P9_TA(2024)0342 – Production and marketing of forest reproductive material – European Parliament legislative resolution of 24 April 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive material) (COM(2023)0415 – C9-0237/2023 – 2023/0228(COD)) (Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)
Date: 2024-04-24
Institutions: Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, European Parliament
Subjects: forest, forest conservation, market approval, marketing standard, plant health legislation, plant propagation, plantation, seed, seedling, silviculture




C_202503768EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/3768


17.9.2025






P9_TA(2024)0342

Production and marketing of forest reproductive material


European Parliament legislative resolution of 24 April 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive material) (COM(2023)0415 – C9-0237/2023 – 2023/0228(COD))


(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

(C/2025/3768)



The European Parliament,







—


having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0415),










—


having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C9-0237/2023),










—


having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,










—


having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 13 December 2023
                   (1),










—


having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to the opinion of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety,










—


having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A9-0142/2024),










1.


Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;










2.


Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;










3.


Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.







(1)  
            OJ C, C/2024/1583, 5.3.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1583/oj
.







P9_TC1-COD(2023)0228


Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 24 April 2024 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive material)

(Text with EEA relevance)


THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission (1),


After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,


Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (2),


[Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,]


Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3),

Whereas:







(1)


Council Directive 1999/105/EC (4) sets out rules on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (‘FRM’).












(2)


Forests cover some 45 % of the land area in the Union and fulfil a multifunctional role that comprises social, economic, environmental, ecological and cultural functions. Forests have
, among other functions,
 a premordial function as a carbon sink in the climate mitigation policy. High-quality, climate-adapted and diverse

diversified
 FRM is essential to cover these needs. [Am. 1]













(3)


In the light of new technical and scientific developments, the update of the Rules and Regulations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Scheme for the Certification of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade (5) (‘OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme’), the new policy priorities of the Union in relation to sustainability, climate change adaptation and biodiversity and in particular the European Green Deal (6), as well as the experience gained during the implementation of Directive 1999/105/EC, that Directive should be replaced by a new act. In order to ensure uniform application of the new rules throughout the Union, the act should take the form of a Regulation.












(4)


The aim of the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme is to encourage the production and use of seeds, parts of plants and plants that have been collected, processed and marketed in a manner that ensures a high quality and availability of FRM. Due to the length of forest cycles and the cost of plantations and long-term forest investment, it is essential that foresters get fully reliable information on the origin and on the genetic characteristics of the FRM they use in plantation. The OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme meets that need by means of certification and traceability. It has a major role in helping the world’s forests adapt to changing climatic conditions. Emphasis is placed on preserving species diversity and ensuring high genetic diversity within species and seed lots thereby enhancing the adaptive potential of FRM for the future replanting of an area with trees (‘reforestation’) and the creation of new forests (‘afforestation’). Reforestation may be required when parts of an existing forest have been affected by extreme weather events, wildfires, outbreaks of disease and pest outbreaks, or other disasters.












(5)


The European Green Deal sets out the Commission’s commitment for tackling climate change and environmentally-related challenges. It aims to transform the Union’s economy for a sustainable future. The Union rules on the production and marketing of FRM need to be in line with Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality (7) and with the three implementing strategies of the European Green Deal: the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change (8), the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (9) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (10).












(6)


Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 requires relevant Union institutions and Member States to ensure continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. One of the aims of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change is therefore to accelerate the adaptative capacity of the Union to climate change, by amending the rules on FRM, amongst others. The Union legislation should encourage the Union wide production and marketing of FRM. To this end, the possibility for Member States to restrict the approval of certain basic material and to prohibit the marketing of certain FRM to final users, as set out in Directive 1999/105/EC, should be abolished.












(7)


The new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 has as its key objectives effective afforestation, and forest preservation and restoration in the Union, to help increase the absorption of CO2, reduce the incidence and extent of forest fires, and promote the bio-economy, in full respect of ecological principles favourable to biodiversity. Ensuring forest restoration and reinforced sustainable forest management are essential for climate adaptation and forest resilience. In this regard, the new EU Forest Strategy states that adapting forests to climate change and restoring forests following climate damages will require large quantities of appropriate FRM. This implies efforts to secure and sustainably use the forest genetic resources on which a more climate-proof forestry depends. Efforts are also needed to increase the production and availability of such FRM, to provide better information on its suitability for climatic and ecological conditions and to enhance its collaborative production and transfer across national borders within the Union. Professional operators should thus be required to provide beforehand information to the users about the suitability of FRM for climatic and ecological conditions.












(8)


The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to put Union biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. Within the framework of that strategy, Union legislation is to place emphasis on the preservation of species diversity and ensure high genetic 
quality and
 diversity within species and seed lots. This aims to facilitate the supply of high-quality and genetically diverse

diversified
 FRM that is adapted to current and projected future climatic conditions. The conservation and improvement of biodiversity of forests, including the genetic diversity of the trees, are essential to sustainable forest management and for supporting forests’ adaptation to climate change. Tree species and artificial hybrids under this Regulation should be genetically suited to the local conditions and be of high quality. [Am. 2]













(9)


There is a long-term cross-border dimension due to the fact that the already observed northward migration of vegetation zones is expected to accelerate significantly in the coming decades. Hence the requirement in this Regulation for providing information about the zones where seed can be planted or FRM is adapted to the local conditions would be an extremely useful asset to foresters. Competent authorities should therefore designate zones specifying that in these zones the seed is suited to the local conditions and can be sown (‘seed transfer zones’). Likewise, they should designate areas specifying that in these areas FRM is adapted to the local conditions (‘deployment areas’).












(10)


Directive 1999/105/EC defines FRM in relation to its importance for forestry purposes in all or part of the Union but it remains vague about those forestry purposes. For the sake of clarity, the scope of this Regulation lists the purposes for which it is important to use high-quality FRM.












(11)


FRM may be produced for use in afforestation/reforestation and other types of tree planting and for several different purposes such as wood and biomaterials production, biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.












(12)


Research has shown that the assessment and approval of basic material in relation to the specific purpose for which the FRM will be used are of utmost importance. In addition to that, the planting of high-quality FRM at the right place has a positive impact on the purpose for which that FRM is used. At the right place means that the FRM is genetically and phenotypically suited to the site where it is grown, including the relevant climate projections for it.












(13)


In order to ensure a sufficient supply of FRM in response to the increased demand for FRM, it is necessary to remove any actual or potential barriers to trade, which may hinder the free movement of FRM within the Union. This aim can be achieved only if the respective Union rules on FRM impose the highest possible standards.












(14)


The Union rules on the production and marketing of FRM should take into account practical needs and should apply only to certain species and artificial hybrids which are listed in Annex I to this Regulation. Those species and artificial hybrids are important for the production of FRM for afforestation, reforestation and other types of tree planting for the purpose of wood and biomaterials production, biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.












(15)


The aim of this Regulation is to ensure the production and marketing of high-quality FRM. To help create resilient forests and restore forest ecosystems, users should be informed prior to the purchase of FRM about the suitability of that FRM for the climatic and ecological conditions of the area where it will be used.












(16)


To ensure that certified FRM will be adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions of the area where it is planted, the competent authorities should assess the sustainability characteristics of basic material during the procedure for approving that basic material. Those sustainability characteristics should concern the adaptation of that basic material to the climatic and ecological conditions and the freedom of trees from pests and their symptoms.












(17)


FRM should only be harvested from basic material that has been assessed and approved by the competent authorities in order to ensure the highest possible quality of that FRM. Approved basic material should registered in a national register with a unique register reference and with reference to a unit of approval.














(17a)






To maintain the quality of seeds, the packages should be designed to become unserviceable once opened, thus ensuring that users are aware of any tampering with the seeds and encouraging them to use the entire content properly, thereby avoiding the seeds being stored incorrectly or used when they are likely to have become spoiled. [Am. 3]













(18)


In order to adapt to the scientific and technical developments of international standards, the use of bio-molecular techniques should be included as a complementary method in the procedure for the approval of basic material. Those bio-molecular techniques should be allowed to assess the origin of basic material or to screen the basic material for the presence of disease resistance traits through molecular markers.












(19)


A master certificate should be issued by the competent authorities of the respective Member States for all FRM that is derived (i.e. harvested) from approved basic material. Such master certificate ensures the identification of the FRM, contains information about its origin and provides the most appropriate details for its users and the competent authorities in charge of its official control. It should be allowed to issue the master certificate in an electronic form.














(19a)






Each Member State should establish and update a national list of issued master certificates and make that list available to the Commission and national competent authorities of all other Member States. [Am. 4]













(20)


Only FRM that has been harvested from approved basic material should be allowed to be subsequently certified and placed on the market. FRM should be certified as “source-identified”, “selected”, “qualified” and “tested” by the competent authorities and be marketed with a reference to those categories. Those types of categories show which of the characteristics of the basic material have been assessed and they indicate the quality of the FRM. For lower quality FRM (“source-identified” and “selected” categories), basic material will be checked for basic characteristics. For higher quality FRM (“qualified” and “tested” categories), parent trees will be selected for outstanding characteristics and crossing schemes designed. In the case of FRM of the “qualified” category, the superiority of the FRM estimated on the basis of the characteristics of the parent trees. In the case of the “tested” category, the superiority of that FRM must be demonstrated in comparison with either the basic material from which that FRM has been harvested or with a reference population. The “source-identified”, “selected”, “qualified” and “tested” categories of FRM should be subject to uniform production and marketing requirements, to ensure transparency, equal terms of competition and the integrity of the internal market.












(21)


The certification rules should be clarified in the case of FRM that has been produced through innovative production processes and in particular FRM production techniques for the production of a specific type of FRM, namely clones. As the place of production of those clones may be different from the location of the original tree (i.e. basic material) from which the clone(s) has been derived, the rules should be amended to guarantee traceability.












(22)


The requirements for basic material intended for the purpose of conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources are different from those for basic material intended for the production of FRM for commercial purposes, because of the different selection criteria applied for these two types of basic material. For the purpose of conserving and sustainably using forest genetic resources, all

a maximum number of
 trees from a stand of trees in the forest should be kept. This is necessary to help increase the genetic diversity within a single tree species. On the other hand, only trees with superior characteristics should be selected in the case of basic material intended for the production of FRM for commercial purposes. Member States

Professional operators
 should therefore be allowed to derogate from the applicable rules as regards the approval of basic material and notify 
to the competent authority
 this basic material intended for the purpose of conserving forest genetic resources to the competent authority. [Am. 5]













(23)


The source-identified category is the minimum standard required for the marketing of FRM, because little or no phenotypic selection of the basic material intended for the production of FRM of the source-identified category has taken place. To ensure traceability, the professional operator should record the location of the basic material (i.e. provenance) from which FRM is collected. The origin of that basic material should be stated if known. This is in line with the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme’ and the experience gained with Directive 1999/105/EC.












(24)


Pursuant to the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme and following the application of Directive 1999/105/EC, the competent authority should assess basic material intended for the production of FRM of the selected category based on the observation of the characteristics of that basic material, taking account of the specific purpose for which the FRM harvested from that basic material is to be used. The overall quality of that category should be ensured. As the population should show a high degree of uniformity, trees that have inferior characteristics (e.g. smaller size) in comparison to the average tree size in the overall population should be removed.












(25)


In order to produce FRM of the qualified category, the professional operator should select the components of the basic material that will be used in the crossing design at individual level due to their outstanding characteristics as regards, for example, adaptation to the local climatic and ecological conditions. The competent authority should approve the composition and proposed crossing design of those components, the field layout, the isolation conditions and location of that basic material. This is important in order to align with the applicable international standards pursuant to the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme and to take into account the experience gained from Directive 1999/105/EC.












(26)


Basic material that is intended for the production of FRM of the tested category should be subject to the most stringent possible requirements. Determining the superiority of FRM should be made by comparing it with one or preferably several approved or pre-chosen standards. The professional operator selects those standards on the basis of the purpose for which the FRM of the tested category will be used. In this regard, if the purpose of that FRM will be climate adaptation, then the FRM will be compared with standards having a good performance as regards adaptation to the local climatic and ecological conditions (e.g. practical freedom from pests and their symptoms). Following the selection of the components of basic material, the professional operator should demonstrate the superiority of the FRM by comparative testing or estimate its superiority by evaluating the genetic components of that basic material. The competent authority should be involved in each step of this process. It should approve the experimental design and tests for the approval of the basic material, verify the records provided by the professional operator and approve either the results of the tests concerning the superiority of the FRM or the genetic evaluation as appropriate. This is necessary, in order to align with the applicable international standards pursuant to the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme and other applicable international standards, and to take into account the experience gained from Directive 1999/105/EC.












(27)


The assessment of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the tested category takes on average 10 years. In order to ensure faster market access of FRM of the tested category, while the assessment of the basic material is still ongoing, Member States should have the possibility to temporarily approve such basic material, for a maximum period of 10 years, in all or part of their territory. That approval should be granted only if the provisional results of the genetic evaluation or comparative tests indicate that that basic material will satisfy the requirements of this Regulation when the tests will be completed. This early assessment should be re-examined at a maximum interval of ten years.












(28)


Compliance of FRM with the requirements for the categories ‘source-identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ should be confirmed by inspections carried out by the competent authorities as appropriate for each category (‘official certification’) and should be attested by an official label.












(29)


Genetically modified FRM may only be placed on the market if it is safe for human health and the environment and has been authorised for cultivation pursuant to Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (11) or Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 (12) and if that FRM belongs to the tested category. FRM obtained by certain new genomic techniques may only be placed on the market if it complies with the requirements of Regulation (EU) [Publications Office, please insert reference to Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed (13) and if that FRM belongs to the tested category.












(30)


The official label should contain information on basic material that contains or consists of a genetically modified organism or that has been produced by certain new genomic techniques.












(31)


Professional operators should be authorised by the competent authority to 
issue and
 print the official label under official supervision for certain species and categories of FRM. This will give more flexbility to the professional operators in relation to the subsequent marketing of that FRM. However, professional operators can only start printing the label once

, if all requirements defined by the competent authority are fulfilled, and after an audit of the
 competent authority has certified the FRM concerned

determines they have the necessary competence, infrastructure and resources
. That authorisation is necessary due to the official character of the official label and to guarantee the highest possible quality standards for the users of FRM. 
This will give more flexibility to the professional operators in relation to the subsequent marketing of that FRM.
 Rules should be set out for the withdrawal or modification of that authorisation. [Am. 6]













(32)


Member States should be allowed to impose additional or more stringent requirements for the approval of basic material produced in their own territory, subject to authorisation granted by the Commission. This would enable the implementation of national or regional approaches concerning the production and marketing of FRM and aimed at improvement of the quality of the FRM concerned, protection of the environment, or contribution to the protection of biodiversity and the restoration of forest ecosystems.












(33)


In order to ensure transparency and more effective controls on the production and marketing of FRM, professional operators should be registered in the registers established by Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council (14). Such registration reduces the administrative burden for those professional operators. It is necessary for the efficacy of the official register of professional and to avoid double registration. The professional operators under the scope of this Regulation are to a big extent covered by the scope of the official register of professional operators under Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.












(34)


Prior to the purchase of FRM, professional operators should make available to the 
competent authority and
 potential buyers of their FRM all the necessary information concerning its 
identity and
 suitability for the respective climatic and ecological conditions 
of the FRM
, in order to allow them to select the most appropriate FRM for their

a specific
 region. [Am. 7]













(35)


In the case of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the ‘source-identified’ and ‘selected’ categories, the Member States should, for the relevant species, demarcate the regions of provenance, in order to identify an area or groups of areas with sufficiently uniform ecological conditions and containing basic material with similar phenotypic or genetic characteristics. This is necessary because the FRM produced from that basic material is to be marketed with reference to those regions of provenance.












(36)


To ensure an effective overview and transparency about the FRM that is produced and marketed throughout the Union, each Member State should establish, publish and keep updated, in electronic format, a national register of the basic material of the various species and artificial hybrids approved on its territory, and a national list which should be presented as a summary of the national register.












(37)


For the same reason, the Commission should publish in electronic format a Union list of approved basic material for the production of FRM, on the basis of the national lists provided by each Member State. That Union list should contain information on basic material that contains or consists of a genetically modified organism or that has been produced by certain new genomic techniques.












(38)


Each Member State should draw up and keep up to date a contingency plan to ensure a sufficient supply of FRM, to reforest areas affected by extreme weather events, wildfires, disease and pest outbreaks, disasters or any other event. Rules should be set out concerning the content of that plan, in order to ensure 
prompt
 proactive and effective action against such risks, if they emerge. Member States should be allowed to adapt

define
 the content of that plan to

in accordance with
 the specific climatic and ecological conditions in their territories 
and should be allowed to adapt such content in the light of new scientific knowledge
. This requirement also reflects the general preparedness actions that Member States should take on a voluntary basis under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (15). 
The Commission should, at the request of the Member State concerned, support through technical assistance the drawing-up of the plan and, where applicable, its updating. [Am. 8]













(39)


FRM should, during all stages of production, be kept separate by reference to individual units of approval. Those units of approval should be produced and marketed in lots, that must be sufficiently homogeneous and identified as distinct from other lots of FRM. A distinction should be made between seed lots and plant lots, to identify the type of FRM and ensure traceability to the approved basic material from which FRM has been harvested. This guarantees the maintenance of the identity and quality of that FRM.












(40)


Seeds should be marketed only if they conform to certain quality standards. They should be labelled and marketed only in sealed packages, in order to enable their appropriate identification, quality and traceability, and to avoid fraud.












(41)


In order to meet the aim of the EU Digital Strategy (16) to make the transformation to digital technologies work for people and businesses, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) should be delegated to the Commission in respect of rules on rules on digital recording of all actions taken, for the purpose of issuing a master certificate and an official label and the establishment of a centralised platform facilitating the processing of, access to, and use of those records.












(42)


During periods in which there are temporary difficulties in harvesting sufficient supplies of FRM from certain species, basic material satisfying less stringent requirements should, subject to certain conditions, be temporarily approved. Those less stringent requirements should concern the approval of basic material intended for the production of different categories of FRM. This is necessary to ensure a flexible approach under adverse circumstances and to avoid disruptions of the internal market of FRM’.












(43)


FRM should only be imported from third countries, if it is established that it fulfils requirements equivalent to those applicable to FRM produced and marketed in the Union. This is necessary in order to ensure that such imported FRM affords the same level of quality as the FRM produced in the Union. 
That approach will ensure that FRM imports not only meet Union standards but also that they contribute to plant genetic diversity and sustainability. [Am. 9]













(44)


Where FRM is imported into the Union from a third country, the professional operator concerned should inform the respective competent authority in advance of the import of FRM, through the information management system for official controls (IMSOC) set up pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (17). Moreover, imported FRM should be accompanied by a master certificate or an official certificate issued by the third country of origin, and records containing details of that FRM provided by the professional operator in that third country. An official label should be attached to that FRM, as this is necessary to ensure informed choices for the users of that FRM and facilitate the competent authorities with the conduct of the respective official controls.












(45)


In order to monitor the impact of this Regulation and to allow the Commission to assess the measures introduced, Member States should report every 5 years about the annual quantities of certified FRM, the adopted national contingency plans, the information available to users on where to best plant FRM through websites and/or planters’ guides, the quantities of imported FRM and the penalties imposed.












(46)


In order to adapt to the movement of vegetation zones and tree species’ ranges as a result of climate change, and any other developments of technical or scientific knowledge, including about climate change, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending the list of the tree species, and artificial hybrids thereof, to which this Regulation applies.












(47)


In order to adapt to the development of scientific and technical knowledge and of the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme and other applicable international standards, and to take account of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council (18), the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending (i) the requirements concerning basic material intended for the production of FRM to be certified as ‘source-identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’, and ‘tested’ and (ii) the categories under which FRM from the different types of basic material may be marketed.












(48)


In order to allow a more flexible approach for the Member States, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of setting out the conditions for temporarily authorising the marketing of FRM which does not meet all the requirements of the appropriate category.












(49)


In order to adapt to the technical and scientific developments, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of setting out the requirements to be fulfilled by fruit and seed lots of the species covered by this Regulation, to be fulfilled by parts of plants of the species and artificial hybrids covered by this Regulation, for external quality standards for Populus spp. propagated by stem cuttings or sets, to be fulfilled by planting stock of the species and artificial hybrids covered by this Regulation, and to be fulfilled by planting stock to be marketed to final users in regions having a Mediterranean climate.












(50)


In order to adapt with the EU Digital Strategy and the technical developments in the digitisation of services, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of establishing rules concerning digital recording of all actions taken by the professional operator and the competent authorities, in order to issue the master certificate, and concerning the establishment of a centralised platform that connects all the Member States and the Commission.












(51)


It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work for those delegated acts, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (19). In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States’ experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.












(52)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to the establishment of specific conditions as regards the requirements and content of the notification of the basic material.












(53)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, and facilitate the recognisability and use of master certificates, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to adopting the content and the model for the master certificate of identity for FRM derived from seed sources and stands, FRM derived from seed orchards or parents of family(ies), and FRM derived from clones and clonal mixtures.












(54)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, and ensure a harmonised framework for the labelling and provision of information concerning FRM, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to setting out the content of the official label, the additional information in the case of seeds and small quantities of seeds, the colour of the label for specific categories or other types of FRM, and additional information in the case of specific genera or species.












(55)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, and adapt to the developments concerning the digitisation of the FRM sector, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to setting out the technical arrangements for the issuance of electronic master certificates.












(56)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, and to address urgent supply problems of FRM, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to temporarily approving for marketing FRM of one or more species which satisfies less stringent requirements than the ones set out in this Regulation concerning the approval of basic material.












(57)


In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission with respect to deciding on the organisation of temporary experiments to seek improved alternatives to the requirements of this Regulation as regards the assessment and approval of basic material and the production and marketing of FRM.












(58)


To improve consistency of FRM rules with the Union plant health legislation, Articles 36, 37, 40, 41, 49, 53 and 54 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 should apply to the production and marketing of FRM pursuant to this Regulation. In order to ensure consistency with the rules of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on plant passports, it should be allowed to combine the official label for FRM with the plant passport.












(59)


Regulation (EU) 2017/625 should be amended in order to include in its scope rules on official controls in regards to FRM. This is to ensure more consistent official controls and enforcement of the rules across Member States concerning FRM, and consistency with other Union acts concerning the official controls of plants, in particular, Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and Regulation (EU) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council.












(60)


Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 should therefore be amended accordingly.












(61)


For reasons of legal clarity and transparency, Directive 1999/105/EC should be repealed.












(62)


Since the objective of this Regulation, namely to ensure a harmonised approach with regard to the production and marketing of FRM, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of its effects, complexity, and international character, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not exceed what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. In this view, and as necessary, it introduces derogations or specific requirements for certain types of FRM and professional operators.












(63)


In view of the time and resources required for the competent authorities and the professional operators concerned to adapt to the new requirements set out in this Regulation, this Regulation should apply from … [3 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation],





HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:


CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1


Subject matter


This Regulation sets out rules concerning the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (‘FRM’) and in particular requirements for the approval of basic material intended for the production of FRM, the origin and traceability of that basic material, FRM categories, requirements for FRM identity and quality, certification, labelling, packaging, imports, professional operators, the registration of basic material
, official controls
 and the national contingency plans. [Am. 10]



Article 2


Scope



1.   This Regulation applies to FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids thereof, listed in Annex I
, with a view to being marketed
. [Am. 11]



2.   The objectives of this Regulation are the following:






(a)


ensure the production and marketing of high-quality FRM in the Union and the 
correct
 functioning of the internal market in FRM; [Am. 12]











(b)


help create resilient 
and productive
 forests, conserve biodiversity
, prevent the use of invasive species
 and restore forest ecosystems 
and their functioning, inter alia, by promoting interspecific and intraspecific genetic variation
; [Am. 13]











(c)


support wood and biomaterials production, climate adaptation, climate mitigation and the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.






3.   The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 26, amending the list set out in Annex I as specified in paragraph 3, taking into account:






(a)


the movement of vegetation zones and tree species’ ranges as a result of climate change;










(b)


any 
relevant
 developments of technical or scientific knowledge. [Am. 14]





Those delegated acts shall add species and artificial hybrids to the list in Annex I, if such species and artificial hybrids fulfil at least one of the following elements:






(a)


represent a significant area and economic value of FRM production in the Union;










(b)


are marketed in at least two Member States;










(c)


are considered important for their contribution to adaptation to climate change, and










(d)


are considered important for their contribution to the conservation of biodiversity.




The delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph shall remove species and artificial hybrids from the list in Annex, I if they no longer fulfil any of the elements set out in the first subparagraph.


4.   This Regulation does not apply to the following:






(a)


plant reproductive material referred to in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) …/… [Office of Publications, please insert reference to Regulation on production and marketing of plant reproductive material];










(b)


propagating material of ornamental plants as defined in Article 2 of Directive 98/56/EC;










(c)


FRM produced for export to third countries;










(d)


FRM used for official testing, scientific purposes or selection work.







Article 3


Definitions


For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:






(1)


‘forest reproductive material’ (‘FRM’) means cones, infructescenses, fruits and seeds intended for the production of a

seed units, parts of plants and
 planting stock,

stocks
 that belong to tree species and artificial hybrids thereof listed in Annex I to this Regulation and used for afforestation, reforestation
,
 and other tree planting 
and direct seeding
 for any of the following purposes: [Am. 15]







(a)


wood and biomaterials production;










(b)




conservation of forest genetic resources and
 biodiversity conservation 
and enhancement
; [Am. 16]











(c)


restoration of forest ecosystems 
and other wooded land, and supporting their functioning
; [Am. 17]













(ca)






setting up or restoring agroforestry systems; [Am. 18]











(d)


climate adaptation;










(e)


climate mitigation;










(f)


conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.














(2)


‘afforestation’ means establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate seeding 
of regional adapted tree species
 on land that, until then, was under a different land use implies a transformation of land use form non-forest to forest (20); [Am. 19]











(3)


‘reforestation’ means re-establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate seeding 
of regional adapted tree species
 on land classified as forest (21); [Am. 20]













(3a)







                                    ‘agroforestry’ means the integration of trees on agricultural land without changing the classification of that land; [Am. 120]











(4)


‘seed unit’ means cones, infructescenses, fruits and seeds intended for the production of a planting stock 
or for direct seeding
; [Am. 21]











(5)


‘planting stock’ means any plant or part of a plant used in plant propagation and comprises plants raised from seed units, from parts of plants, or from plants from natural regeneration;










(6)


‘parts of plants’ means stem cuttings, leaf cuttings and root cuttings, explants or embryos used for micropropagation, buds, layers, roots, scions, sets and any other parts of a plant used for the production of a planting stock;










(7)


‘production’ means all stages in the generation of the seed

seeds, parts of plants
 and plants, the conversion from seed unit to seed, and the raising of plants from a

and also those necessary to obtain an adequate
 planting stock, with a view for the respective FRM to be marketed; [Am. 22]











(8)


‘seed source’ means the trees within an

a defined
 area, from which seed

a seed unit
 is collected; [Am. 23]











(9)


‘stand’ means a delineated population of trees possessing sufficient uniformity in composition;










(10)


‘seed orchard’ means a plantation of selected trees, where each tree is identified by a clone, family or provenance, which is isolated or managed to avoid or reduce pollination from outside sources, and managed to produce frequent, abundant and easily harvested crops of seed;










(11)


‘parents of family(ies)’ means trees used as parents to obtain progeny by controlled or open pollination of one identified parent used as a female (‘mother tree’), with the pollen of one ‘father tree’, full sibling) or a number of identified or unidentified ‘father trees’ (half-sibling);










(12)


‘clone’ means a group of individuals (ramets) derived originally from a single individual (ortet) by vegetative propagation, for example by cuttings, micropropagation, grafts, layers or divisions;










(13)


‘clonal mixture’ means a mixture of identified clones in defined proportions;










(14)


‘basic material’ means any of the following: seed source, stand, seed orchard, parents of family(ies), clone or clonal mixtures;










(15)


‘unit of approval’ means the entire area 
or individuals
 of basic material for the production of FRM that has been authorised by the competent authorities; [Am. 24]











(16)


‘unit of notification’ means the entire area 
or individuals
 of basic material for the production of FRM intended for the purpose of the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources that has been notified to the competent authorities; [Am. 25]











(17)


‘seed lot’ means a set of 
extracted and/or cleaned
 seeds collected from approved basic material and processed uniformly; [Am. 26]











(18)


‘plant lot’ means a set of planting stock that has been grown

plants that have been produced
 from a single seed lot or a 
set of
 vegetatively propagated planting stock

plants
 which has been raised

have been produced
 in a delineable area and processed uniformly; [Am. 27]











(19)


‘lot number

code
’ means the identification number

code
 of the seed lot or plant lot, as appropriate; [Am. 28]











(20)


‘provenance’ means the place in which any stand of trees is growing;










(21)


‘sub-species’ means a group within a species that has become somewhat phenotypically and genetically different from the rest of the group;










(22)


‘region of provenance’ means, in regard to species or sub-species, the area or group of areas subject to sufficiently uniform ecological conditions, in which stands or seed sources showing similar phenotypic or genetic characteristics are found, taking into account altitudinal boundaries, where appropriate;










(23)


‘autochthonous stand’ means a stand of native tree species which has been continuously regenerated either by natural regeneration or artificially from FRM collected in the same stand or stands of native tree species within close proximity;










(24)


‘indigenous stand’ means an autochthonous stand or a stand raised artificially from seed, where the origin of this stand and the stand itself are located in the same region of provenance;










(25)


‘origin’ means the following:






(a)


for an autochthonous seed source or stand, the place in which the trees are growing;










(b)


for a non-autochthonous seed source or stand, the place from which the seed or plants were originally introduced;










(c)


for a seed orchard, the places where its components were originally located, such as their provenances or other relevant geographical information;










(d)


for the parents of families, the places where their components were originally located, such as their provenances or other relevant geographical information;










(e)


for a clone, the origin is the place, where the ortet is or was initially located or selected;










(f)


for a clonal mixture, the origins are the places, where the ortets are or were initially located or selected;














(26)


‘location of the basic material’ means the geographical area or geographical position(s) of the basic material as appropriate for each category of FRM;










(27)


‘place of production of clones or clonal mixtures or parents of families’ means the place or exact geographical position, where the FRM was produced;










(28)


‘foundation stock’ means a plant, group of plants, FRM, DNA stock or genetic information of the clone, or clones in case of clonal mixture, that serves as a reference material for the control of the identity of the clone(s);










(29)


‘set’ means a stem cutting without roots;










(30)


‘marketing’ means the following 
commercial
 actions conducted by a professional operator: sale, holding or offering for the purpose of sale or any other way of transferring, distribution
, including dispatching,
 within, or import into the Union, whether free of charge or not, of FRM; [Am. 29]











(31)


‘professional operator’ means any natural or legal person involved professionally
, with the authorisation of the competent authorities,
 in one or more of the following activities
, aimed at the commercial exploitation of the FRM
: [Am. 30]







(a)


production, including growing, multiplying and maintaining of the FRM;










(b)


marketing of the FRM;










(c)


storage, collection, dispatching and processing of the FRM;














(32)


‘competent authority’ means a central or regional authority of a Member State, or, where applicable, the corresponding authority of a third country, responsible for the organisation of official controls, registration of basic material, certification of FRM and other official activities concerning the production and marketing of FRM, or any other authority to which that responsibility has been conferred, in accordance with Union law;










(33)


‘source-identified’ means a category of FRM derived from basic material consisting of either a seed source or stand located within a single region of provenance and which meets the requirements set out in Annex II;










(34)


‘selected’ means a category of FRM derived from basic material consisting of a stand located within a single region of provenance, which has been phenotypically selected at the population level and which meets the requirements set out in Annex III;










(35)


‘qualified’ means a category of FRM derived from basic material consisting of seed orchards, parents of family(ies), clones or clonal mixtures, the components of which have been phenotypically selected at the individual level, and which meets the requirements set out in Annex IV;










(36)


‘tested’ means a category of FRM derived from basic material consisting of stands, seed orchards, parents of family(ies), clones or clonal mixtures and which meets the requirements set out in Annex V;










(37)


‘official certification’ means certification of source-identified, selected, qualified and tested FRM, if all relevant inspections and, where appropriate, sampling and FRM testing have been carried out by the competent authority and if it has been concluded that the FRM meets the respective requirements of this Regulation;










(38)


‘category’ means FRM that qualifies as source-identified, selected, qualified or tested material;










(39)


‘genetically modified organism’ means a genetically modified organism as defined in Article 2(2) of Directive 2001/18/EC, excluding organisms obtained through the techniques of genetic modification listed in Annex I B to Directive 2001/18/EC;










(40)


‘NGT plant’ means plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques as defined in Article 3, point 2 of Regulation (EU) [Office of Publications, please insert reference to Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed] of the European Parliament and of the Council (22);










(41)


‘seed transfer zones’ means an area and/or altitudinal zones designated by the competent authorities for the movement of FRM belonging to the source-identified and selected categories, taking into account, as appropriate, the origin and provenance of the FRM, provenance trials, environmental conditions and future climatic change projections;










(42)


‘deployment area for seed orchards 
and parents of family(ies)
’ means the area designated by the competent authorities, in which FRM belonging to the qualified and tested categories is adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions of that area, taking into account, as appropriate, the location of the seed orchards
, parents of family(ies)
 and its components, results of progeny and provenance trials, environmental conditions and future climatic change projections; [Am. 31]











(43)


‘deployment area for clones and clonal mixtures’ means the area designated by the competent authorities, in which FRM belonging to the qualified and tested categories is adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions of that area, taking into account, as appropriate, the origin or provenance of the clone(s), results of progeny and

,
 provenance 
and clonal
 trials, the environmental conditions and future climatic change projections; [Am. 32]











(44)


‘FOREMATIS’ means the Forest Reproductive Material Information System of the Commission;










(45)


‘natural regeneration’ means the renewal of a

the
 forest by trees that develop from seeds which have fallen and germinated in situ

natural processes through natural seeding, sprouting, suckering or layering; [Am. 33]











(46)


‘quality pests’ means pests fulfilling all of the following:






(a)


they are not Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests, or regulated non-quarantine pests (‘RNQPs’) within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, nor pests subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation;










(b)


they occur during FRM production or storage; and










(c)


their presence has an unacceptable adverse impact on the quality of the FRM, and an unacceptable economic impact as regards the use of that FRM in the Union;














(47)


‘practically free from 
quality
 pests’ means completely free from 
quality
 pests, or a situation where the presence of quality pests on the respective FRM is so low that those pests do not affect adversely the quality of that FRM. [Am. 34]






CHAPTER II
BASIC MATERIAL AND FRM DERIVING FROM IT

Article 4


Approval of basic material for the production of FRM



1.   Only basic material approved by the competent authorities may be used for the production of FRM.


2.   Basic material intended for the production of FRM to be certified as ‘source-identified’ shall be approved, if it fulfils the requirements set out in Annex II.
Basic material intended for the production of FRM to be certified as ‘selected’ shall be approved, if it fulfils the requirements set out in Annex III.
Basic material intended for the production of FRM to be certified as ‘qualified’ shall be approved, if it fulfils the requirements set out in Annex IV.
Basic material intended for the production of FRM to be certified as ‘tested’ shall be approved, if it fulfils the requirements set out in Annex V.
The assessment of the requirements laid down in Annexes II to V for the approval of basic material, may include besides visual inspection, documentary checks, tests and analyses or other complementary methods, also the use of bio-molecular techniques, if they are considered more appropriate for the purpose of that approval.
The basic material for all categories shall be assessed for its sustainability characteristics as set out in Annexes II to V, to take into account the climatic and ecological conditions.
The approval of the basic material shall be carried out with a reference to the unit of approval.
The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 26 amending Annexes II, III, IV and V, as regards requirements for the approval of basic material intended for the production of:






(a)


FRM of ‘source-identified’ category, and in particular the requirements concerning types of basic material, effective size of the population, origin and region of provenance, sustainability characteristics;










(b)


FRM of the ‘selected’ category, and in particular the requirements concerning origin, isolation, effective size of the population, age and development, uniformity, sustainability characteristics, volume production, wood quality, and form or growth habit;










(c)


FRM of the ‘qualified’ category, and in particular the requirements concerning orchards, parents of family(ies), clones, and clonal mixtures;










(d)


FRM of the ‘tested’ category, and in particular the requirements concerning characteristics to be examined, documentation, setting up the tests, analysis and validity of the tests, the genetic evaluation of the components of basic material, the comparative testing of FRM, provisional approval and early tests.











(e)




FRM in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
[Am. 35]





Those amendments shall adapt the rules for the approval of basic material to the development of scientific and technical knowledge, and the development of the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme and other applicable international standards.


3.   Only approved basic material shall be included under the form of a unit of approval in the national register pursuant to Article 12. Each unit of approval shall be identified by a unique register reference in a national register.


4.   The approval of basic material shall be withdrawn, if the requirements set out in this Regulation are no longer met.


5.   After approval, the basic material intended for the production of FRM under the selected, qualified and tested categories shall be re-inspected by the competent authorities at regular intervals.


6.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 26 amending Annexes II, III, IV and V, in order to adapt them to the development of scientific and technical knowledge, in particular regarding the use of bio-molecular techniques and to the relevant international standards.



Article 5


Requirements for the marketing of FRM derived from approved basic material



1.   FRM derived from approved basic material shall be marketed in accordance with the following rules 
by professional operators
: [Am. 36]







(a)


FRM of the species listed in Annex I may only be marketed, if it is of the categories ‘source-identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ or ‘tested’, and it has been derived from basic material that has been approved pursuant to Article 4 and if that basic material meets the requirements of Annexes II, III, IV and V, respectively;










(b)


FRM of the artificial hybrids listed in Annex I may only be marketed, if it is of the ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ or ‘tested’ categories, and it has been derived from basic material that has been approved pursuant to Article 4 and if that basic material meets the requirements of Annexes III, IV and V, respectively;










(c)


FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, which are vegetatively reproduced, may only be marketed if:






(i)


it is of the ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ or ‘tested’ categories, and










(ii)


it has been derived from basic material which has been approved pursuant to Article 4 and which meets the requirements of Annexes III, IV and V, respectively;










(iii)


FRM of the ‘selected’ category, may only be marketed if it has been mass propagated from seeds;














(d)


FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, which contains or consists in genetically modified organisms, may only be marketed if:






(i)


it is of the ‘tested’ category, and










(ii)


it has been derived from basic material which has been approved pursuant to Article 4 and which meets the requirements of Annex V; and










(iii)


it is authorised for cultivation in the Union pursuant to Article 19 of Directive 2001/18/EC or Articles 7 and 19 of Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, or, where applicable, in the respective Member State in accordance with Article 26b of Directive 2001/18/EC;












(iiia)






the material is approved by the competent authority; [Am. 121]













(iiib)






it bears a label indicating the words ‘New Genomic Techniques’ in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EU)... [OP: please insert a reference to the NGT Regulation]; [Am. 122]















(e)


FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, which contain or consist of a category 1 NGT plant as defined in Article 3(7) of Regulation (EU) …/… (Office of Publications, please insert reference to NGT Regulation...), may only be marketed if:






(i)


it is of the ‘tested’ category; and










(ii)


it has been derived from basic material which has been approved pursuant to Article 4 and which meets the requirements of Annex V; and










(iii)


the plant has obtained a declaration of category 1 NGT plant status pursuant to Article 6 or 7 of Regulation (EU) …/… (Office of Publications, please insert reference to NGT Regulation...) or is progeny of such plant(s);














(f)


FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, may only be marketed if it is accompanied by a reference to its master certificate number(s);










(g)


it complies with Articles 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 49, 53 and 54 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 concerning Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests, RNQPs, and pests subject to the measures under Article 30 of that Regulation;










(h)


in the case of seeds, FRM of the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, may only be marketed, if in addition to compliance with points (a) to (g), information is available as regards:






(i)


purity;










(ii)


germination percentage of the pure seed; 
if testing procedures are being carried out, the competent authorities may authorise the marketing before the results of tests; the supplier is obliged to communicate the results of the tests to the buyer as soon as available; [Am. 37]











(iii)


weight of 1000 pure seeds;










(iv)


the number of germinable seeds per kilogram of product marketed as seed, or, where the number of germinable seeds is impossible or impractical to assess, 
in a limited period of time,
 the number of viable seeds per kilogram
, by reference to a specific method
. [Am. 38]











2.   The categories under which FRM from the different types of basic material may be marketed are as set out in the table in Annex VI.


3.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 26(2), amending the table of Annex VI concerning categories under which FRM from the different types of basic material may be marketed.
That amendment shall adapt those categories to the development of scientific and technical knowledge and of the relevant international standards.



Article 6


Requirements for FRM derived from basic material intended for the purpose of conserving forest genetic resources


In order for FRM derived from basic material subject to the derogation of Article 18 to be marketed, all the following conditions shall be fulfilled:






(a)


FRM of the species listed in Annex I may only be marketed, if it is of the ‘source-identified’ category;










(b)


FRM shall be of origin which is naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions
, or adapted to the goal of assisted migration when relevant
; and [Am. 39]











(c)


FRM shall be collected from all

a maximum number of
 individuals of the notified basic material.

, sufficiently numerous to preserve the genetic diversity of the species; [Am. 40]













(ca)






for species where vegetative propagation is generally used for the purpose of conservation of forest genetic resources, a mixture of a sufficiently varied array of clones in order to maintain genetic diversity shall be used. [Am. 124]







Article 7


Temporary authorisation of marketing of FRM derived from basic material not meeting the category requirements



1.   Competent authorities may temporarily authorise the marketing of FRM derived from approved basic material which does not meet all the requirements of the appropriate category referred to in Article 5(1), 
points (a), (b) and (c),
 following the adoption of the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2. [Am. 41]

The competent authorities of the respective Member State shall notify the Commission and the other Member States of those temporary authorisations and of the respective reasons justifying their approval.


2.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 26, supplementing this Article, by setting out the conditions for the granting of the temporary authorisation to the Member State concerned.
Those conditions shall include:






(a)


the justification for granting that authorisation to ensure achievement of the objectives of this Regulation;










(b)


the maximum duration

time limit
 of the authorisation; [Am. 42]











(c)



obligations

minimum requirements
 as regards official controls on the professional operators applying that authorisation; [Am. 43]











(d)


the content and form of the notification referred to in paragraph 1.







Article 8


Special requirements for certain species, categories and types of FRM


The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 26, supplementing, as necessary, this Regulation as regards the requirements as appropriate for each type, species or category of FRM:






(a)


concerning fruit and seed lots of the species listed in Annex I as regards species purity;










(b)


concerning parts of plants of the species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I as regards quality in relation to general characteristics, health and size;










(c)


for external quality standards for Populus spp. propagated by stem cuttings or sets as regards defects and minimum dimensions for stem cuttings and sets;










(d)


concerning planting stock of the species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I as regards quality in relation to general characteristics, health, vitality and physiological quality;










(e)


concerning planting stock to be marketed to users in regions having a Mediterranean climate as regards defects, size and age of the plants and, where appropriate, size of the container.




That delegated act shall be based on the experience gained by the application of the requirements as appropriate for each type, species or category of FRM as regards the provisions for inspections, sampling and testing, and isolation distances. It shall adapt those requirements based on the development of the respective international standards, the technical and scientific developments, or the climatic and ecological developments.


Article 9


Contingency plan and national register



1.   Each Member State shall draw up one or more contingency plan to ensure a sufficient supply of FRM to reforest areas affected by extreme weather events, wildfires, disease and pest outbreaks, disasters or any other event, as relevant and identified in the national risk assessments develop in accordance with Article 6(1) of Decision No 1313/2013/EU (23). 
The Commission shall, at the request of the Member State, make available technical support for the drawing-up of the contingency plan. [Am. 44]

That contingency plan shall be prepared for those tree species and artificial hybrids thereof listed in Annex I, that are deemed suitable for the

by Member States for their
 current and projected future climatic and ecological conditions of the Member State concerned. [Am. 45]

The contingency plan shall take into account the projected future distribution of the relevant tree species and artificial hybrids thereof, on the basis of national and/or regional climate model simulations for the Member State concerned.


The contingency plan shall take into account the potential emergence of affected areas beyond national borders and the Member State concerned shall work with other Member States to ensure a sufficient preventive supply of FRM for cross-border affected areas. [Am. 46]



2.   Member States shall, at an appropriate stage, consult all relevant stakeholders in the process of drawing up and keeping up to date such contingency plans.


3.   Each contingency plan shall include the following:






(a)


the roles and responsibilities of the bodies involved in the execution of the contingency plan in case of any event causing a major shortage of FRM, as well as the chain of command and procedures for the coordination of actions to be taken by competent authorities, other public authorities, delegated bodies or natural persons involved, laboratories and professional operators, including the coordination with neighbouring Member States and neighbouring third countries, where appropriate;












(aa)






identification of the vulnerabilities and preventive measures, such as making seed storage sites and nurseries more secure, and increasing the number of storage sites and nurseries; [Am. 47]











(b)


access of competent authorities to supplies of FRM that have been maintained for the purpose of contingency planning, premises of professional operators, in particular forest nurseries and laboratories producing FRM, other relevant operators and natural persons;










(c)


access of competent authorities, where necessary, to equipment, personnel, external expertise and resources necessary for the rapid and effective activation of the contingency plan;










(d)


measures concerning the submission of information to the Commission, the other Member States, the professional operators concerned and the public, as regards the major FRM shortage, and the measures taken against it in the event of an officially confirmed or suspected major FRM shortage;










(e)


arrangements for recording findings of the presence of any major FRM shortage;










(f)


the available assessments of the Member State as regards the risk of a major FRM shortage for its territory and its potential impact on human, animal and plant health, and the environment;










(g)


principles for the geographical demarcation of the area(s) where a major FRM shortage has occurred;










(h)


principles concerning the training of personnel of the competent authorities and, where 
available and
 appropriate, the bodies, public authorities, laboratories, professional operators and other persons referred to in point (a). [Am. 48]





Member States shall regularly review and, where appropriate, update their contingency plans to take account of the technical and scientific developments in relation to climate model simulations addressing the projected future distribution of the relevant tree species and artificial hybrids thereof.


4.   Member States shall establish a national register 
referred to in Article 12
 that: [Am. 49]







(a)


contains the tree species and artificial hybrids listed in Annex I, which are relevant for the current climatic and ecological conditions of the Member State concerned;










(b)


takes account of the projected future distribution of those tree species and artificial hybrids thereof.




Within 4 years from the date of establishment of their national registers, Member States shall establish contingency plans for the species and artificial hybrids included in their registers.


5.   Member States shall collaborate with each other and with all relevant stakeholders for the establishment of their contingency plans, on the basis of an exchange of best practices and experience gained with the establishment of those plans.


6.   Member States shall make their contingency plans available to the Commission, the other Member States and all relevant professional operators through publication in FOREMATIS.


CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL OPERATORS AND BASIC MATERIAL, AND DEMARCATION OF REGIONS OF PROVENANCE

Article 10


Obligations for professional operators



1.   Professional operators shall be registered in a register provided for in Article 65 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, in accordance with Article 66 of that Regulation.
They shall be established in the Union

Member State concerned and authorised by the competent authority
. [Am. 50]



2.   Professional operators shall make available to the 
competent authority and the
 users of their FRM all

the
 necessary information 
about the identity of FRM as well as information
 concerning its suitability for current and projected future climatic and ecological conditions 
based on available knowledge and data
. That information shall, prior to the transfer of the FRM concerned, be
, in compliance with competent authority's guidelines,
 provided to the potential purchaser through websites, planters’ guides and other appropriate means 
prior to the transfer of the FRM concerned
. [Am. 51]




Article 11


Demarcation of regions of provenance for certain categories


Member States shall, for the relevant species of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the ‘source-identified’ and ‘selected’ categories, demarcate the regions of provenance.
The competent authorities shall draw up and publish on their website maps showing the demarcations of the regions of provenance. They shall make those maps available to the Commission and other Member States through FOREMATIS.



Article 12



National register and national lists of basic material



1.   Each Member State shall establish, publish and keep updated, in electronic format, a national register of the basic material of the various species approved on its territory pursuant to Articles 4 and 19 and notified pursuant to Article 18.
That register shall contain full details of each unit of approved basic material, together with its unique register reference.
By way of derogation from Article 4, the competent authorities shall immediately register in their national registers the basic material included, before … [OJ, please, insert the date of the of this Regulation], in their respective national registers referred to in Article 10(1) of Directive 1999/105/EC, without applying the registration procedure set out in that Article.


2.   Each Member State shall establish, publish and keep updated a national list of basic material, which shall be presented as a summary of the national register. It shall make that list available in electronic format to the Commission and the other Member States through FOREMATIS.


3.   Member States shall present the national list in a common form for each unit of approval of basic material. For the categories ‘source-identified’ and ‘selected’, it may contain only a summary description of the basic material, on the basis of regions of provenance.
The national list shall provide in particular the following details:






(a)


botanical name;










(b)


category;










(c)




type of
 basic material; [Am. 52]











(d)


register reference or, where appropriate, summary thereof, or identity code for region of provenance;










(e)


location of basic material: a short name, if appropriate, and one of the following sets of particulars:






(i)


for the ‘source-identified’ category, region of provenance and the latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal range;










(ii)


for the ‘selected’ category, region of provenance and the geographical position defined by latitude, longitude and altitude or the latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal range;










(iii)


for the ‘qualified’ category, the exact geographical position(s) defined by latitude, longitude and altitude, where the basic material is maintained;










(iv)


for the ‘tested’ category, the exact geographical position(s) defined by latitude, and longitude and altitude, where the basic material is maintained;














(f)


area: the size of a seed source(s), stand(s) or seed orchard(s);










(g)


origin:






(i)


indication whether the basic material is autochthonous/indigenous, non-autochthonous/non-indigenous or if the origin is unknown;










(ii)


non-autochthonous/ non-indigenous basic material, an indication of the origin, if it is known;














(h)


purpose of use of FRM;










(i)


in the case of FRM of the ‘tested’ category, an indication whether it is:






(i)


genetically modified; or










(ii)


an NGT plant;














(j)


in the case of qualified and tested categories, information about the place of

harvest area used for the
 production of clone(s) or clonal mixture(s), where appropriate; [Am. 53]













(ja)






any additional information, if available; [Am. 54]













(jb)






if applicable, the intellectual property rights existing on the FRM. [Am. 134]








Article 13


Union List of Approved Basic Material



1.   On the basis of the national lists provided by each Member State in accordance with Article 12, the Commission shall publish a list entitled ‘Union List of Approved Basic Material for the Production of Forest Reproductive Material’.
That list shall be made available in electronic format through FOREMATIS.


2.   That list shall reflect the details given in the national lists referred to in Article 12(1) and show the area of utilisation. [Am. 55]





Article 13a




Production from basic material






1.
   
Traceability shall be ensured from the collection of FRM up to the marketing to the end user.






2.
   
Professional operators shall notify the competent authority of their intention to harvest forest reproductive material prior to harvesting in order to allow the competent authority to organise controls.






3.
   
Professional operators shall submit to the competent authority records documenting the harvest of the FRM.






4.
   
Removal from the place of harvest is only permitted with a master certificate.






5.
   
In the interest of the highest possible genetic diversity within the entire seed lot, the seed harvester shall ensure that the seed lot undergoes intensive mixing during all stages of processing prior to marketing or seeding. [Am. 56]



CHAPTER IV
MASTER CERTIFICATE, LABELLING AND PACKAGING

Article 14


Master certificate of identity



1.   The competent authorities shall issue, upon application of a professional operator, after harvesting the FRM from approved basic material, a master certificate of identity (‘master certificate’), showing the unique register reference of basic material, for all FRM that has been harvested.
The master certificate shall attest compliance with the requirements of Article 4(2) 
that the FRM is derived from approved basic material
. [Am. 57]

The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, adopt the content and the model for the master certificate of identity for FRM:






(a)


Model master certificate for FRM that is derived from seed sources and stands;










(b)


Model master certificate for FRM that is derived from seed orchards or parents of family(ies); and










(c)


Model master certificate for FRM that is derived from clones and clonal mixtures;












(ca)






Model master certificate for FRM that is derived from a mixture. [Am. 58]





That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).


2.   Where in accordance with Article 15(2) a Member State adopts measures as regards subsequent vegetative propagation, a new master certificate shall be issued.


3.   Where mixing takes place in accordance with Article 15(3), Member States shall ensure that the register references of the components of the mixtures are identifiable, and a new master certificate or other document identifying the mixture shall be issued.


4.   Where a lot referred to in Article 15(1) is subdivided into smaller lots that are not processed uniformly and subjected to subsequent vegetative propagation, a new master certificate shall be issued and a reference shall be made to the previous master certificate number.




4a.
   
In the case of a mixture, the professional operator shall announce the mixing to the competent authority in advance in order to allow the competent authority to supervise the mixing process. [Am. 59]



5.   A master certificate may also be issued in an electronic form (‘electronic master certificate’).
The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, set out technical arrangements for the issuance of electronic master certificates, for ensuring their compliance with this Article and an appropriate, credible and effective mode for the issuance of electronic master certificates. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).


6.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 26, supplementing this Article, by setting out rules on:






(a)


digital recording of all actions taken by the professional operator and the competent authorities, in order to issue the master certificate; and










(b)


establishment of a centralised platform that connects all the Member States and the Commission, to facilitate the processing of, access to and use of those records.








6a.
   
Each Member State shall establish and update a national list of issued master certificates and make that list available to the Commission and competent authorities. [Am. 60]




Article 15


Lots



1.   FRM shall, during all stages of production, be kept separated by reference to individual units of approval of basic material 
and the master certificate, when issued,
 to ensure traceability of the FRM to the approved basic material from which it has been harvested. FRM shall be harvested from those individual units of approval and marketed in lots that shall be sufficiently homogeneous and identified as distinct from other lots of FRM. [Am. 61]

Each lot of FRM shall be identified by the following:






(a)


lot number

code
; [Am. 62]













(aa)






purpose; [Am. 63]











(b)


master certificate code and number;










(c)


botanical name;










(d)


category of FRM;










(e)




type of
 basic material; [Am. 64]











(f)


register reference or identity code for region of provenance;










(g)


region of provenance for FRM of the ‘source-identified’ and ‘selected’ categories or other FRM if appropriate;










(h)


if appropriate, whether the origin of the basic material is autochthonous or indigenous, non-autochthonous or non-indigenous, or unknown;










(i)


in the case of seed units, the year of ripening
, purity, germination percentage of the pure seed, weight of 1000 pure seeds, the number of germinable seeds per kilogram and the name of the seed test station
; [Am. 65]











(j)


age and type of planting stock of seedlings or cuttings, whether undercuts, transplants or containerised;










(k)


for the ‘tested’ category whether it is:






(i)


genetically modified;










(ii)


an NGT plant;
















(ka)






if applicable, the intellectual property rights existing on the FRM. [Am. 135]







2.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1 of this Article and to Article 5(1), point (c), Member States shall keep separately FRM, which is subject to subsequent vegetative propagation and shall identify it as such. Such FRM shall have been harvested from a single unit of approval in the ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ categories. In such cases, the produced FRM shall assume the same category as the original FRM.


3.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, the mixing of FRM shall be subject to the following conditions, as appropriate:






(a)


within the ‘source-identified’ or ‘selected’ categories, mixing shall apply to FRM derived from two or more units of approval within a single region of provenance;










(b)


in the case of mixing of FRM within a single region of provenance, from seed sources and stands in the ‘source-identified category, the new combined lot shall be certified as ‘FRM derived from a seed source’;










(c)


in the case of mixing of FRM derived from non-autochthonous or non-indigenous basic material with that from basic material of unknown origin, the new combined lot shall be certified as being ‘of unknown origin’;










(d)


in the case of mixing of FRM derived from a single unit of approval from different years of ripening, the actual years of ripening and proportion of FRM from each year shall be recorded.




In the case of mixing in accordance with the first subparagraph, points (a), (b) or (c), the identity code for the region of provenance may be substituted for the register reference as in paragraph 1, point (f).



Article 16


Official label



1.   An official label shall be issued by the competent authority 
or by the professional operator under official supervision of a competent authority
 for every lot of FRM attesting compliance of that FRM with the requirements referred to in Article 5. [Am. 66]





1a.
   
                        
The official label shall be printed by:










(a)






the competent authority, if so requested by the professional operator; or














(b)






the professional operator, under the official supervision of the competent authority. [Am. 67]







2.   Competent authorities shall authorise the professional operator to print the official label after the competent authority has attested compliance of that FRM with the requirements referred to in Article 5. The professional operator is authorised to 
issue and/or
 print that

the official
 label, if, on the basis of an audit, the competent authority has concluded that the operator possesses the

sufficient competence,
 infrastructure and resources to print the official label. [Am. 68]



3.   The competent authority shall carry out regular controls to check whether the professional operator complies with the requirements referred to in paragraph 2.
Where, after having granted the authorisation referred to in paragraph 2, the competent authority finds that a professional operator does not fulfil the requirements referred to in that paragraph, it shall without delay withdraw, or modify as appropriate, the authorisation.


4.   In addition to the information required under Article 15(1), the official label 
or another document from the supplier with the information required under that Article
 shall contain all the following information: [Am. 69]







(a)


master certificate number(s) issued in accordance with Article 14 or a reference to the other document identifying the mixture available in accordance with Article 14(3);










(b)



name

names
 of the 
supplying
 professional operator

operators, including their address and registration number, and names of the recipients including their address
; [Am. 70]











(c)


quantity supplied;










(d)


in the case of FRM of the ‘tested’ category, whose basic material is approved under Article 4, the words ‘provisionally approved’;










(e)


whether the FRM has been vegetatively propagated;












(ea)






a QR code with instructions on how to take care of, store and plant FRM. [Am. 71]







5.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, set out the following elements concerning the official label:






(a)


content of the official label;










(b)


additional information in the case of seeds and small quantities of seeds;











(c)




colour of the label for specific categories or other types of FRM;
[Am. 72]











(d)


additional information in the case of specific genera or species;












(da)






indication as to whether the material is product of genetic modification under Directive 2001/18/EC. [Am. 136]





Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).




5a.
   
If a coloured label or document is used by the professional operator in respect of any category of FRM, the colour of the supplier's label or document shall correspond with the colour indicated in Annex VI. [Am. 73]



6.   An official label may also be issued in an electronic form (‘electronic official label’).
The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, set out technical arrangements for the issuance of electronic official labels, to ensure their compliance with this Article and an appropriate, credible and effective mode for the issuance of those official labels. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).


7.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 26, supplementing this Article, by setting out rules on:






(a)


digital recording of all actions taken by the professional operators and the competent authorities in order to issue the official labels;










(b)


the establishment of a centralised platform that connects the Member States and the Commission to facilitate the processing of, access to and use of those records.







Article 17


Packages of seed units


Seed units may only be marketed in sealed packages with that become unserviceable once the package is opened. 
In order to prevent putrefaction of the FRM, the packaging of the sealed package may be adapted to the needs of the respective FRM. [Am. 74]


CHAPTER V
DEROGATIONS FROM ARTICLE 4

Article 18


Derogation from the obligation to be approved for basic material intended for the purpose of conserving forest genetic resources



1.   By way of derogation from Article 4(1) and (2), the registration of basic material intended for the purpose of conserving forest genetic resources in the national register shall not be subject to approval by the competent authorities.


2.   Any professional operator registering basic material for the purpose of conserving forest genetic resources used in forestry, shall notify that basic material to the competent authority of the Member State concerned.


3.   Basic material referred to in paragraph 1 shall be notified to the competent authorities in accordance with the format of FOREMATIS.
The notification of the basic material shall be carried out with reference to the unit of notification.
Each unit of notification shall be identified by a unique register reference in a national register.
That notification shall contain the following information:

referred to in Article 12(3).









(a)




botanical name;












(b)




category;












(c)




basic material;












(d)




register reference or, where appropriate, summary thereof, or identity code for region of provenance;












(e)




location: a short name, if appropriate, and the region of provenance and the latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal range;












(f)




area: the size of a seed source(s) or stand(s);












(g)




origin: indication whether the basic material is autochthonous/indigenous, non-autochthonous/non-indigenous or whether the origin is unknown. For non-autochthonous/ non-indigenous basic material, indication of the origin if known;












(h)




purpose: conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources.
[Am. 75]







4.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, establish the specific conditions as regards the requirements and content of that notification. Those implementing acts shall take account of the development of applicable international standards and shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).



Article 19


Approval by professional operators of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the source–identified category


By way of derogation from Article 4(1) and (2), Member States may authorise professional operators to approve, for certain species, basic material intended for the production of FRM of the source-identified category, if the following conditions are fulfilled:






(a)


the region of provenance, where the basic material is located, is subject to extreme weather conditions; and










(b)


those weather conditions have an impact on the reproductive cycle of the basic material and decrease the frequency of harvesting FRM from that basic material.




That authorisation shall be subject to approval by

notified to
 the Commission. [Am. 76]



Article 20


Provisional approval of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the tested category


By way of derogation from Article 4(2), Member States may allow the approval, for a maximum period of 10 years, in all or part of their territory, of basic material intended for the production of FRM of the ‘tested’ category where, from the provisional results of the genetic evaluation or comparative tests referred to in Annex V, it can be assumed that once the tests are completed, the basic material will satisfy the requirements for approval under this Regulation.


Article 21


Temporary difficulties in supply



1.   In order to overcome any temporary difficulties in the general supply of FRM that occur in one or more Member States, the Commission may, at the request of at least one Member States affected, temporarily authorise the Member States to approve for marketing, by means of an implementing act, FRM of one or more species that has been derived from basic material, which satisfies less stringent requirements than the ones set out in Article 4(1) and (2).


2.   Where the Commission acts in accordance with paragraph 1, the official label issued pursuant to Article 16(1) shall state that the FRM concerned has been derived from basic material which satisfies less stringent requirements than the ones set out in Article 4(1) and (2).


3.   The implementing act referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).



Article 22


Temporary experiments to seek improved alternatives to provisions of this Regulation



1.   By way of derogation from Articles, 1, 4 and 5, the Commission may decide, by means of implementing acts, on the organisation of temporary experiments to seek improved alternatives to provisions of this Regulation concerning the species or artificial hybrids it applies to, the requirements for the approval of basic material and the production and marketing of FRM.
Those experiments may take the form of technical or scientific trials examining the feasibility and appropriateness of new requirements compared to the ones set out in Articles 1, 4 and 5 of this Regulation.


2.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2) and shall specify one or more of the following elements:






(a)


the species or artificial hybrids concerned;










(b)


the conditions of the experiments per species or artificial hybrid;










(c)


the duration of the experiment;










(d)


the monitoring and reporting obligations of the participating Member States.




Those acts shall take into account the evolution of:






(a)


the methods for the determination of the origin of the basic material including the use of biomolecular techniques;










(b)


the methods for the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources taking into account applicable international standards;










(c)


the methods for reproduction, production including the use of innovative production processes;










(d)


the methods for the design of crossing schemes of components of basic material;










(e)


the methods for the assessment of characteristics of basic material and FRM;










(f)


the methods for the control of the FRM concerned.




Those acts shall adapt to the evolution of techniques for production of the FRM concerned, and be based on any comparative trials and tests carried out by the Member States.


3.   The Commission shall review the results of those experiments and summarise them in a report, indicating, if necessary, the need to amend Articles 1, 4 or 5.



Article 23


Authorisation to adopt more stringent requirements



1.   By way of derogation from Article 4, the Commission, by means of implementing acts, may authorise Member States to adopt, as regards the requirements for the approval of basic material and the production of FRM more stringent production requirements, than those referred to in that Article, in all or part of the territory of the Member State concerned
, provided that those requirements do not prohibit, impede or restrict the free movement of FRM that is in conformity with this Regulation
. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2). [Am. 77]



2.   For the purpose of the authorisation referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall submit to the Commission a request setting out:






(a)


the draft provisions containing the proposed requirements;










(b)


a justification on the necessity and proportionality of such requirements.






3.   The authorisation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be granted only if all the following conditions are fulfilled:






(a)


the measures requested ensure at least one of the following:






(i)


the improvement of the quality of the FRM concerned;










(ii)


the protection of the environment: adaptation to climate change or the contribution to the protection

, enhancement
 of biodiversity, 
or
 restoration of forest ecosystems 
and supporting their functioning
; [Am. 78]















(b)


the measures requested are necessary and proportionate to their objective pursuant to point (a); and










(c)


the measures are justified on the basis of the specific climatic and ecological conditions in the Member State concerned.






4.   Where Member States have adopted additional or more stringent requirements pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 1999/105/EC, the Member States concerned shall, by … [one year after the date of application of this Regulation], review those measures and repeal or amend those measures to comply with this Regulation.
They shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of those actions.


CHAPTER VI
IMPORTS OF FRM

Article 24


Imports on the basis of Union equivalence



1.   FRM may be imported from third countries to the Union only if it is established, pursuant to paragraph 2, that it fulfils requirements equivalent to those applicable to FRM produced and marketed in the Union. 
The process of assessing and establishing equivalence shall be based on a detailed examination of the identity and quality standards and other requirements applicable to FRM. [Am. 79]



2.   The Commission may decide, by means of implementing acts, if FRM of specific genera, species οr categories produced in a third country, fulfils requirements equivalent to those applicable to FRM produced and marketed in the Union, on the basis of all of the following:






(a)


a thorough examination of the information and data provided by the third country concerned; and










(b)


the satisfactory result of an audit carried out by the Commission in the third country concerned, where that audit has been considered necessary by the Commission;










(c)


that third country participates in the OECD Scheme for the Certification of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade.




Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).


3.   When adopting the decisions referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall consider whether the systems, for approval and registration of basic material and subsequent production of FRM from that basic material, applied in the third country concerned provide the same guarantees as those provided for in Articles 4, 5 and, where applicable, Article 11, for the ‘source identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ categories.



Article 25


Notification and certificates of imported FRM



1.   The professional operators importing FRM into the Union shall inform the respective competent authority in advance of the import through the information management system for official controls (IMSOC) referred to in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.


2.   Imported FRM shall be accompanied by all of the following:






(a)


a master certificate or another official certificate issued by the third country of origin;










(b)


an official label; and










(c)


records containing details of that FRM provided by the professional operator in that third country;












(ca)






a new master certificate issued by the competent authority of the Member State of import, which shall replace the master certificate or official certificate referred to in point (a) following the import, or a certificate attesting to the existence of this new certificate. [Am. 80]







3.   Following the import referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authority of the Member State concerned shall replace:






(a)


the master certificate or official certificate referred to in paragraph 2, point (a) with a new master certificate issued in the Member State concerned; and










(b)


the official label referred to in paragraph 2, point (b), with a new official label issued in the Member State concerned.






CHAPTER VII
PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS

Article 26


Exercise of the delegation



1.   The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.


2.   The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 2(2), Article 4(2) and(6), Article 5(3), Article 7(2), Article 8(1), Article 14(6) and Article 16(7) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 5 years from … [date of entry into force of this Regulation]. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power no later than 9 months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than 3 months before the end of each period.


3.   The delegation of power referred to in Article 2(2), Article 4(2) and (6), Article 5(3), Article 7(2), Article 8(1), Article 14(6) and Article 16(7) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.


4.   Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.


5.   As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 
The involvement of experts designated by the Member States means that a wide range of national expertise and perspectives can be brought to the table, thus contributing to informed and balanced decision-making in respect of delegated acts. [Am. 81]



6.   A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 2(2), Article 4(2) and (6), Article 5(3), Article 7(2), Article 8(1), Article 14(6) and Article 16(7) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of 2 months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by 2 months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.



Article 27


Committee procedure



1.   The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed established by Article 58(1) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (24). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 (25).


2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Where the opinion of the committee is to be obtained by written procedure, that procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time-limit for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the committee so decides or a simple majority of committee members so requests.


3.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011, in conjunction with Article 5 thereof, shall apply.


CHAPTER VIII
REPORTING, PENALTIES AND AMENDMENTS OF REGULATIONS (EU) 2016/2031 AND 2017/625

Article 28


Reporting


By … [Office of Publications, please insert date of 5 years after the date of application of this Regulation], and every 5 years thereafter, Member States shall transmit to the Commission a report on the following:






(a)


quantities of certified FRM per year
, where a master certificate was issued
; [Am. 82]











(b)


number of adopted national contingency plans 
by Member States
 to prepare for FRM supply difficulties and the time 
and resources
 needed to activate those contingency plans; [Am. 83]











(c)


number of websites and/or national planters’ guides containing information on where to best plant FRM;










(d)


quantities of FRM per genera and species imported from third countries under Union equivalence;










(e)


penalties imposed pursuant to Article 29.




The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify the technical formats for the report provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 27(2).


Article 29


Penalties



1.   Member States shall lay down the rules on effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for infringements of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. Member States shall, without delay, notify the Commission of those rules and measures and of any subsequent amendment affecting them.


2.   Member States shall ensure that financial penalties for violations of this Regulation, perpetrated through fraudulent or deceptive practices, reflect, in accordance with national law, at least either the economic advantage for the professional operator or, as appropriate, a percentage of the professional operator’s turnover.



Article 30


Amendments of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031


Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 is amended as follows:






(1)


in Article 37, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:

‘4.   The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, where appropriate, set out measures to prevent the presence of Union regulated non-quarantine pests on the plants for planting concerned, as referred to in Article 36, point (f), of this Regulation. Those measures shall, where appropriate, concern the introduction into and the movement within the Union of those plants.;’











(2)


in Article 83, the following paragraph is added:

‘5a.   In the case of plants for planting produced, or marketed, as categories source-identified, selected, qualified or tested, as referred to in Regulation (EU) …/… (*) (+), the plant passport shall be included, in a distinct form, in the official label produced in accordance with the respective provisions of that Regulation.
Where this paragraph applies,






(a)


the plant passport for movement within the Union territory shall contain the elements set out in Parts E and F of Annex VII to this Regulation;










(b)


the plant passport for introduction into, and movement within, a protected zone shall contain the elements set out in Part H of Annex VII to this Regulation.’;















(3)


Annex VII is amended in accordance with Annex VII to this Regulation.






Article 31


Amendments of Regulation (EU) 2017/625


Regulation (EU) 2017/625 is amended as follows:






(1)


in Article 1(2), the following point is added:






‘(l)


production and marketing of forest reproductive material.;’














(2)


in Article 3, the following point is added:






‘(52)


“forest reproductive material” means material as defined in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) …/… of … (*) (+)















(3)


the following article is inserted after Article 22a:

‘Article 22b

Specific rules on official controls and for action taken by the competent authorities in relation to forest reproductive material


1.   Official controls to verify compliance with the rules referred to in Article 1(2), point (l), shall include official controls on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, and on operators subject to those rules.


2.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 144 to supplement this Regulation by laying down rules for the performance of official controls on forest reproductive material in order to check compliance with Union rules referred to in Article 1(2), point (l), applicable to those goods and for action taken by the competent authorities following the performance of those official controls.
Those delegated acts shall lay down rules on:






(a)


specific requirements for the performance of such official controls on the production and marketing within, the Union of particular of particular forest reproductive material subject to the rules referred to in Article 1(2), point (l), to respond to non-compliance with the Union rules on forest reproductive material of a particular origin or provenance;










(b)


specific requirements for the performance of such official controls on the activities of professional operators related to the production of particular forest reproductive material subject to the rules referred to in Article 1(2), point (l), to respond to non-compliance with the Union rules on forest reproductive material of a particular origin or provenance; and










(c)


the cases where the competent authorities are to take one or more of the measures referred to in Article 137(2) and Article 138(2) in relation to specific non-compliances.






3.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules on uniform practical arrangements for the performance of official controls on plant reproductive material in order to verify compliance with Union rules referred to in Article 1(2), point (l), applicable to those goods and for action taken by the competent authorities following such official controls on:






(a)


uniform minimum frequency of such official controls, where a minimum level of official control is necessary to respond to recognised uniform risks of non-compliance with the rules on forest reproductive material of a particular origin or provenance;










(b)


frequency of official controls performed by competent authorities on operators authorised to issue official labels under official supervision in accordance with Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) …/… (*) (+)





Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 145(2).







CHAPTER IX
FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 32


Repeal of Directive 1999/105/EC


Directive 1999/105/EC is repealed.
References to that repealed act shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex VIII.


Article 33


Entry into force and application


This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from … [3 years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation].
It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.




Done at …,


For the European Parliament


The President




For the Council


The President






(1)  
            OJ C 199, 14.7.1999, p. 1.

(2)  
            OJ C 329, 17.11.1999, p. 15.

(3)  Position of the European Parliament of … and position of the Council at first reading of... Position of the European Parliament of... and decision of the Council of....

(4)  Council Directive 1999/105/EC of 22 December 1999 on the marketing of forest reproductive material (OJ L 11, 15.1.2000, p. 17).

(5)  Decision of the Council Establishing the OECD Scheme for the Certification of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade [OECD/LEGAL/0355].

(6)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The European Green Deal (COM/2019/640 final).

(7)  Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1).

(8)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change (COM(2021) 82 final).

(9)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, New EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (COM(2021) 572 final).

(10)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives (COM(2020) 380 final).

(11)  Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and repealing Council Directive 90/220/EEC (OJ L 106, 17.4.2001, p. 1).

(12)  Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on genetically modified food and feed (OJ L 268, 18.10.2003, p. 1).

(13)  Regulation (EU) …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council …. (OJ …, p.).

(14)  Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants, amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 69/464/EEC, 74/647/EEC, 93/85/EEC, 98/57/EC, 2000/29/EC, 2006/91/EC and 2007/33/EC (OJ L 317, 23.11.2016, p. 4).

(15)  Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924).

(16)  Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade (COM(2021)118 final).

(17)  Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, p. 1).

(18)  Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 1).

(19)  
            OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.

(20)  FAO (2020) Global Forest Resources Assessment Terms and definitions. https://www.fao.org/3/I8661EN/i8661en.pdf.

(21)  FAO (2020) Global Forest Resources Assessment Terms and definitions. https://www.fao.org/3/I8661EN/i8661en.pdf.

(22)  Regulation (EU).../... of the European Parliament and of the Council on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Directives 68/193/EEC, 1999/105/EC, 2002/53/EC, 2002/55/EC, and Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (OJ...).

(23)  
            OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924.

(24)  Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1).

(25)  Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).

(*)  Regulation (EU).../... of the European Parliament and of the Council of... … (OJ...).’;

(+)  OJ: Please insert in the text the number of this Regulation and institutions and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of this Regulation in the footnote.’
         

(*)  Regulation (EU).../... of the European Parliament and of the Council of... … (OJ...).’;

(+)  OJ: Please insert in the text the number of this Regulation and institutions and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of this Regulation in the footnote.’
         

(*)  Regulation (EU).../... of the European Parliament and of the Council of... … (OJ...).’

(+)  OJ: Please insert in the text the number of this Regulation and institutions and insert the number, date, title and OJ reference of this Regulation in the footnote.’
         





Annex I

LIST OF TREE SPECIES AND ARTIFICIAL HYBRIDS







Abies alba Mill.


Picea abies Karst.






Abies bornmulleriana




Picea sitchensis Carr.




Abies cephalonica Loud.


Pinus brutia Ten.




Abies grandis Lindl.


Pinus canariensis C. Smith




Abies pinsapo Boiss.


Pinus cembra L.






Acer campestre




Pinus contorta Loud




Acer platanoides L.


Pinus halepensis Mill.




Acer pseudoplatanus L.


Pinus leucodermis Antoine






Alnus cordata - Juglans regia




Pinus nigra Arnold




Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.


Pinus pinaster Ait.




Alnus incana Moench.


Pinus pinea L.




Betula pendula Roth.


Pinus radiata D. Don




Betula pubescens Ehrh.


Pinus sylvestris L.




Carpinus betulus L.




Pinus taeda






Castanea sativa Mill.




Populus nigra






Cedrus atlantica Carr.


Populus spp. and artificial hybrids between those species




Cedrus libani A. Richard




Populus tremula








Eucalyptus globulus




Prunus avium L.






Eucalyptus gunnii




Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco






Eucalyptus hybride gunnii x dalrympleana




Quercus cerris L.






Eucalyptus nitens




Quercus ilex L.




Fagus sylvatica L.


Quercus petraea Liebl.




Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.


Quercus pubescens Willd.




Fraxinus excelsior L.


Quercus robur L.






Juglans major x regia




Quercus rubra L.






Juglans nigra




Quercus suber L.






Juglans nigra x regia




Robinia pseudoacacia L.




Larix decidua Mill.




Sorbus domestica






Larix x eurolepis Henry




Sorbus torminalis






Larix kaempferi Carr.


Tilia cordata Mill.




Larix sibirica Ledeb.


Tilia platyphyllos Scop.






Malus sylvestris





[Am. 84]











Annex II


REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF BASIC MATERIAL INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRM OF THE ‘SOURCE-IDENTIFIED’ CATEGORY

A.   General requirement:
The seed source or stand shall meet the criteria set by the competent authorities.
B.   Specific requirements:
1.   Type of basic material
The basic material shall be a seed source or stand located within a single region of provenance.
2.   Effective size of the population
The seed source or stand shall consist of one or more groups of trees 
(stands) or an individual stand
. Those trees 
of seed source or stand
 shall be well distributed and sufficiently numerous to maintain genetic diversity and ensure adequate cross-pollination between the trees in those seed sources or stands. [Am. 85]

3.   Origin and region of provenance






(a)


The region of provenance, the location and the latitudinal, longitudinal and altitudinal range of the place(s), where the FRM is collected, shall be stated in the master certificate.










(b)


The professional operator shall determine either by historical evidence (bibliography, documentation kept by competent authorities, research institutes or any other organisations) or by other appropriate means (provenance trials), including internationally recognised bio-molecular techniques, whether the origin of the basic material is:






(i)


autochthonous;










(ii)


non-autochthonous;










(iii)


indigenous;










(iv)


non-indigenous;










(v)


unknown.








In the case of non-autochthonous or non-indigenous basic material, the origin of that basic material shall be stated if known.
The competent authority shall verify the information provided by the professional operator.
4.   Sustainability characteristics






(a)


The trees shall be well-adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions including the biotic and abiotic factors prevailing in the region of provenance 
and also marginal populations demonstrating local adaptation to more extreme biotic and abiotic factors
. [Am. 86]











(b)


The trees shall in be practically free from 
quality
 pests and their symptoms. [Am. 87]











Annex III


REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF BASIC MATERIAL INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRM OF THE ‘SELECTED’ CATEGORY

A.   General requirement:
The competent authority shall assess the stand with respect to the specific purpose for which the FRM will be used and shall give due weight to requirements set out in Section B, depending on that purpose. The competent authority shall determine the criteria for selection on the basis of that specific purpose for use of the FRM. That purpose shall be indicated in the national register of the Member State concerned.
B.   Specific requirements:








1.


Origin: It shall be determined either by historical evidence (bibliography, documentation kept by competent authorities, research institutes or any other organisations) or by other appropriate means (provenance trials), including internationally recognised bio-molecular techniques, whether the stand is autochthonous/indigenous, non-autochthonous/non-indigenous or whether its origin is unknown. For non-autochthonous/non-indigenous basic material the origin shall be stated if known.












2.


Isolation: Stands shall be situated at a sufficient distance from stands of poor quality of the same 
or related
 species or from stands of a related species which can form hybrids with the species in question. Particular attention shall be paid to this requirement when the stands surrounding autochthonous/indigenous stands are non-autochthonous/non-indigenous or of unknown origin. [Am. 88]













3.


Effective size of the population: To maintain genetic diversity and ensure adequate cross-pollination, stands shall consist of one or more groups of trees. Those trees shall be well distributed and sufficiently numerous in a given area to maintain genetic diversity, to avoid the unfavourable effects of inbreeding and ensure adequate cross-pollination between those trees.












4.


Age and development: The age or stage of development of the trees in the stands shall be such to allow the criteria given for the selection of those trees to be clearly judged.












5.


Uniformity: Stands shall show a normal degree of individual variation in morphological characteristics. When necessary, inferior trees shall be removed.












6.


Sustainability characteristics:






(a)


Stands shall be well-adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions, including the biotic and abiotic factors prevailing in the region of provenance.










(b)


The trees shall be practically free from 
quality
 pests and their symptoms and show resistance to adverse site

climatic and site-specific
 conditions in the place where they are growing. [Am. 89]

















7.


Volume production: For the approval of selected stands, the volume of wood produced shall normally be superior to the accepted average volume produced under similar ecological and management conditions.












8.


Wood quality: The quality of the wood shall be taken into account. The quality of the wood is an essential criterion, if the FRM will be used in the forestry industry for the purpose of producing timber, furniture or pulp. In that case the competent authority shall give more weight to this criterion.












9.


Form or growth habit: Trees in stands shall show particularly good morphological features, especially straightness and circularity of stem, favourable branching habit, small size of branches and good natural pruning. In addition, the proportion of forked trees and those showing spiral grain shall be low.










Annex IV


REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF BASIC MATERIAL INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRM OF THE ‘QUALIFIED’ CATEGORY

1.   Seed orchards






(a)


The competent authority shall approve and register the type and objective of the crossing design, the crossing design of component clones or families and field layout, the component clones or families, isolation and location and any changes of these.










(b)


The professional operator shall select component clones or families 
shall be selected
 for their outstanding characteristics and shall give due weight 
shall be given
 to the requirements set out in points 4 and 6 to 9 of Section B of Annex III, taking into account the specific purpose for which the resulting FRM will be used. [Am. 90]











(c)


The component clones or families shall be planted or shall have been planted according to a plan which has been approved by the competent authority and established in such a way that each component can be identified.










(d)


Thinning carried out in seed orchards shall be described together with the selection criteria used for such thinning and registered with the competent authority.










(e)


The professional operator shall manage seed orchards 
shall be managed
 and harvest seed 
shall be harvested
 in such a way that the objectives of the orchards are attained. In the case of a seed orchard intended for the production of an artificial hybrid, the percentage of hybrids in the FRM shall be determined by a verification test. [Am. 91]





2.   Parents of family(ies)






(a)


The professional operator shall select parents 
shall be selected
 for their outstanding characteristics or for their combining ability. In the case of a selection based on outstanding characteristics, due weight shall be given to the requirements set out in points 4 and 6 to 9 of Section B of Annex III, taking into account the specific purpose for which the resulting FRM will be used. [Am. 92]











(b)


The objective, crossing design and pollination system, components, isolation and location and any significant changes of these shall be approved and registered with the competent authority.










(c)


The identity, number and proportion of the parents in a mixture shall be approved and registered with the competent authority.










(d)


In the case of parents intended for the production of an artificial hybrid, the percentage of hybrids in the FRM shall be determined by a verification test.




3.   Clones






(a)


Clones shall be identifiable by distinctive characteristics which have been approved and registered with the competent authority.










(b)


The value of individual clones shall be established by the observation and the qualitative assessment of the characteristics of those clones or have been demonstrated by sufficiently prolonged experimentation.










(c)


Ortets used for the production of clones shall be selected for their outstanding characteristics and due weight shall be given to the requirements set out in points 4 and 6 to 9 of Section B of Annex III, taking into account the specific purpose for which the resulting FRM will be used.










(d)


Approval shall be restricted by the competent authority to a maximum number of years or a maximum number of ramets produced.




4.   Clonal mixtures






(a)


Clonal mixtures shall meet the requirements set out in point 3(a), (b) and (c).










(b)


The identity, number and proportion of the component clones of a mixture, and the selection method and foundation stock shall be approved and registered by the competent authority. Each mixture shall contain sufficient genetic diversity.










(c)


Approval shall be restricted by the competent authority to a maximum number of years or a maximum number of ramets produced.










Annex V


REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPROVAL OF BASIC MATERIAL INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FRM OF THE ‘TESTED’ CATEGORY

1.   REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TESTS
(a)   General
If the basic material is a stand, it shall satisfy the appropriate requirements set out in Annex III. If the basic material is a seed orchard(s), parents of family(ies), clones or clonal mixture(s), it shall satisfy the appropriate requirements set out in Annex IV. The competent authority shall determine the selection criteria based on the intended purpose for which the FRM will be used.
The professional operators shall prepare, lay out and conduct

report the material, methods and results of
 tests set up

to the competent authority responsible
 for the approval of the basic material. They shall interpret The results of those tests

presented shall be analysed
 in accordance with the internationally recognised procedures. For

In
 comparative tests, the professional operator shall compare the FRM under test with one or preferably several approved or pre-chosen standards as described in point 3(b) 
shall be used
. [Am. 93]









(aa)






A minimum number of test areas of a minimum size per tree species listed in Annex I shall be fulfilled. [Am. 94]





(b)   Characteristics to be examined






(i)


The professional operator

tests
 shall design tests

be designed
 to assess the relevant characteristics specified in point (ii) and shall indicate these

,
 for each test in the test records 
these shall be indicated
. [Am. 95]











(ii)


Weight shall be given to adaptation, growth, biotic and abiotic factors of importance. In addition, other characteristics, considered important in view of the intended specific purpose, shall be evaluated in relation to the ecological conditions of the region in which the test is carried out including current and future projected climatic conditions.




(c)   Documentation
The professional operator shall keep records describing the test sites

provide all information necessary for the evaluation of test results
, including the location, climate, soil, past use, establishment, management and any damage due to abiotic/biotic factors. He

The professional operator
 shall make those records available to the competent authority upon request. The competent authority shall record the age of the basic material and the FRM and the results at the time of the evaluation. [Am. 96]

(d)   Setting up the tests






(i)



The professional operator shall raise, plant and manage Each sample of FRM 
shall be raised, planted and managed
 in an identical way as far as the types of plant material permit. [Am. 97]











(ii)



The professional operator shall establish Each experiment 
shall be established
 in a valid statistical design with a sufficient number of trees, in order that the individual characteristics of each component under examination can be evaluated. [Am. 98]





(e)   Analysis and validity of results






(i)



The professional operator shall analyse The data from 
the
 experiments 
shall be analysed
 using internationally recognised statistical methods and shall present the results 
shall be presented
 for each characteristic examined. [Am. 99]











(ii)


The methodology used for the test and the detailed results obtained shall be made freely available.










(iii)


The competent authority of the Member State in which the test was carried out shall designate the suggested deployment area, and shall inform about any characteristics of the FRM, which might limit its usefulness.










(iv)


If during tests it is proved that the FRM does not possess at least the characteristics of the basic material from which that FRM was produced, including in particular the resistance/tolerance to plant pests of economic importance, then such FRM shall not be certified as tested material.




2.   REQUIREMENTS FOR GENETIC EVALUATION OF THE COMPONENTS OF BASIC MATERIAL






(a)


The components of the following basic material may be genetically evaluated: seed orchards, parents of family(ies), clones and clonal mixtures.










(b)


Documentation
The following additional documentation shall be required for approval of the basic material providing information about:






(i)


the identity, origin and pedigree of the evaluated components;










(ii)


the crossing design used to produce the FRM used in the evaluation tests.














(c)


Test procedures
The following requirements shall be met:






(i)


The genetic value of each component shall be estimated in two or more evaluation test-sites, at least one of which shall be in an environment relevant for the intended deployment area of the FRM.










(ii)


The test period shall be of sufficient duration for the tested characteristics to be expressed.










(iii)


The estimated superiority of the FRM to be marketed shall be calculated on the basis of these genetic values and the specific crossing design.










(iv)


Evaluation tests and genetic calculations shall be approved by the competent authority.














(d)


Interpretation






(i)


The estimated superiority of the FRM shall be calculated against a reference population for a characteristic or set of characteristics. The professional operator shall define the reference population in the breeding program and describe this reference population

shall be defined and described
 in the test reports. [Am. 100]











(ii)


It shall be stated whether the estimated genetic value of the FRM is inferior to the reference population for any important characteristic.








3.   REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPARATIVE TESTING OF FRM
(a)   Sampling of the FRM






(i)


The sample of the FRM for comparative testing shall be truly representative of the FRM derived from the basic material to be approved.










(ii)


Sexually produced FRM for comparative testing shall be:






—


harvested in years of good flowering and good fruit/seed production, and










—


harvested by methods that ensure that the samples obtained are representative.








Artificial pollination may be utilised for the production of such FRM.
(b)   Standards






(i)


The performance of standards used for comparative purposes in the tests shall, if possible, be known over a sufficiently long period in the region in which the test is to be carried out. The standards represent, in principle, basic material that has been shown to be useful for the intended purpose for forestry at the time that the test starts, and in ecological conditions for which it is proposed to certify the FRM. The standards used for comparative purposes in the tests shall be, as far as possible:






—


stands selected according to the criteria in Annex III; or










—


basic material officially approved for the production of FRM of the tested category.














(ii)


For comparative testing of artificial hybrids, both parent tree species shall, if possible, be included among the standards.










(iii)


Several standards shall be used whenever possible. When justified, standards may be replaced by the most suitable of the FRM under test or the mean of the components of the test.










(iv)


The same standards shall be used in all tests over as wide a range of site conditions as possible.




(c)   Interpretation






(i)


A statistically significant superiority as compared with the standards shall be demonstrated for at least one important characteristic.










(ii)



The professional operator

It
 shall report

be reported
 if there are any characteristics of economic or environmental importance which show significantly inferior results to the standards, and their effects shall be compensated for by favourable characteristics. [Am. 101]





4.   PROVISIONAL APPROVAL
Preliminary assessment of young trials may be the basis for provisional approval. Claims of superiority based on an early assessment shall be re-examined at a maximum interval of ten years.
5.   EARLY TESTS
Nursery, greenhouse and laboratory tests may be accepted by the competent authority for provisional approval or for final approval, if it can be shown that there is a close correlation between the measured characteristic and the characteristics normally assessed in forest stage tests. Other characteristics to be tested shall meet the requirements set out in point 3.






Annex VI


CATEGORIES UNDER WHICH FRM FROM THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BASIC MATERIAL MAY BE MARKETED










Basic material


Category of FRM (Label colour, if coloured official label used)




Source-identified (Yellow)


Selected (Green)


Qualified (Pink)


Tested (Blue)




Seed source


x


 


 


 




Stand


x


x


 


x




Seed orchard


 


 


x


x




Parents of family(ies)


 


 


x


x




Clone


 


 


x


x




Clonal mixture


 


 


x


x










Annex VII


Amendment of Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031

In Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, the following parts are added:


                     ‘PART G
Plant passports for movement within the Union territory, combined with the official label, as referred to in Article 83(5), second subparagraph








(1)


The plant passport for movement within the Union territory, combined in a joint label with the official label referred to in Article 83(5), shall contain the following elements:






(a)


the words “Plant Passport” in the upper right-hand corner of the joint label, in one of the official languages of the Union and in English, if different, separated by a slash;










(b)


the flag of the Union in the upper left-hand corner of the joint label printed in colour or in black and white. The plant passport shall be positioned in the joint label immediately above the official label and have the same width as that official label.
















(2)


Point (2) of Part A shall apply accordingly.




PART H
Plant passports for introduction into and movement within protected zones, combined with the official label, as referred to in Article 83(5), third subparagraph








(1)


The plant passport for introduction into and movement within protected zones, combined in a joint label with the official label for FRM referred to in Article 83(5), shall contain the following elements:






(a)


the words “Plant Passport — PZ” in the upper right-hand corner of the joint label in one of the official languages of the Union and in English, if different, separated by a slash;










(b)


immediately underneath those words, the scientific name(s) or code(s) of the protected zone quarantine pest(s) concerned;










(c)


the flag of the Union in the upper left-hand corner of the joint label printed in colour or in black and white.




The plant passport shall be positioned in the joint label immediately above the official label and have the same width [as that official label.












(2)


Point (2) of Part B shall apply accordingly.’











Annex VIII


Correlation table







Council Directive 1999/105/EC


This Regulation




Article 1


Article 1, subparagraph 1




Article 2


Article 3




Article 3(1)


Article 2(1)




Article 3(2)


Article 2(5)




Article 3(3)


-




Article 3(4)


Article 2(4), point (c)




Article 4(1)


Article 4(1)




Article 4(2), point (a)


Article 4(2), subparagraphs 1 to 4




Article 4(2), point (b)


Article 4(2), subparagraph 7 and Article 4(3)




Article 4(3), point (a)


Article 4(4)




Article 4(3), point (b)


Article 4(5)




Article 4(4)


Articles 6 and 18




Article 4(5)


Article 21




Article 5


-




Article 6(1)


Article 5(1)




Article 6(2)


Article 5(2)




Article 6(3), subparagraph 1


Article 8(1)




Article 6(3), subparagraph 2


Article 8(2)




Article 6(4)


Article 10(1)




Article 6(5), point (a)


Article 2(4), point (d)




Article 6(5), point (b)


-




Article 6(6)


-




Article 6(7)


Article 7




Article 6(8)


Article 4(6)




Article 7


Article 23




Article 8


-




Article 9


Article 11




Article 10


Article 12




Article 11


Article 13




Article 12


Article 14




Article 13


Article 15




Article 14(1), subparagraph 1


Article 16(1)




Article 14(1), points (a) to (e)


Article 16(4)




Article 14(2) to (6)


-




Article 14(7)


Article 15(1)(j)




Article 15


Article 17




Article 16


Article 31




Article 17


-




Article 18


Article 21




Article 19


Article 24




Article 20


-




Article 21


Article 22




Article 22


Article 5(1)(g)




Article 23


Articles 2(2), 4(2), 4(6), 5(3)




Article 24


Articles 14(1), 14(5), 16(5), 16(6), 18(4), 21(3), 22(1), 23(1)




Article 25


Article 26




Article 26


Article 27




Article 27


-




Article 28


-




Article 29


Article 32




Article 30


Article 33




Annex I


Annex I




Annex II


Annex II




Annex III


Annex III




Annex IV


Annex IV




Annex V


Annex V




Annex VI


Annex VI




Annex VII


Article 8




Annex VIII


Article 14







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3768/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)