Regulation on Forest Reproductive Material: Quality, Traceability and Market Certification Requirements
Summary
The Council of the EU adopted a regulation on forest reproductive material (FRM) to improve quality, availability and traceability of seeds and plants used in forest regeneration across the EU. The rules require that only approved and certified seeds and plants be placed on the market and strengthen traceability to track seeds and seedlings across member states. The regulation encourages the use of planting material resilient to climate change and resistant to pests, supporting forest resilience, biodiversity and sustainable forest management.
Forest reproductive material suppliers and seed sector businesses operating across the EU should begin assessing current traceability and certification practices against the new requirements for approved and certified seeds and plants. With five years until application, businesses should inventory established national practices that may require adaptation and monitor European Parliament proceedings to track the final legislative outcome.
What changed
The Council adopted a new regulation on forest reproductive material that establishes quality and certification requirements for seeds and plants placed on the EU market, strengthens cross-border traceability of forest reproductive material, and encourages the use of climate-resilient and pest-resistant planting material. The regulation introduces a harmonised control system across member states.
Forest reproductive material suppliers and seed sector businesses should monitor developments as the regulation still requires formal European Parliament approval before becoming fully enacted. With a five-year application timeline, affected businesses have a substantial lead time to adapt established national practices and implement new traceability and certification procedures consistent with the new EU-wide control framework.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
- Council of the EU
- Press release
- 21 April 2026 10:35
Council adopts rules to strengthen forest reproductive material and support EU seed sector
The Council today adopted new rules to improve the quality, availability and traceability of forest reproductive material (FRM), while supporting innovation and competitiveness in the EU seed sector.
The regulation will strengthen the resilience of Europe’s forests to climate change, pests and diseases. It will support biodiversity, sustainable forest management and the conservation of genetic resources. Forest reproductive material, such as seeds and plants, is essential for forest regeneration, including reforestation and afforestation across the EU.
Today’s decision is a key step towards more resilient and sustainable forests in Europe. It improves the quality of forest reproductive material, supports innovation and gives member states better tools to manage forests and respond to future challenges.
Maria Panayiotou, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the Republic of Cyprus
Key rules ensure that only approved and certified seeds and plants are placed on the market, helping to guarantee their quality and sustainability for planting. They also strengthen traceability, making it possible to track seeds and seedlings across the EU.
At the same time, the regulation promotes more resilient forests by encouraging the use of planting material resilient to climate change and resistant to pests. It also introduces a simpler and more harmonised system of controls, making the rules easier to apply across members states.
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Next steps
The regulation still needs to be formally voted by the European Parliament. The date of application of the regulation has been set to five years, to provide time for the necessary adaptation of over 25 years of established national practice and to implement the new control system.
- Council and Parliament reach provisional deal to boost the quality of forest reproductive material and support EU seed sector innovation (press release, 8 December 2025)
- FRM regulation
- Position of the Council at first reading
Press contacts
- Magdalena Walczak-Jarosz Press officer
- +32 471 33 57 03
- +32 2 281 80 79
- @Magda_Brussels If you are not a journalist, please send your request to the public information service.
Topics
- Competitiveness
- Food and farming
- Single market
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