Mr. Donal Coleman:

My remit is to deal specifically with the crop and plant spectrum of the proposal, including not only agricultural crops but also horticulture crops, ornamentals, fruit and other species. We are seeking to consolidate existing legislation in the area, particularly in terms of the technical aspect of the work. At the moment the relevant areas are covered by 12 specific directives.

The current proposal aims to consolidate these into one overarching Council regulation with enabling provisions. It should fit in very much with the terms of the overall package on healthier animals and plants in a safer food chain. The Commission is aiming for a certain amount of coherence in what it does rather than fundamental change. It is a more evolutionary process in the plant area.

I will go through the technical changes, or substantive changes, that are being proposed in the plants area. A register of professional operators, largely processors and propagators, is to be put in place. To avoid duplication or excessive bureaucracy, it will be same register my colleagues will use for plant health matters in respect of traceability. We will have a one-stop-shop in terms of the registration of professional processors.

I am very conscious that small growers, private growers and those who exchange materials, including amateur gardeners, will not be excessively controlled in that they will not be required to register material. They will be able to buy, sell, trade and exchange material very much as they can at present. There is a specific feeling that we should not be overly bureaucratic or regulatory in that manner.

Forestry is coming under the broad remit for the first time. There will be no specific or fundamental change to the forestry regulations. Forestry will be covered under plant reproductive material purely because, as with other plants, materials in this sector are the first part of the chain, be it for food or industrial production. There is coherence in the approach.

It is proposed that there should be a lesser burden on professional operators such as processors and assemblers by making it possible to devolve certain activities and tasks, currently being carried out largely by the Department and regulatory bodies, if the industry wants this under the supervision of the competent authority. It would allow a little more flexibility and efficiency within the industry, if the industry so requires it.

We want to enhance availability and promote biodiversity in terms of so-called niche or local small-scale production. I refer to small-scale locally adapted varieties. I refer to heterogeneous material, which is another term for local populations of plants adapted to local use. We want conservation varieties to be marketed with a very low level of interference or control so there will be a balance between the overall approach to control of commercial production and the allowance of local small-scale production.

There will be a new EU register of new varieties. This is more a technical development than a substantive one. We will allow for the sustained testing of new varieties. The ministry currently tests for value for cultivation and use. I refer to largely commercial evaluation of new crop varieties. The new regulation will also provide for widening the scope of evaluation to take into account sustainability factors, such as pest resistance and ability to thrive in low-input systems, such that a more comprehensive range of material can be offered by us, certainly in the coming environment.

With regard to specific provisions, the Community Plant Variety Office has a limited range of functions in this area. They mainly concern plant breeders’ rights. The scope of its work will now be extended to provide some supports, training and administration in this area to member state authorities.

I will not deal specifically with the mandatory fees and controls, which comprise a horizontal issue across all the four areas. Progress on the regulation is very much analogous to the position outlined by my colleagues. Bearing in mind the Irish Presidency's open discussion on it, it will take a long time, or some years, before the overarching regulation and detailed implementing rules are all agreed. The European Parliament agriculture committee has had at least two short views of the regulation and is beginning to prepare its response.