Today, the Agriculture Committee report on plant reproductive material (PRM) was adopted during the plenary session’s meeting with 431 votes in favour, 104 against and 82 abstentions.
Improved plant varieties stand as essential levers in facilitating European agriculture’s transition towards a more resilient and sustainable future. However, despite the adoption of the COM AGRI report, concerns linger regarding the balance of the report on derogations, which may inadvertently create incentives for an uncontrolled parallel market. Additionally, the Parliament did not fully support the European Commission’s initial proposal to modernise the rules for placing PRM on the European market.
The modernisation of the PRM legislation is paramount to ensuring that New Genomic Technique (NGT) plant varieties, boasting improved characteristics contributing to sustainable production, can enter the market seamlessly. Copa and Cogeca view the European Commission’s proposals for a regulation on NGT plants, coupled with revisions to PRM marketing directives from 5th July 2023, as a positive step forward. These proposals, long-awaited after more than a decade of postponements, offer a promising starting point for delivering viable solutions.
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
