Sittings · Document

Draft report (COM(2024)0052 – C9 0026/2024 – 2024/0027(COD)) 2025-02-10

Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2003/17/EC as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in the Republic of Moldova on fodder plant seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of fodder plant seed produced in the Republic of Moldova, and as regards the equivalence of field inspections carried out in Ukraine on beet seed-producing crops and oil plant seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of beet seed and oil plant seed produced in Ukraine

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

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Amendment 3

Gilles Pennelle, Valérie Deloge, Mathilde Androuët, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a decision

–

Proposal for a rejection

The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

Or. fr

Amendment 4

Carlo Fidanza, Sergio Berlato, Waldemar Buda, Emmanouil Fragkos, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Francesco Ventola, Anna Zalewska

Proposal for a decision

–

Proposal for a rejection

The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

Or. en

Justification

(1) The proposed equivalence threatens the competitiveness of the EU seed sector, which operates under high standards/costs. (2) Imported seeds benefit from lower labour costs and more flexible phytosanitary regulations, creating unfair competition. (3) Risks of contamination from GMOs. (4) Absence of an impact assessment and consultation with stakeholders. (5) inspection audits carried out in Ukraine and Moldova in 2015/2016. They don't take into account changes in EU legislation and don't provide guarantees they don't use neonicotinoid active substances banned in the EU.

Amendment 5

Krzysztof Hetman

Proposal for a decision

–

Proposal for a rejection

The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

Or. en

Amendment 6

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1) Council Decision 2003/17/EC3 provides that, under certain conditions, field inspections carried out on certain seed-producing crops in the third countries listed in its Annex I, are to be considered equivalent to field inspections carried out in accordance with Union law and that, under certain conditions, seed of certain species produced in those countries is to be considered equivalent to seed produced in accordance with Union law.

__________________

3 Council Decision 2003/17/EC of 16 December 2002 on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (OJ L 8, 14.1.2003, p. 10) http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2003/17(1)/oj.

Or. ro

Amendment 7

Thomas Waitz

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) The Commission examined the relevant legislation of the Republic of Moldova. It also carried out in 2016 an audit of the system of official controls and of certification of cereal, vegetable and oil and fibre plant seed in the Republic of Moldova and published its findings in a report4 . On the basis of the audit, the Commission concluded that the national authorities responsible for the implementation of seed certification in the Republic of Moldova are competent, have adequate facilities in place, and operate appropriately. Those authorities are also responsible for field inspections of seed-producing fodder plants and for the certification of seed of fodder plants.

(3) The Commission examined the relevant legislation of the Republic of Moldova. It also carried out in 2016 an audit of the system of official controls and of certification of cereal, vegetable and oil and fibre plant seed in the Republic of Moldova and published its findings in a report4 . On the basis of that audit, which was done eight years ago and is thus not entirely up to date, the Commission concluded that the national authorities responsible for the implementation of seed certification in the Republic of Moldova are competent, have adequate facilities in place, and operate appropriately. Those authorities are also responsible for field inspections of seed-producing fodder plants and for the certification of seed of fodder plants.

__________________

4 ‘Final report of an audit carried out in the Republic of Moldova from 14 June to 21 June 2016 in order to evaluate the system of official controls and certification of seed and their equivalence with European Union requirements’ https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/3667.

Or. en

Amendment 8

Claudiu-Richard Târziu

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) The Commission examined the relevant legislation of the Republic of Moldova. It also carried out in 2016 an audit of the system of official controls and of certification of cereal, vegetable and oil and fibre plant seed in the Republic of Moldova and published its findings in a report4 . On the basis of the audit, the Commission concluded that the national authorities responsible for the implementation of seed certification in the Republic of Moldova are competent, have adequate facilities in place, and operate appropriately. The national competent authorities, including the designated certification agencies, are responsible for carrying out field inspections and for the certification of seed of fodder plants produced on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

__________________

Or. ro

Amendment 9

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3a) The authorities in the Republic of Moldova should strengthen cooperation with the competent authorities of the European Union so as to facilitate the exchange of best practices, through the organisation of joint workshops and training sessions. The Commission should support the authorities in the Republic of Moldova in developing continuous training programmes for inspectors and staff responsible for the certification of seed of fodder plants so that they keep abreast of international best practices and regulations.

Or. ro

Amendment 10

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 3 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3b) The authorities of the Republic of Moldova need to implement a risk assessment system for the seed of fodder plants in order to identify and prevent any potential contamination or quality issues.

Or. ro

Amendment 11

Thomas Waitz

Proposal for a decision

Recital 7

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(7) The Commission examined the relevant legislation of Ukraine. It also carried out an audit in 2015 of the system of official controls and of certification of cereal seed in Ukraine and published its findings in a report6 . On the basis of the audit, the Commission concluded that the national authorities responsible for the implementation of seed certification in Ukraine are competent, have adequate facilities in place, and operate appropriately. Those authorities are also responsible for the field inspections of seed-producing crops of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean, and for the certification of seed of those crops.

(7) The Commission examined the relevant legislation of Ukraine. It also carried out an audit in 2015 of the system of official controls and of certification of cereal seed in Ukraine and published its findings in a report6 . On the basis of that audit, which was done almost a decade ago and is thus not entirely up to date, the Commission concluded that the national authorities responsible for the implementation of seed certification in Ukraine are competent, have adequate facilities in place, and operate appropriately. Those authorities are also responsible for the field inspections of seed-producing crops of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean, and for the certification of seed of those crops.

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6 ‘Final report of an audit carried out in Ukraine from 26 May 2015 to 4 June 2015 in order to evaluate the system of official controls and certification of cereal seed and their equivalence with European Union requirements’ https://ec.europa.eu/food/audits-analysis/audit-report/details/3499.

Or. en

Amendment 12

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 7

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

__________________

Or. ro

Amendment 13

Krzysztof Hetman

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8a) The last audits performed by the Commission in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine mentioned above took place in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Therefore, they may not reflect recent situation and changes in law in those countries, and new updates reflecting current legal situation would be needed.

Or. en

Amendment 14

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 11

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11) The Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have seed laboratories accredited by the International Seed Testing Association. That fact provides additional assurance on the quality of the inspections and the seed produced in those countries and their compliance with Union legislation.

Or. ro

Amendment 15

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 11 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11a) The European Commission should ensure close supervision of the accredited laboratories in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine by means of an external audit system which verifies not only compliance with European Union regulations but also the efficiency of the tests and certifications being conducted.

Or. ro

Amendment 16

Gilles Pennelle, Valérie Deloge, Mathilde Androuët, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a decision

Recital 11 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11a) No impact assessment has been carried out to measure the economic impact on the European seed sector.

Or. fr

Amendment 17

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 11 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11b) The European Commission should ensure that accredited laboratories in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine adopt the necessary rules on the prevention of risks of genetic contamination of seed, in accordance with European Union regulations and the need for food security.

Or. ro

Amendment 18

Gilles Pennelle, Valérie Deloge, Mathilde Androuët, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a decision

Recital 11 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(11b) Ukraine and Moldova do not have the same social and environmental standards as those imposed on European seed producers. This distortion of competition is not taken into account in this Regulation.

Or. fr

Amendment 19

Claudiu-Richard Târziu

Proposal for a decision

Recital 12

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(12) It is therefore appropriate to grant equivalence as regards field inspections carried out in respect of fodder plant seed-producing crops in the Republic of Moldova, and as regards the fodder plant seed produced in the Republic of Moldova and officially certified by its authorities.

(12) It is therefore appropriate to recognise equivalence as regards field inspections carried out in respect of fodder plant seed-producing crops and of their quality assurance in the Republic of Moldova, and as regards the fodder plant seed produced in the Republic of Moldova and officially certified by its authorities.

Or. ro

Amendment 20

Maria Grapini

Proposal for a decision

Recital 13

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(13) It is also appropriate to grant equivalence as regards field inspections carried out in respect of seed-producing crops of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean in Ukraine, and as regards the seed of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean produced in Ukraine and officially certified by its authorities.

(13) It is also appropriate to grant equivalence as regards field inspections carried out, in compliance with EU law, in respect of seed-producing crops of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean in Ukraine, and as regards the seed of beet, sunflower, swede rape and soya bean produced in Ukraine and officially certified by its authorities.

Or. ro

Amendment 21

Claudiu-Richard Târziu

Proposal for a decision

Recital 13 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(13a) The European Commission should conduct a review of the equivalence granted to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine every three years to ensure continuity and compliance with European Union requirements.

Or. ro

Justification

Seeks to ensure that the equivalences granted will be reviewed periodically to adapt to any legislative or technological changes.

Amendment 22

Gilles Pennelle, Valérie Deloge, Mathilde Androuët, Raffaele Stancanelli

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Annex I to Decision 2003/17/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

deleted

Or. fr

Amendment 23

Céline Imart

Proposal for a decision

Annex – paragraph 1 – point 1

Decision 2003/17/EC

Annex I

Text proposed by the Commission

(1) the entry ‘MD’ is replaced by the following:

‘MD

National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA)

str. Mihail Kogălniceanu 63,

MD-2009, Chisinau

66/401/EEC

66/402/EEC

2002/55/EC

2002/57/EC’

;

Amendment

deleted

Or. fr

Amendment 24

Céline Imart

Proposal for a decision

Annex – paragraph 1 – point 2

Decision 2033/17/EC

Annex I

Text proposed by the Commission

(2) the entry ‘UA’ is replaced by the following:

‘UA

Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine

Khreshchatyk str., 24, 01001, KYIV

66/402/EEC

2002/54/EC

2002/57/EC — only in respect of Brassica napus, Glycine max and Helianthus annuus’

Amendment

deleted

Or. fr