Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2025/2449 of 4 December 2025 amending Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC as regards the protocols for the examination of varieties of swede, fodder kale, rice, kale group, palm kale group, tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage), Chinese cabbage, tomato and spinach
Date: 2025-12-04
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: Community Plant Variety Office, Community certification, catalogue, cataloguing, crop production, fodder plant, plant health control, plant taxonomy, rice, vegetable




L_202502449EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/2449


5.12.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/2449
of 4 December 2025
         
amending Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC as regards the protocols for the examination of varieties of swede, fodder kale, rice, kale group, palm kale group, tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage), Chinese cabbage, tomato and spinach
(Text with EEA relevance)


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Council Directive 2002/53/EC of 13 June 2002 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (1), and in particular Article 7(2), points (a) and (b), thereof,


Having regard to Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed (2), and in particular Article 7(2), points (a) and (b), thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


Commission Directives 2003/90/EC (3) and 2003/91/EC (4) aim to ensure that the varieties of agricultural plant species and vegetable species that Member States include in their national catalogues comply with the protocols established by the Community Plant Variety Office (‘CPVO’). In particular, those Directives aim to ensure compliance with the rules concerning (i) the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination; and (ii) the minimum requirements for carrying out the examination of certain varieties of agricultural plant and vegetable species. For the species not covered by the CPVO protocols, those Directives aim to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the International Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (‘UPOV’).












(2)


The CPVO has updated existing protocols, in particular as regards swede, fodder kale, rice, kale group, palm kale group, tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage), Chinese cabbage, tomato and spinach. Those updates should be reflected in Union law.












(3)


In addition the UPOV guideline for turnip rape (TG/185/3) has been replaced by CPVO protocol TP/185/1 listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/90/EC. Therefore, that guideline should be removed from Annex II to that Directive.












(4)


Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.












(5)


The new rules should apply from 1 July 2026 in order to allow the responsible official bodies to adapt to the new requirements for the official examinations. However, in order not to disrupt the examinations, for varieties that are not yet accepted for inclusion in the Common Catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant or vegetable species, official examinations started but not finalised before 1 July 2026 should continue to be made in accordance with Directive 2003/90/EC or Directive 2003/91/EC as they stood before being amended by this Directive.












(6)


The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:



Article 1

Amendments to Directive 2003/90/EC

Annexes I and II to Directive 2003/90/EC are replaced by the text set out in Part A of the Annex to this Directive.


Article 2

Amendments to Directive 2003/91/EC

Annex I to Directive 2003/91/EC is replaced by the text set out in Part B of the Annex to this Directive.


Article 3

Transitional measures

For official examinations of varieties started but not finalised before 1 July 2026, Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC shall apply as they stood before being amended by this Directive.


Article 4

Transposition


1.   Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2026 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.
They shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2026.
When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.


2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law, which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.



Article 5

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.


Article 6

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.




Done at Brussels, 4 December 2025.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  
            OJ L 193, 20.7.2002, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/53/oj.

(2)  
            OJ L 193, 20.7.2002, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/55/oj.

(3)  Commission Directive 2003/90/EC of 6 October 2003 setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/53/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of agricultural plant species (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/90/oj).

(4)  Commission Directive 2003/91/EC of 6 October 2003 setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/55/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of vegetable species (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 11, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/91/oj).




ANNEX
PART A



‘ANNEX I

List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (a), which are to comply with CPVO technical protocols (1)









Scientific name


Common name


CPVO protocol





Dactylis glomerata L.


Cocksfoot


TP 31/1 of 25.3.2021





Festuca arundinacea Schreb.


Tall fescue


TP 39/1 of 1.10.2015





Festuca filiformis Pourr.


Fine-leaved sheep’s fescue


TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011





Festuca ovina L.


Sheep’s fescue


TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011





Festuca pratensis Huds.


Meadow fescue


TP 39/1 of 1.10.2015





Festuca rubra L.


Red fescue


TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011





Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Hack.


Hard fescue


TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011





Lolium multiflorum Lam.


Italian ryegrass


TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019





Lolium perenne L.


Perennial ryegrass


TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019





Lolium x hybridum Hausskn.


Hybrid ryegrass


TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019





Medicago sativa L.


Lucerne


TP 6/1 Corr. of 22.12.2021





Medicago x varia T. Martyn


Sand lucerne


TP 6/1 Corr. of 22.12.2021





Phleum nodosum L.


Small timothy


TP 34/1 of 22.12.2021





Phleum pratense L.


Timothy


TP 34/1 of 22.12.2021





Pisum sativum L. (partim)


Field pea


TP 7/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 6.3.2020





Poa pratensis L.


Smooth-stalked meadow grass


TP 33/1 of 15.3.2017





Trifolium pratense L.


Red clover


TP 5/1 Rev. of 13.2.2025





Vicia faba L.


Field bean


TP 8/1 of 19.3.2019





Vicia sativa L.


Common vetch


TP 32/1 of 19.4.2016





Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica (L.) Rchb.


Swede


TP 89/1 Rev. of 23.4.2025





Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. medullosa Thell.


Fodder kale (marrow-stem kale)


TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025





Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. viridis L.


Fodder kale (collards)


TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025





Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.


Fodder radish


TP 178/1 of 15.3.2017





Brassica napus L. (partim)


Swede rape


TP 36/4 of 31.3.2025





Brassica rapa L. var. silvestris (Lam.) Briggs


Turnip rape


TP 185/1 of 31.3.2025





Cannabis sativa L.


Hemp


TP 276/2 Rev of 30.12.2022





Glycine max (L.) Merr.


Soya bean


TP 80/1 of 15.3.2017





Gossypium spp.


Cotton


TP 88/2 of 11.12.2020





Helianthus annuus L.


Sunflower


TP 81/1 of 31.10.2002





Linum usitatissimum L.


Flax/Linseed


TP 57/2 of 19.3.2014





Sinapis alba L.


White mustard


TP 179/1 of 15.3.2017





Avena nuda L.


Small naked oat, Hulless oat


TP 20/3 of 6.3.2020





Avena sativa L. (includes A. byzantina K. Koch)


Oats and Red oat


TP 20/3 of 6.3.2020





Hordeum vulgare L.


Barley


TP 19/5 of 19.3.2019





Oryza sativa L.


Rice


TP 16/4 of 23.5.2025





Secale cereale L.


Rye


TP 58/1 Rev Corr. of 27.4.2022





Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor



Sorghum


TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019





Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse


Sudan grass


TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019





Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor x Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse


Hybrids resulting from the crossing of Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor and Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii



TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019





xTriticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus


Hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Triticum and a species of the genus Secale



TP 121/3 Corr. of 27.4.2022





Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum



Wheat


TP 3/5 of 19.3.2019





Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) van Slageren


Durum wheat


TP 120/3 of 19.3.2014





Zea mays L. (partim)


Maize


TP 2/3 of 11.3.2010





Solanum tuberosum L.


Potato


TP 23/4 of 28.11.2023








ANNEX II

List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (b), which are to comply with UPOV test guidelines (1)









Scientific name


Common name


UPOV guideline





Beta vulgaris L.


Fodder beet


TG/150/3 of 4.11.1994





Agrostis canina L.


Velvet bent


TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990





Agrostis gigantea Roth


Red top


TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990





Agrostis stolonifera L.


Creeping bent grass


TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990





Agrostis capillaris L.


Brown top


TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990





Bromus catharticus Vahl


Rescue grass


TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001





Bromus sitchensis Trin.


Alaska brome grass


TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001





xFestulolium Asch. et Graebn.


Hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Festuca with a species of the genus Lolium



TG/243/1 of 9.4.2008





Lotus corniculatus L.


Birdsfoot trefoil


TG/193/1 of 9.4.2008





Lupinus albus L.


White lupin


TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004





Lupinus angustifolius L.


Narrow-leaved lupin


TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004





Lupinus luteus L.


Yellow lupin


TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004





Medicago doliata Carmign.


Straight-spined medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago italica (Mill.) Fiori


Disc medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago littoralis Rohde ex Loisel.


Shore medic/Strand medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago lupulina L.


Trefoil


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago murex Willd.


Sphere medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago polymorpha L.


Bur medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago rugosa Desr.


Wrinkled medic/Gama medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill.


Snail medic/Shield medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Medicago truncatula Gaertn.


Barrel medic


TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006





Trifolium repens L.


White clover


TG/38/7 of 9.4.2003





Trifolium subterraneum L.


Subterranean clover


TG/170/3 of 4.4.2001





Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.


California Bluebell


TG/319/1 of 5.4.2017





Arachis hypogaea L.


Groundnut/Peanut


TG/93/4 of 9.4.2014





Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.


Brown mustard


TG/335/1 of 17.12.2020





Carthamus tinctorius L.


Safflower


TG/134/4 of 24.10.2023





Papaver somniferum L.


Poppy


TG/166/4 of 9.4.2014






               ’
            
PART B



‘ANNEX I

List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (a), which are to comply with CPVO technical protocols (1)









Scientific name


Common name


CPVO protocol





Allium cepa L. (Cepa group)


Onion and Echalion


TP 46/2 of 1.4.2009





Allium cepa L. (Aggregatum group)


Shallot


TP 46/2 of 1.4.2009





Allium fistulosum L.


Japanese bunching onion or Welsh onion


TP 161/1 of 11.3.2010





Allium porrum L.


Leek


TP 85/2 of 1.4.2009





Allium sativum L.


Garlic


TP 162/2 of 30.5.2023





Allium schoenoprasum L.


Chives


TP 198/2 of 11.3.2015





Apium graveolens L.


Celery


TP 82/1 of 13.3.2008





Apium graveolens L.


Celeriac


TP 74/1 of 13.3.2008





Asparagus officinalis L.


Asparagus


TP 130/2 Rev. of 3.1.2025





Beta vulgaris L.


Beetroot including Cheltenham beet


TP 60/1 of 1.4.2009





Beta vulgaris L.


Spinach beet or Chard


TP 106/2 of 14.4.2021





Brassica oleracea L.


Kale group


TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025





Brassica oleracea L.


Cauliflower


TP 45/2 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Broccoli (sprouting type and calabrese type)


TP 151/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Brussels sprouts


TP 54/2 Rev. 2 of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Kohlrabi


TP 65/2 rev. of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Savoy cabbage


TP 48/3 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Capitata (white cabbage and red cabbage)


TP 48/3 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024





Brassica oleracea L.


Palm kale group


TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025





Brassica oleracea L.


Tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage)


TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025





Brassica rapa L.


Chinese cabbage


TP 105/2 of 23.4.2025





Capsicum annuum L.


Chilli or Pepper


TP 76/3 of 31.3.2025





Cichorium endivia L.


Curled-leaved endive and Plain-leaved endive


TP 118/3 of 19.3.2014





Cichorium intybus L.


Industrial chicory


TP 172/2 Rev. of 28.1.2025





Cichorium intybus L.


Leaf chicory


TP 154/2 Rev. of 31.3.2023





Cichorium intybus L.


Witloof chicory


TP 173/2 of 21.3.2018





Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai


Watermelon


TP 142/2 Rev. 3 of 29.2.2024





Cucumis melo L.


Melon


TP 104/2 Rev. 3 of 31.3.2025





Cucumis sativus L.


Cucumber and Gherkin


TP 61/2 Rev. 3 of 3.1.2025





Cucurbita maxima Duchesne


Gourd


TP 155/1 of 11.3.2015





Cucurbita pepo L.


Marrow or Courgette


TP 119/1 Rev. 2 of 31.3.2025





Cynara cardunculus L.


Globe artichoke and Cardoon


TP 184/2 Rev. of 6.3.2020





Daucus carota L.


Carrot and Fodder carrot


TP 49/3 Corr. of 13.3.2008





Foeniculum vulgare Mill.


Fennel


TP 183/2 of 14.4.2021





Lactuca sativa L.


Lettuce


TP 13/6 Rev. 5 of 3.1.2025





Solanum lycopersicum L.


Tomato


TP 44/5 of 23.4.2025





Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman ex A. W. Hill


Parsley


TP 136/1 Corr. of 21.3.2007





Phaseolus coccineus L.


Runner bean


TP 9/1 of 21.3.2007





Phaseolus vulgaris L.


Dwarf French bean and Climbing French bean


TP 12/4 of 27.2.2013





Pisum sativum L. (partim)


Wrinkled pea, Round pea and Sugar pea


TP 7/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 6.3.2020





Raphanus sativus L.


Radish, Black radish


TP 64/2 Rev. 2 of 29.2.2024





Rheum rhabarbarum L


Rhubarb


TP 62/1 of 19.4.2016





Scorzonera hispanica L.


Scorzonera or Black salsify


TP 116/1 of 11.3.2015





Solanum melongena L.


Aubergine or Egg plant


TP 117/1 of 13.3.2008





Spinacia oleracea L.


Spinach


TP 55/5 Rev. 5 of 23.4.2025





Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr.


Corn salad or Lamb’s lettuce


TP 75/2 rev. of 29.2.2024





Vicia faba L. (partim)


Broad bean


TP 206/1 of 25.3.2004





Zea mays L. (partim)


Sweet corn and Pop corn


TP 2/3 of 11.3.2010





Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner; Solanum lycopersicum L. x Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner; Solanum lycopersicum L. x Solanum peruvianum (L.) Mill.; Solanum pimpinellifolium L. x Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner


Tomato rootstocks


TP 294/1 Rev. 6 of 29.2.2024





Cucurbita maxima Duchesne x Cucurbita moschata Duchesne


Interspecific hybrids of Cucurbita maxima Duchesne x Cucurbita moschata Duchesne for use as rootstocks


TP 311/1 of 15.3.2017






               ’
            


(1)  The text of these protocols can be found on the CPVO web site (www.cpvo.europa.eu).

(1)  The text of these guidelines can be found on the UPOV web site (www.upov.int).

(1)  The text of these protocols can be found on the CPVO web site (www.cpvo.europa.eu).



ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_impl/2025/2449/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)