On Monday 8 December, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to improve the quality and availability of forest reproductive material (FRM) (see EUROPE 13659/9).
Member States will have to include in national registers the basic material approved on their territory, while the European Commission will publish a European list ensuring full traceability. The regulation introduces the possibility for Member States to authorise professional operators, subject to certain conditions, to approve basic material - inclusion in the national register remains at the discretion of competent authorities.
There will be a stronger focus on assessing the sustainability of material. In practice, the latter will undergo an assessment to evaluate traits that contribute to forest resilience (tolerance to pests, better adaptation to local climatic conditions).
The regulation provides for a control system that reduces administrative and financial burdens.
The Commission had proposed setting up national contingency plans to secure supplies of FRM. Under the negotiated agreement, these plans will be voluntary and subject to simplified requirements.
The list of species covered by the regulation has been extended to further improve the quality of FRM in the EU. Member States will be able to apply stricter or lighter measures for species not listed in Annex I, allowing flexibility to reflect national forestry realities. Professional operators will have to be registered, maintain records of their suppliers and buyers, and ensure full FRM traceability throughout production and marketing. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)