Defra has launched a consultation on the European Commission’s proposal to amend Directive 92/32/EEC, which outlines requirements for the production and marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants.
The government department pointed out that the EC has introduced a proposal to update the directive, and Defra has called on interested parties to make their views known as Defra formulates its negotiating position.
The consultation is seen as relevant to those who market, including importing, fruit plant propagating material or fruit plants intended for fruit production. This includes seeds and all parts of plants intended for propagation or production.
Defra said that it is important that growers feed back so that any revised directive is based on accurate information and reflects the best interests of all affected sectors.
The key changes proposed include enhanced requirements for propagating material; enhanced requirements for fruit plants; registration, rather than accreditation, of suppliers; removal of obsolete accreditation requirements for laboratories used by growers for quality checks; new requirements on marketing of ‘varieties’ and ‘clones’; and revised record keeping requirements.
The consultation is open until November 9.
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