INCEPTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Inception Impact Assessments aim to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's plans in order to allow them to provide feedback on the intended initiative and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have, including on possible impacts of the different options.

TITLE OF THE INITIATIVE

Revision of the plant and forest reproductive material legislation

LEAD DG (RESPONSIBLE UNIT)

DG SANTE.G1 – Plant Health

LIKELY TYPE OF INITIATIVE

Legislative

INDICATIVE PLANNING

Q4 2022

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Future of EU rules on plant and forest reproductive material

A. Context, Problem definition and Subsidiarity Check

Context

Plant reproductive material (PRM) are plants and all parts of plants capable of, and intended for, producing entire plants for any purpose such as food, industrial uses, forestry or decoration (ornament). It may include seeds, young plants, tubers or plant cuttings. PRM constitutes the very beginning of the agri-food production chain to ensure the availability of diverse, healthy and high-quality food. The EU legislation on PRM is based on two pillars: certification of PRM to be marketed and registration of the varieties of that PRM. A plant variety represents a group of plants with a common set of characteristics (e.g. a plant species can include from a few to hundreds of different plant varieties). In order to be placed on the EU market, new plant varieties have to be tested to show that they are distinct from other varieties, uniform and stable. Moreover, the PRM legislation ensures the identity, quality and health of the marketed PRM for the user. The breeding of new plant varieties contributes to the diversity of PRM that will in turn contribute to the diversity of food available on the market. For example, breeding can result in plant varieties producing strawberries in early spring, or in late summer. Likewise, plant varieties can respond to consumer preferences e.g. big versus small strawberries. More importantly, new plant varieties and plant breeding play an indispensable role in creating plants capable to face the current challenges such as extreme weather events (e.g. withstand heavy winds due to a deeper rooting system), extended drought periods and new plant pests. Furthermore, plant varieties may contribute to a more sustainable farming system by decreasing the use of plant protection products.

Forest reproductive material (FRM), is a particular type of PRM, namely forest seeds and plants, which constitute the starting point for the creation of new forests and the reforestation of existing forests. Global warming has a negative and increasing impact on Europe's forests by shifting biogeographical regions northwards and uphill. FRM that used to be optimal for a given region may no longer be fit for that region because of the changing climatic conditions. The FRM legislation helps to identify FRM and specifies the requirements, such as origin, health and resistance, wood quality, outstanding characters, to be met by trees that will be used for the production of the different types of FRM. The legislation on FRM has been developed as a very particular part of the PRM legislation, with its own basic concepts and approaches that significantly differ from the other PRM sectors. Therefore, and when so needed, special reference to FRM will be made.

The current legislation on the production and marketing of seed and other PRM is composed of 11 Directives, specific for each type of crop (e.g. cereals, fodder plant, oil and fibre plants, beet, seed potatoes, vegetables, ornamentals, fruit plants, vine, FRM) and one Directive establishing the common catalogues of varieties of agricultural species. The aim of these marketing Directives is to lay down requirements for the production and marketing of the different types of PRM and the necessary certification/inspection methods for issuing labels and certificates for the final packages of PRM, so that the users have the necessary information and guarantees.

In 2013, the Commission started a review process of the legislation, adopting a proposal for a Regulation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material including FRM (‘2013 PRM proposal’). In 2015 the proposal was subsequently withdrawn after rejection by the European Parliament in 2014. In May 2021, the

Commission presented a study on possible options to update the existing legislation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material, which had been requested by the Council1. The study concluded that the Commission should continue preparatory work to review the existing legislation

Problem the initiative aims to tackle

The current legislation has proven its success in guaranteeing the identity, performance, quality and health of all PRM. Moreover, it has contributed to fostering an internationally competitive PRM industry. Therefore, the core principles of the existing legislation remain valuable for commercial PRM production but there is room for improvement.

Firstly, the content of the 12 Directives is not aligned which causes a lack of coherence, such as different definitions for the term ‘marketing’ or ‘operator’. It leads to inconsistencies in their interpretation for users and competent authorities. This has led to an uneven implementation and application, which creates a non-level playing field and different (market) conditions for operators in the Member States, and thus hinders the smooth operation of the internal market (problem 1). Secondly, the legislation further includes a set of complex and rigid procedures, which result in a high administrative burden in particular for competent authorities and operators. The different and detailed technical requirements included in the 12 Directives create a cumbersome decision-making process for adapting the legislation in case of scientific developments (problem 2).

Problem 1: Divergent implementation practices and non-level playing field

The non-aligned or missing definitions in the Directives have caused different approaches for addressing the same issues, such as adding new species to the scope of the Directives. In some Directives, the procedure for adding or deleting species covered requires an act adopted by the Commission, while in others it requires an act to be adopted by European Parliament and Council. Some Directives do not have specific instruments for protecting conservation varieties2 (i.e. the Directives for fruit and vine), while such instruments exist for agricultural and vegetable Directives. The approach for authorising non-EU-countries to export PRM to the EU is also inconsistent across the Directives, which in certain cases requires an approval by the European Parliament and the Council, while in others simply a Commission implementing act.

The definitions of ‘marketing’ and ‘operator’ are ambiguous in certain Directives or missing in others, and leave it open if the activities of seed conservation networks3 are covered by the PRM legislation or not, and -if so- to what extent. Furthermore, amateur gardeners have different uses and motivations compared to professional users and this raises the question if PRM marketed to amateur gardeners should be subject to the same rules as PRM marketed to professional users.

Heavy procedures for testing and certification create burdens for operators as some of the certification activities can only be carried out officially. This approach is not aligned with more recent developments in the policy governing official controls and other official activities carried out by Competent Authorities, which recognise the role of activities carried out by operators under official supervision in reducing administrative burdens and ensure an efficient use of public resources.

Member States have used the possibility offered by the legislation to deviate or exempt from the applicable rules in different ways, which causes problems for products marketed in different Member States.

There is no harmonised and risk-based framework for official controls, which limits the ability for Competent Authorities to enforce risk-based measures to ensure the identity, health and quality of PRM. This results in differences of control and enforcement across Member States.

Problem 2: Legislation prevents innovation and use of new technologies and adaptation to policy developments

The creation of synergies with the Green Deal and its related strategies (Farm to Fork Strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy, the EU Adaptation Strategy on adapting to, and mitigating, the impact of climate change, the new EU Forest Strategy on healthy and resilient forests and the European Digital Strategy), is often hindered because complex and rigid procedures and requirements in the current PRM legislation do not pursue always the same objectives as these strategies. Following the withdrawal of the 2013 PRM proposal, the PRM legislation, which

dates back to the 1960s, is in any case not aligned with more recently adopted legislation and the aforementioned strategies.

The lack of clear rules on testing for Value of Cultivation & Use (VCU) and the absence of sustainability criteria (e.g. reduced use of plant protection products and adaptation to changing climatic conditions) in the EU legislation have caused considerable differences between Member States in relation to the sustainability characteristics of new varieties. This in turn has impeded an adequate response to the demand for more sustainable agri-food production.

Currently, the availability of organic seed and of organic varieties suitable for organic cultivation is insufficient. It is important to set appropriate conditions for their development to foster the goal of the Farm to Fork Strategy of reaching 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030. As organic varieties have to be characterised by a high level of genetic and phenotypical diversity between individual reproductive units, the current VCU tests and testing protocols for the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) of varieties are not yet adapted to the needs of organic varieties suitable for organic cultivation. Due to the lack of organic varieties suitable for organic cultivation and a derogation in the organic legislation allowing the use of untreated non-organic PRM, this PRM is still used to varying extents in different Member States for organic production.

The legislation hinders the introduction of new/adapted rules on innovative production processes, which creates barriers for the market access of PRM products obtained through scientific and technical progress. Moreover, the current rules limit or do not place enough emphasis on the use of scientific and technical developments, such as certain biomolecular techniques.

Member States can choose to either apply or not lighter conditions for the registration of amateur and conservation varieties. When the requirements and costs for registering conservation and amateur varieties are identical to those of new varieties, there may be little incentive for seed conservation networks and other operators active in this domain to register conservation and amateur varieties4, negatively affecting the diversity of seeds and PRM that contribute to biodiversity and resulting in lack of alignment with recent Commission Strategies. In addition, the current legislation restricts increasing consumer demands for these traditional and local varieties due to production limits imposed by the existing legislation.

Basis for EU intervention (legal basis and subsidiarity check)

The PRM legislative framework is based on Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Lisbon Treaty qualifies agriculture as shared competence between the EU and its Member States. All fields of agricultural activity as well as ancillary activities upstream and downstream have been regulated to a very large extent at EU level. Article 114 provides the legal basis for the establishment and functioning of the internal market and the approximation of provisions laid down by the law, regulation or administrative actions. Article 191 states as the objectives of EU environment policy the preservation of the environment, the prudent and rational use of natural resources as well as promoting measures at international level to deal with environmental problems.

The introduction of the EU Directives on the marketing of PRM starting in the 1960s has been a major contributor to the creation of an internal market. The evaluation carried out in 2007 – 2008 confirmed that the EU rules on marketing of PRM have had a generally positive impact on free movement, availability and quality of PRM on the EU market and have thus facilitated trade within the EU, despite the still prevalent problems. If there had been no action at EU level, 27 systems instead of one would be in place today. This would put even more serious obstacles to the movement of PRM on the internal market and increase the financial burden associated with the necessary controls on the health and quality of PRM. Therefore, a common EU framework should be retained, and where possible strengthened, as it is considered to be the most appropriate approach.

B. Objectives and Policy options

The general objectives are to remove any obstacle or barrier in the internal market in order to ensure a level playing field for the marketing of PRM. For all types of users and consumers, a wide diversity of choice of PRM should be ensured. The revision also supports innovation and competitiveness of the EU PRM industry. Finally, it should contribute to the objectives of the Green Deal and its related Farm to Fork, Biodiversity, EU Climate Adaptation, European Digital and New EU Forest Strategies. In particular, it should support adaptation to, and mitigation of, the impact of climate change, and contribute to food security, sustainable production and biodiversity protection.

The specific objectives are to:

 Increase coherence of the legislation through simplified and harmonised basic rules on fundamental principles (e.g. scope of application, definitions of ‘marketing’ and ‘operator’);

 Eliminate fragmentation of requirements that results in adjustment of costs for operators;

 Increase the efficiency/effectiveness of the PRM sector through the establishment of simplified, more flexible and proportionate procedures;

 Clarify rules for seed conservation networks and PRM marketed to amateur gardeners;

 Establish appropriate conditions for the development of organic varieties suitable for the organic production;

 Empower Competent Authorities to allocate control resources through a harmonised and risk-based framework for official controls;

 Support the conservation and sustainable use of plant and forest genetic resources to promote the development of diverse farming systems, defend biodiversity, adapt to, and mitigate, the impact of climate change and contribute to food security;

 Introduce lighter requirements for conservation varieties for all PRM sectors and, where appropriate, for amateur varieties;

 Support innovation and the development of digital technologies and bio-molecular techniques in the PRM sector.

To address the identified problems, and achieve the above objectives, several policy options will be considered in the impact assessment. Those options will be developed on the basis of the following options.

Policy choices

Baseline: Do nothing.

No changes to the current legislation; focus on implementing the legislation in a way, which takes into account, to the extent possible, the objectives of the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Option 1: Alignment of definitions and structure of the legislation

This option would keep all 12 marketing Directives. It would include alignment and simplification of the structure of the legislation and decision-making procedures and introduce flexibility for operators. It would also introduce measures in support of sustainability. It would focus on the needs of the professional sector. It would establish a lighter registration system for PRM marketed by seed conservation networks and PRM marketed to amateur gardeners but PRM would still need to comply with the requirements of the marketing legislation as regards identity, health and quality of the material. Exchange of PRM between farmers would remain in the scope of the PRM other than FRM legislation, meaning that it would be considered as ‘marketing’.

The amendments would concern:

 Aligning the structure, definitions and decision-making procedures between the Directives;

 Adding definitions on terms such as operator/marketing where missing and/or streamline definitions across Directives;

 Establishing and aligning instruments for protecting conservation varieties in all Directives and, where appropriate, for amateur varieties;

 Removing duplications in inspections, inconsistent rules applicable to the same material and ensuring coherence with the plant health, GMO and organic legislation;

 Relying on tertiary legislation to set requirements and to adapt these requirements to technical and scientific developments;

 Increasing the number of tasks that operators may carry out under supervision of the competent authorities such as the tests carried out for registration and certification;

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decision-making processes, increased flexibility and uptake of new technologies (digitalisation, bio-molecular techniques) would reduce administrative burdens for Competent Authorities and increase efficiency of the system, in particular for SMEs developing innovative breeding and PRM production methods.

A harmonised and modern system for risk-based official controls, supported by the deployment of digital technologies and training, would lead to efficiency gains. Especially the introduction of risk-based controls would allow operators, who have a proven track record of reliable production, to make efficiency gains, while Competent Authorities can focus control efforts where they are most needed.

D. Evidence Base, Data collection and Better Regulation Instruments

Impact assessment

An impact assessment will be carried out to support the preparation of this initiative.

Evidence base and data collection

The impact assessment will be based on the following documents:

 The evaluation carried out in 2007-8;

 The impact assessment of 2013;

 The PRM study requested by the Council;

 The contractor’s report supporting the study.

An additional study will be commissioned to support the impact assessment process during the second half of 2021. Findings from the PRM study and the aforementioned additional study will be used to source evidence to assess the impacts of the proposed options, developed on the basis of the options presented above (as well as to further refine such options). In particular, those studies will provide data on expected economic, social, environmental and administrative impacts.

Consultation of citizens and stakeholders

Interested parties will be consulted through a mix of open and targeted consultations. Consultations will be carried out to engage all relevant stakeholders and seek their opinion on the main policy approaches and how they would be affected by them.

The consultation activities will involve all the main stakeholder groups, including Member States’ Competent Authorities, PRM industry representatives, farmers’ organisations and other interested partners, such as international organisations active in this domain and civil society representatives. An SME test will be carried out.

From November 2021 to February 2022, a public consultation is scheduled to take place via an online questionnaire. This consultation will be available in all official EU languages and will be accessible via the Commission’s central public consultations page (’Have Your Say’).

Will an Implementation plan be established?

An implementation plan could be established based on the impact assessment performed. Where necessary, guidance documents could be developed.