Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has today (Tuesday, February 27) announced the opening of a national public consultation process on the EU Commission proposal for a Regulation on the Production and Marketing of Plant Reproductive Material (PRM).
The consultation process will be open for a three-week period from today until March 20, 2024.
This national public consultation follows previous consultations carried out by the European Commission and is expected to help inform Ireland’s position on the proposal.
Referring to the public consultation, the Minister said: “I welcome the opening of this public consultation on Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), and the wide consultation already undertaken by the commission on this proposal.
“PRM is the starting point for all new plants, and it is important that we engage with stakeholders and the public to hear their views on this important subject.”
Regulation of plant reproductive material
PRM includes seeds, tubers, cuttings, roots, etc., used for the reproduction of plants.
According to the minister, the current EU legislation on PRM, which comprises 10 marketing directives, has proven successful in guaranteeing the identity, performance, quality and health of all PRM.
However, as some of the directives date back to the 1960s, the European Commission having consulted with stakeholders, has now adopted a proposal for a Regulation on the Production and Marketing of PRM.
The proposal aims to ensure a level playing field for operators across the EU, support innovation and competitiveness and contribute to addressing sustainability, biodiversity and climate related challenges.
The European Commission adopted its proposal on July 5, 2023 and its main aims are to:
- Increase clarity and coherence of the legal framework;
- Enable the uptake of new scientific and technical developments, and in particular, innovative production processes, bio-molecular techniques and digital solutions;
- Ensure availability of PRM suitable for future challenges;
- Support the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources;
- Harmonise the framework for official controls on PRM;
- Improve coherence of the PRM legislation with the plant health legislation.
Minister McConalogue added: “The existing EU directives on PRM have served us well.
“The availability and access to varieties suited to Irish soil and climatic conditions has made an important contribution to the economic and environmental sustainability of our agricultural production.
“Farmers also appreciate the value of certified seed and the high standards involved in its production and marketing.
“This proposal builds on existing directives and aims to ensure high quality and diversity of choice for all users of PRM that is adapted to current and future climatic conditions, thereby contributing to food security, protecting our biodiversity and improving the sustainability of our production systems,” the minister stated.
Written submissions should be sent by email to [email protected] with reference to ‘PRM Proposal’ in the subject line.
All submissions should include a short summary of not more than 300 words setting out the main points.
Submissions from organisations or groups should include a brief background on the membership, aims and objectives of that organisation or group.
All written feedback to the proposal should be submitted by 4:00p.m on March 20, 2024. Any submissions received after this deadline will not be taken into consideration, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).