What changed between the adopted text of 24 Apr 2024 and the adopted text of 19 May 2026

Removed:TEXTS ADOPTED

Added:P10_TA(2026)0168

Removed:P9_TA(2024)0342

Production and marketing of forest reproductive material

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Removed:PE756.013

Added:PE787.674

Changed:European Parliament legislative resolution of 2419 AprilMay 20242026 on the proposalCouncil forposition at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive(FRM material)Regulation) (COM(2023)0415(17102/1/2025 – C9-0237/2023C10-0103/2026 – 2023/0228(COD))

Changed:(Ordinary legislative procedure: firstsecond reading)

The European Parliament,

Changed:– having regard to the CommissionCouncil proposalposition toat Parliamentfirst andreading the(17102/1/2025 Council– (COM(2023)0415),C100103/2026),

Removed:– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C90237/2023),

Removed:– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 13 December 2023,

Removed:– having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

Added:– having regard to its position at first reading on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0415),

Changed:– having regard to theArticle opinion294(7) of the CommitteeTreaty on the Environment, PublicFunctioning Healthof andthe FoodEuropean Safety,Union,

Changed:– having regard to the reportprovisional ofagreement approved by the Committeecommittee onresponsible Agricultureunder andRule Rural75(4) Developmentof (A9-0142/2024),its Rules of Procedure,

Change 1

Removed:1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

Added:– having regard to Rule 68 of its Rules of Procedure,

Removed:2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

Added:– having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A10-0136/2026),

Added:1. Approves the Council position at first reading;

Added:2. Notes that the act is adopted in accordance with the Council position;

Added:3. Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council, in accordance with Article 297(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

Added:4. Instructs its Secretary-General to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Change 2

Removed:P9_TC1-COD(2023)0228

Removed:Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 24 April 2024 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive material)

Removed:(Text with EEA relevance)

Removed:THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Removed:Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) thereof,

Removed:Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Removed:After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Removed:Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,

Removed:[Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,]

Removed:Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure,

Removed:Whereas:

Removed:(1) Council Directive 1999/105/EC sets out rules on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (‘FRM’).

Removed:(2) Forests cover some 45% of the land area in the Union and fulfil a multifunctional role that comprises social, economic, environmental, ecological and cultural functions. Forests have, among other functions, a premordial function as a carbon sink in the climate mitigation policy. High-quality, climate-adapted and diversediversified FRM is essential to cover these needs. [Am. 1]

Removed:(3) In the light of new technical and scientific developments, the update of the Rules and Regulations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Scheme for the Certification of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade (‘OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme’), the new policy priorities of the Union in relation to sustainability, climate change adaptation and biodiversity and in particular the European Green Deal, as well as the experience gained during the implementation of Directive 1999/105/EC, that Directive should be replaced by a new act. In order to ensure uniform application of the new rules throughout the Union, the act should take the form of a Regulation.

Removed:(4) The aim of the OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme is to encourage the production and use of seeds, parts of plants and plants that have been collected, processed and marketed in a manner that ensures a high quality and availability of FRM. Due to the length of forest cycles and the cost of plantations and long-term forest investment, it is essential that foresters get fully reliable information on the origin and on the genetic characteristics of the FRM they use in plantation. The OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme meets that need by means of certification and traceability. It has a major role in helping the world’s forests adapt to changing climatic conditions. Emphasis is placed on preserving species diversity and ensuring high genetic diversity within species and seed lots thereby enhancing the adaptive potential of FRM for the future replanting of an area with trees (‘reforestation’) and the creation of new forests (‘afforestation’). Reforestation may be required when parts of an existing forest have been affected by extreme weather events, wildfires, outbreaks of disease and pest outbreaks, or other disasters.

Removed:(5) The European Green Deal sets out the Commission’s commitment for tackling climate change and environmentally-related challenges. It aims to transform the Union’s economy for a sustainable future. The Union rules on the production and marketing of FRM need to be in line with Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and with the three implementing strategies of the European Green Deal: the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, the new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Removed:(6) Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 requires relevant Union institutions and Member States to ensure continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. One of the aims of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change is therefore to accelerate the adaptative capacity of the Union to climate change, by amending the rules on FRM, amongst others. The Union legislation should encourage the Union wide production and marketing of FRM. To this end, the possibility for Member States to restrict the approval of certain basic material and to prohibit the marketing of certain FRM to final users, as set out in Directive 1999/105/EC, should be abolished.

Removed:(7) The new EU Forest Strategy for 2030 has as its key objectives effective afforestation, and forest preservation and restoration in the Union, to help increase the absorption of CO2, reduce the incidence and extent of forest fires, and promote the bio-economy, in full respect of ecological principles favourable to biodiversity. Ensuring forest restoration and reinforced sustainable forest management are essential for climate adaptation and forest resilience. In this regard, the new EU Forest Strategy states that adapting forests to climate change and restoring forests following climate damages will require large quantities of appropriate FRM. This implies efforts to secure and sustainably use the forest genetic resources on which a more climate-proof forestry depends. Efforts are also needed to increase the production and availability of such FRM, to provide better information on its suitability for climatic and ecological conditions and to enhance its collaborative production and transfer across national borders within the Union. Professional operators should thus be required to provide beforehand information to the users about the suitability of FRM for climatic and ecological conditions.

Removed:(8) The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to put Union biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. Within the framework of that strategy, Union legislation is to place emphasis on the preservation of species diversity and ensure high genetic quality and diversity within species and seed lots. This aims to facilitate the supply of high-quality and genetically diversediversified FRM that is adapted to current and projected future climatic conditions. The conservation and improvement of biodiversity of forests, including the genetic diversity of the trees, are essential to sustainable forest management and for supporting forests’ adaptation to climate change. Tree species and artificial hybrids under this Regulation should be genetically suited to the local conditions and be of high quality. [Am. 2]

Removed:(9) There is a long-term cross-border dimension due to the fact that the already observed northward migration of vegetation zones is expected to accelerate significantly in the coming decades. Hence the requirement in this Regulation for providing information about the zones where seed can be planted or FRM is adapted to the local conditions would be an extremely useful asset to foresters. Competent authorities should therefore designate zones specifying that in these zones the seed is suited to the local conditions and can be sown (‘seed transfer zones’). Likewise, they should designate areas specifying that in these areas FRM is adapted to the local conditions (‘deployment areas’).

Removed:(10) Directive 1999/105/EC defines FRM in relation to its importance for forestry purposes in all or part of the Union but it remains vague about those forestry purposes. For the sake of clarity, the scope of this Regulation lists the purposes for which it is important to use high-quality FRM.

Removed:(11) FRM may be produced for use in afforestation/reforestation and other types of tree planting and for several different purposes such as wood and biomaterials production, biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.

Removed:(12) Research has shown that the assessment and approval of basic material in relation to the specific purpose for which the FRM will be used are of utmost importance. In addition to that, the planting of high-quality FRM at the right place has a positive impact on the purpose for which that FRM is used. At the right place means that the FRM is genetically and phenotypically suited to the site where it is grown, including the relevant climate projections for it.

Removed:(13) In order to ensure a sufficient supply of FRM in response to the increased demand for FRM, it is necessary to remove any actual or potential barriers to trade, which may hinder the free movement of FRM within the Union. This aim can be achieved only if the respective Union rules on FRM impose the highest possible standards.

Removed:(14) The Union rules on the production and marketing of FRM should take into account practical needs and should apply only to certain species and artificial hybrids which are listed in Annex I to this Regulation. Those species and artificial hybrids are important for the production of FRM for afforestation, reforestation and other types of tree planting for the purpose of wood and biomaterials production, biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems, climate adaptation, climate mitigation, and conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.

Removed:(15) The aim of this Regulation is to ensure the production and marketing of high-quality FRM. To help create resilient forests and restore forest ecosystems, users should be informed prior to the purchase of FRM about the suitability of that FRM for the climatic and ecological conditions of the area where it will be used.

Removed:(16) To ensure that certified FRM will be adapted to the climatic and ecological conditions of the area where it is planted, the competent authorities should assess the sustainability characteristics of basic material during the procedure for approving that basic material. Those sustainability characteristics should concern the adaptation of that basic material to the climatic and ecological conditions and the freedom of trees from pests and their symptoms.

Removed:(17) FRM should only be harvested from basic material that has been assessed and approved by the competent authorities in order to ensure the highest possible quality of that FRM. Approved basic material should registered in a national register with a unique register reference and with reference to a unit of approval.

Removed:(17a) To maintain the quality of seeds, the packages should be designed to become unserviceable once opened, thus ensuring that users are aware of any tampering with the seeds and encouraging them to use the entire content properly, thereby avoiding the seeds being stored incorrectly or used when they are likely to have become spoiled. [Am. 3]

Removed:(18) In order to adapt to the scientific and technical developments of international standards, the use of bio-molecular techniques should be included as a complementary method in the procedure for the approval of basic material. Those bio-molecular techniques should be allowed to assess the origin of basic material or to screen the basic material for the presence of disease resistance traits through molecular markers.

Removed:(19) A master certificate should be issued by the competent authorities of the respective Member States for all FRM that is derived (i.e. harvested) from approved basic material. Such master certificate ensures the identification of the FRM, contains information about its origin and provides the most appropriate details for its users and the competent authorities in charge of its official control. It should be allowed to issue the master certificate in an electronic form.

Removed:(19a) Each Member State should establish and update a national list of issued master certificates and make that list available to the Commission and national competent authorities of all other Member States. [Am. 4]

Removed:(20) Only FRM that has been harvested from approved basic material should be allowed to be subsequently certified and placed on the market. FRM should be certified as ‘source-identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ by the competent authorities and be marketed with a reference to those categories. Those types of categories show which of the characteristics of the basic material have been assessed and they indicate the quality of the FRM. For lower quality FRM (‘source-identified’ and ‘selected’ categories), basic material will be checked for basic characteristics. For higher quality FRM (‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ categories), parent trees will be selected for outstanding characteristics and crossing schemes designed. In the case of FRM of the ‘qualified’ category, the superiority of the FRM estimated on the basis of the characteristics of the parent trees. In the case of the ‘tested’ category, the superiority of that FRM must be demonstrated in comparison with either the basic material from which that FRM has been harvested or with a reference population. The ‘source-identified’, ‘selected’, ‘qualified’ and ‘tested’ categories of FRM should be subject to uniform production and marketing requirements, to ensure transparency, equal terms of competition and the integrity of the internal market.