you deregulating GMOs?

Absolutely not. The new rules concern NGTs only, which are distinct from GMOs. The new rules regulate NGTs in the EU and ensures that all NGT plants will be subject to a regulatory oversight that is tailored to their risk profile and will ensure that all NGT plants on the EU market are as safe as conventionally bred varieties. It will also provide transparency about NGT plants and products on the EU market. GMOs continue to be regulated by the EU legislation on GMOs, which remain unchanged.

15. Does the proposal address issues related to patents and intellectual property rights?

The legislative proposal concerns the release and placing on the market of NGT plants but does not regulate issues of intellectual property.

The Commission acknowledges that it is important to calibrate a balanced framework which supports farmers' and breeders' access to patented techniques and material, promotes seed diversity at affordable prices, and safeguards breeding and cultivation of unpatented conventional and organic crops, while also strongly encouraging innovation in plant breeding by preserving investment incentives, such as patents.

 The Commission will assess, as part of a broader market analysis, the impact that the patenting of plants and related licensing and transparency practices may have on innovation in plant breeding. It will also assess their impact on breeders' access to genetic material and techniques, on availability of seeds to farmers and on the overall competitiveness of the EU biotech industry. The Commission will report on its findings by 2026. It will identify possible challenges in the sector and serve as basis to decide on any possible follow-up actions.

16. How will the Commission monitor the impacts of the new legislation?

Several indicators have been developed to monitor and evaluate the progress towards the objectives of this initiative and its economic, environmental, and social impacts. They include indicators to monitor impacts on organic agriculture and on consumers acceptance of NGT products. Data on most indicators would be collected and published annually and used to produce regular monitoring reports.

The Commission will set a detailed programme to monitor - based on the above indicators - the impacts of this Regulation. The first monitoring report should be published no sooner than 3 years after the verification/authorisation of the first NGT product. An evaluation of the legislation should follow at the earliest 2 years after.

For more information

New Genomic Techniques proposal

NGTs page

Press release on the package

Factsheet on NGTs

Animation on NGTs

EFSA page

Frequently Asked Questions: New rules for improved plant and forest reproductive material

1. Why do we need to review the EU's legislation on plant and forest reproductive material?

Plant reproductive material (PRM) is plant material (for example seeds, cuttings, trees, roots and tubers, etc.) used for the reproduction of other plants. Forest reproductive material (FRM) refers to seeds, plants, and parts of tree species that are used to create new forests and tree planting.

PRM are subject to strict EU rules on quality and health. However, rules on PRM already exist since 1966 and needs to be revised to keep pace with developments in science, innovation, technology, and digitalisation whilst ensuring at the same time high quality, healthier and improved plants and trees.

The updated rules will guarantee stable yields by future-proofing new plant varieties by testing them for characteristics that can contribute to a more sustainable agri-food production. Seeds will be better adapted to the pressures of climate change, they will be more resistant to pests and thus contribute to reduced use of pesticides, and they will be more drought tolerant. The revision will ensure food security and help preserve the genetic diversity of cultivated crops. The proposal will also reduce administrative burden.

By modernising the legal framework, the proposed Regulation will also support the European seed sector which is the largest exporter in the global seed market (20% of the global market with an estimated value of €7-10 billion and 7,000 companies, mostly SMEs).

2. What is the Commission proposing?

On PRM

The PRM proposal maintains the basic principles of the current legislation that new varieties have to be registered and PRM to be certified before they can be put on the market. Registration refers to the listing of a new plant variety in a national catalogue after confirmation of its characteristics (e.g., that it is different from other varieties on the market). Registration also includes testing of new varieties for characteristics that can contribute to a more sustainable agri-food production. Certification refers to inspections in the fields where PRM is produced and to testing of the PRM harvested from those fields to confirm it can be marketed.

Furthermore, the PRM proposal:

• increases the diversity of PRM on the market and of cultivated crops in the fields by offering a larger choice to all types of farmers and users and facilitates the conservation of this diverse PRM. This increase in cultivated agro biodiversity is achieved through simplified rules for conservation varieties[1] and heterogeneous material[2] and specific derogations for seed conservation networks and exchange in kind of seed between farmers;
• supports organic production by adapted rules for organic varieties[3];
• provides more choice for amateur gardeners.

 On FRM

The FRM proposal also maintains the principles of registration of ‘parent trees' (‘basic material') and certification.

It will help ensure that the right tree is planted in the right place so that forests are adapted to current and future climatic conditions. This will also help support the EU's target of planting 3 billion new trees by 2030.

Assessment of sustainability characteristics of parent trees means that those trees are checked for characteristics that contribute to more resilient forests, e.g., tolerance to diseases, better adaptation to the local climatic and ecological conditions, trees that grow well and do not display symptoms of stress. This will allow speeding up climate change adaptation of forests, thus ensuring their continued productivity in the future.

Rules to facilitate the conservation of endangered forest genetic resources will enhance the genetic diversity of trees.

National contingency plans will help ensure sufficient supply of forest reproductive material to reforest areas affected by extreme weather events, fires, pest outbreaks and other disasters.

Finally, both the PRM and FRM proposals introduce a greater emphasis on sustainability and innovative production processes, digital tools, and bio-molecular techniques.

3. How do the proposals fit into the Farm to Fork / Green Deal strategies?

The Farm to Fork Strategy stressed that sustainable food systems rely on seed security and diversity. Farmers need to have access to a wide range of quality seeds for plant varieties adapted to the pressures of climate change.

The PRM proposal tightens the current sustainability requirements[4] for the acceptance of new improved varieties of agricultural crops and vine and extends these to fruit plants and vegetables.

The proposal will also facilitate market access of conservation varieties to help preserve genetic diversity of cultivated crops.

By introducing adjusted rules for varieties suitable for organic production, the proposal is expected to help reach the Farm to Fork target of having at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.

The FRM proposal supports climate adaptation in forestry. It helps foresters tackle climate risks through tightened sustainability criteria (e.g., adaptation to local climatic and ecological conditions) for the production of FRM and measures to protect endangered forest genetic resources. It will support the EU target of planting at least 3 billion additional trees by 2030 under the Biodiversity Strategy. National contingency plans will ensure a sufficient FRM supply to reforest areas affected by extreme weather, and disasters.

4. What triggered the Commission's proposal?

The Council requested the Commission to conduct a study on the Union's options to update the existing legislation on PRM, and, if necessary, to present a legislative proposal.

The outcome of the study and subsequent impact assessment showed the need to address sustainability, biodiversity and climate-related challenges. It also demonstrated the importance to ensure equal conditions for operators across the EU and to support innovation and competitiveness of the EU's PRM/FRM industry.

5. How have technical and scientific developments been taken on board in the proposals?

The proposals will enable the uptake of new scientific and technical developments, as shown by the following examples:

• bio-molecular techniques may be used to verify the varietal identity of marketed seed.
• Labels with digital features (e.g., QR code) may be used to prevent fraud.
• In the longer term, the proposals allow digitalising the registration and certification systems by recording all activities in an on-line platform (in accordance with the objectives of the European Digital Strategy).

Finally, the possibility to adapt the requirements in the legislation to scientific and technical developments will ensure that the legislation remains up to date.

6. What about seed exchange between farmers?

The proposal allows farmers to exchange with other farmers seeds that do not belong to protected varieties. Such exchanges should however fully respect the basic requirements regarding PRM quality (freedom from pests and defects).

Farmers may also exchange with other farmers small quantities of seed saved from their own harvest. This helps them manage the diversity of seed on their farms.

7. How will amateur gardeners be affected by this reform?

Like farmers, amateur gardeners, may purchase PRM, certified or not, of different types of registered varieties, including conservation and organic varieties, or PRM of heterogeneous material.

Moreover, amateur gardeners will have even more choice by also having access to PRM which are not certified and do not belong to registered varieties. In order to ensure consumer's protection and informed choices, such PRM which can only be sold to amateur gardeners, are subject to specific requirements: they will have a special label, they will be contained in small packages, and they will be subject to basic quality requirements.

Finally, amateur gardeners may sell or transfer PRM to each other, as long as this is not done for commercial purposes. If that is the case, they are exempted from the rules of this Regulation.

8. What about organic varieties?

With this proposal, we ensure that more varieties are available for organic farming. The PRM proposal will introduce adjusted variety registration rules for organic varieties (e.g., testing under the rules of organic farming).

These adjusted rules will allow the registration of more varieties suitable for organic farming and contribute to the objective in the F2F Strategy of reaching 25% of agricultural land under organic farming.

9. Does this proposal impact Plant Variety Rights and patents?

The PRM proposal will not have an impact on Plant Variety Rights and patents. Intellectual property rights are covered by the legislation on Community plant variety rights and the Legal protection of biotechnological inventions.

For more information

Plant and Forest Reproductive Material proposal

Questions and Answers on Plant and Forest Reproductive Material

Factsheet on Plant and Forest Reproductive Material

[1] Conservation varieties have been grown under local agro-ecological conditions and have thus become well-adapted to those conditions.

[2] Heterogeneous material has very diverse characteristics that allow it to evolve and adapt to variable growing conditions. It is not a variety.

[3] Organic varieties are varieties that are tailored to the needs of production under organic conditions (i.e. restricted use of fertilisers and pesticides).

[4] Testing of new varieties for characteristics that can contribute to a more sustainable agri-food production, for example disease resistance and drought tolerance.

Print friendly PDF: Q&A: improved plant and forest reproductive material

Website: http://europa.eu

Published: July 5, 2023