Following intensive work, the Council has reached an agreement on its position regarding the new EU legislation on seeds and nursery plants, paving the way for the launch of trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission, which could begin in early 2026.
For the plant breeding sector, the key elements of the regulation lie in ensuring both the production of high-quality PRM and its availability, which is essential for the sustainability and competitiveness of the European seed and plant sector. The text agreed by the Council appears to reflect a constructive approach that preserves a genuine internal market with common rules for operators and users, while maintaining the necessary flexibility to accommodate different crops, markets and innovative plant breeding practices.
ANOVE will continue to closely monitor discussions with the Council, under the incoming Cypriot Presidency, and with the European Parliament, led on this file by Herbert Dorfmann, as well as with the European Commission, to ensure that the new PRM legislation adequately meets its objectives for both the seed and nursery plant sector and European agriculture as a whole.
Antonio Villarroel, Director General of ANOVE, stated:
“According to our preliminary assessment, it appears that the Council has addressed a number of technical concerns that the plant breeding sector had regarding the Commission’s initial proposal, ensuring key aspects for all operators in terms of the identity and quality of all PRM. At the same time, it introduces flexibility for certain species, products and specific market niches. As a result, a balance is achieved between the two main objectives of the legislation: the safety and quality of plant reproductive material on the one hand, and diversity on the other. We believe this provides a solid starting point for future negotiations with the Commission and the Parliament.”
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ANOVE reiterates its commitment to working closely with public authorities and all sector organisations to promote a new regulation that fosters innovation and competitiveness and, consequently, strengthens the international leadership of the European plant breeding sector, while continuing to guarantee the quality and safety of seeds and plants for farmers and producers.
