On Tuesday 3 February, the institutions of the European Union launched negotiations on the proposal regarding plant reproductive material.
The co-legislators (the Council and the European Parliament) and the European Commission have stressed that a single, harmonised regulation is essential to ensure fairness, promote innovation and meet the climate challenges within the EU.
The first ‘trilogue’ enabled an initial exchange of views, giving the institutions the opportunity to present their positions on the main aspects of the proposal, in particular imports, official controls and the examination of the value for sustainable cultivation and use (VSCU).
The co-legislators agreed to mandate the experts to continue the technical work ahead of the next trilogues. The Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council has reaffirmed its full commitment to taking the work forward, with the aim of reaching a final agreement by the end of its mandate (end of June at the latest). The next trilogue is scheduled for 23 March.
On 10 December, the Council of the European Union adopted a mandate to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on a revision of the rules governing the production and marketing of Plant Reproductive Material (PRM). The Council wants the examination of new varieties for their value for sustainable cultivation and use (VSCU) to be compulsory for agricultural species (except turf), potatoes and vines.
The European Parliament had adopted its position (https://aeur.eu/f/kkd ) on 24 April 2024 (see EUROPE 13398/20).
See the Council’s position: https://aeur.eu/f/kkc (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)