Council grants EU equivalence for certain seed imports from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova
Today the Council adopted a decision granting equivalence with EU requirements to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova concerning field inspections and seed production standards.
In particular, the decision grants equivalence for seed of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean produced and certified in Ukraine and for seed of fodder plants produced in the Republic of Moldova and officially certified by its authorities, as well as to the relevant field inspections that are carried out.
The equivalence confirms that the national procedures of the two countries offer the same guarantees for the seed characteristics and the rules for examination, seed identification and control as those applicable to seed harvested in the EU.
In line with the decision adopted today, seed from these species produced in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova will be able to enter the EU market. In turn, this means that EU-based companies will be able to diversify their seed production areas. The new rules will also contribute to maintaining the continuous supply of high-quality seed in the EU.
The decision is a technical implementation of existing requirements and amends decision 2003/17/EC, which grants certain non-EU countries equivalence as regards field inspections and the production of seed of certain species.
Next steps
The decision will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background
Seed harvested outside the EU can only be marketed in the EU if it offers the same guarantees as officially certified EU seed. Non-EU countries seeking to export to the EU must meet the same criteria for seed characteristics, examination, identification, marking, control and packaging as seed harvested and controlled in the EU. Certification encompasses field inspections, seed sampling and testing.
Council decision 2003/17/EC grants certain non-EU countries equivalence regarding field inspections and production of seed of certain species, ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality seed in the EU.
Ukraine has been included on the list of such countries since 2020 as regards cereal seed. In 2022, Ukraine submitted a request to the Commission that seed of beet, sunflower and swede rape also be covered by the equivalence. In 2023, Ukraine submitted an additional request covering soya bean seed.
Since 2018, the Republic of Moldova has been included among those non-EU countries as regards cereal seed, vegetable seed and seed of oil and fibre plants. In 2022, the Republic of Moldova submitted a request to the Commission that fodder plant seed also be covered.
Requesting countries have their seed laboratories accredited by the International Seed Testing Association. This provides additional assurance on the quality of the inspections and the seed produced in those countries and their compliance with Union legislation.
