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Marketing Equivalence and Varietal Requirements for Movements of Seed

Summarises the marketing requirements for the following crop groups: Agricultural Seed, Seed Potatoes, Vegetable Seed, Fruit Plant Seeds, Ornamental Species Seed & Forest Seed.

 

Crop Group

Marketing Requirements

 

 

Agricultural seed (except seed potatoes)

 

 

 

Marketing in the EU

 

The EU have formally granted equivalence to the UK for agricultural seed. Before you export agricultural seed from GB to the EU, your variety will need to:

  • be on the EU Common Catalogue
  • be certified under OECD rules, if there is an OECD scheme
  • have an ISTA Orange International Certificate

 

Marketing in NI

 

GB seed can be marketed in Northern Ireland under OECD rules.

 

Seed potatoes

Marketing in EU and/or NI

 

It is not possible to market seed potatoes from 1 January 2021.

Vegetable seed

 

Marketing in the EU and/or NI

 

The EU have formally granted equivalence to the UK for GB vegetable propagating material but this does not include certified vegetable seed.

 

Standard seed of vegetable can continue to be marketed into the EU and NI provided that it is accompanied by a suppliers label stating “EU rules and standards” and a phytosanitary certificate.

 

It is Defra’s understanding that EU member states may require an EU address on the suppliers label, it is the suppliers responsibility to check the receiving country’s requirements.

 

The EU has not included certified vegetable seed in the draft equivalence Decision, which means that certified vegetable seed from GB will not be able to be marketed in Northern Ireland or the EU. DAERA and the UK Government are engaging with the EU to establish the reason for the omission and to push for certified vegetable seed to be included in any equivalence decision.

 

Fruit plant seeds

 

Marketing in the EU and/or NI

 

The EU have formally granted equivalence to the UK for fruit plant and propagating material. GB fruit plant and propagating material can be marketed in the EU and NI. Labelling requirements must be met.

 

 

Ornamental species seed

 

Marketing in the EU

 

Ornamental seed and propagating material can be marketed into the EU, provided that it meets plant health requirements.

 

It is the responsibility of the exporter to ensure the labelling and quality assurance requirements are met for the receiving member state.

 

The variety must have EU PVR, or be registered in any EU member state or be commonly known before September 2012.

 

Marketing in NI

 

Ornamental seed and propagating material can continue to be marketed into NI, provided that it meets plant health requirements.

 

It is the responsibility of the exporter to ensure the labelling and quality assurance requirements are met.

 

The variety must have one of the following:

  • have UK or EU PVR,
  • be registered on the NI National List or be registered in any EU member state
  • or be commonly known before September 2012.

 

Forest Seeds

Marketing in the EU

 

The EU have formally granted equivalence to the UK for Forest Reproductive Material (FRM). FRM can be marketed into the EU provided OECD scheme requirements are met (with some minor exceptions where simpler conditions apply).

 

The EU Commission has adopted a new temporary equivalence decision that permits the marketing of the tested categories of FRM to the EU (and Northern Ireland). The decision will remain in place until the end of 2024 and will permit Member States to make their own decisions about importing tested categories of FRM from GB. This temporary decision will allow the EU the time necessary to extend Council Decision 2008/971/EC to apply to tested material and will avoid any risk of disruption of imports of tested material into the EU. Suppliers of FRM are advised to contact the Forestry Commission to obtain the necessary OECD certificates before supplying any FRM to the EU at FRM@forestrycommission.gov.uk

 

Marketing in NI

 

GB forest reproductive material can be marketed in Northern Ireland. 

 

The EU Commission has adopted a new temporary equivalence decision that permits the marketing of the tested categories of FRM to the EU (and Northern Ireland). The decision will remain in place until the end of 2024 and will permit Member States to make their own decisions about importing tested categories of FRM from GB. This temporary decision will allow the EU the time necessary to extend Council Decision 2008/971/EC to apply to tested material and will avoid any risk of disruption of imports of tested material into Northern Ireland and the EU. Suppliers of FRM are advised to contact the Forestry Commission to obtain the necessary OECD certificates before supplying any FRM to the EU at FRM@forestrycommission.gov.uk