19/05/26 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 19 May, the European Parliament approved the regulation on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (see EUROPE 13853/33). The text, for which the rapporteur is Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian), aims to improve the quality, availability and traceability of forest reproductive material, while removing obstacles to its trade within the internal market. Member States may request technical support from the European Commission when drawing up voluntary national contingency plans to ensure an adequate supply of forest reproductive material for reforestation in areas affected by extreme weather events. Forest reproductive material must be traceable from the time it is collected until it is placed on the market. New scientific developments (digital traceability) will be authorised and implemented. The date of application of the regulation has been set at five years. (LC)