The European Parliament adopted by 621 votes to 1, with 73 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2008/971/EC as regards the equivalence of forest reproductive material produced in the United Kingdom with that produced within the Union.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure by endorsing the Commission's proposal.

The proposal adds the United Kingdom to the list of countries for which the equivalence of field inspections, and maintenance selections, of seed producing crops of cereal species and the equivalence of the seed produced have been recognised.

In view of the end of the transitional period provided for in the withdrawal agreement, the United Kingdom has submitted a request to the Commission for recognition of the equivalence, from 1 January 2021, of seed of fodder plants, cereals, beet, vegetables, oil and fibre plants produced in the United Kingdom with seed of fodder plants, cereals, beet, vegetables, oil and fibre plants produced in the Union.

The United Kingdom also requested recognition of equivalence in respect of checks on maintenance selections carried out in the United Kingdom.

The Commission has examined the relevant UK legislation and concluded that its requirements and the system in place offer the same guarantees as the EU system.

Following the addition of the United Kingdom to Annex I to Decision 2003/17/EC and to the Annex to Decision 2005/834/EC, imports of seed from the United Kingdom into the Union, as well as maintenance breeding of individual varieties in the United Kingdom, would be authorised.

PURPOSE: to amend Council Decisions 2003/17/EC and 2005/834/EC as regards the equivalence of field inspections and the equivalence of checks on practices for the maintenance of varieties of agricultural plant species carried out in the United Kingdom.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: in view of the end of the transitional period provided for in the withdrawal agreement, the United Kingdom has submitted to the Commission a request for recognition of equivalence, from 1 January 2021, of fodder plant seed, cereal seed, beet seed and seed of fibre and oil plants produced in the United Kingdom with fodder plant seed, cereal seed, beet seed and seed of oil plants produced in the Union.

The United Kingdom has also requested the recognition of the equivalence as regards the checks on practices for the maintenance of varieties carried out in the United Kingdom pursuant to those Directives.

The Commission has carried out a review of the relevant legislation in the United Kingdom. It has concluded (i) that the requirements and the system in force are equivalent to those of the Union and offer the same guarantees as the Union system; (ii) that the checks on practices for the maintenance of such varieties carried out in the United Kingdom afford the same assurances as those carried out by the Member States.

CONTENT: the proposal adds the United Kingdom to the list of countries for which the equivalence of field inspections, and of checks on practices for the maintenance of seed-producing crops of cereal species and the equivalence of the seed produced have been recognised. This recognition is based on an examination of the relevant legislation of the United Kingdom and the conclusion that its requirements and system in place offer the same guarantees as the Union's system.

Following the addition of the United Kingdom on that list, the imports of seeds from the United Kingdom into the Union, as well as the maintenance of the respective varities in that country, should be allowed.