Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/75 of 12 January 2026 concerning the equivalence of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants, intended for fruit production, produced in certain third countries, as regards obligations on the supplier, identity, characteristics, plant health, growing medium, inspection arrangements, labelling, sealing and packaging (notified under document C(2026) 30)
Definitions
For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions apply:
(1)
‘specified third country’ means a third country listed in the Annex;
(2)
‘specified propagating material’ means the propagating material produced in the specified third countries which has been recognised, in relation to the respective genera or species, as equivalent to the propagating material produced in the Union in compliance with Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU;
(3)
‘specified fruit plants’ means fruit plants produced in the specified third countries which have been recognised, in relation to the respective genera or species, as equivalent to the fruit plants produced in the Union in compliance with Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU;
(4)
‘category’ means category as defined in Article 1, point 10, of Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU.
Equivalence of propagating material and fruit plants
The specified propagating material and the specified fruit plants, intended for fruit production, produced in the specified third countries, and belonging to the respective genera or species and categories as indicated in the Annex, are equivalent to fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production produced in the Union and complying with Directive 2008/90/EC in respect of affording the same guarantees as regards obligations on the supplier, identity, characteristics, plant health, growing medium, packaging, inspection arrangements, marking and sealing, provided that that material and those fruit plants produced in those third countries continue to comply with that Directive and its implementing acts.
Requirements for imports of specified propagating material and specified fruit plants
1. Specified propagating material and specified fruit plants that have been produced in the specified third countries, for the respective categories and genera or species, as listed in the Annex, may only be imported into the Union provided that they have been labelled, sealed and packaged following requirements equivalent to the ones set out in Article 9 of Directive 2008/90/EC and in Implementing Directive 2014/96/EU concerning labelling, sealing and packaging, as appropriate for the respective category of pre-basic material, basic material, certified material or CAC material.
2. The suppliers importing specified propagating material and specified fruit plants into the Union shall inform the respective responsible official body in advance of that import.
3. Imported specified propagating material and specified fruit plants shall be accompanied by the following:
(a)
an official label issued by the responsible official body of the specified third country in the case of pre-basic, basic or certified material, or a supplier’s document prepared by the supplier of the specified third country in the case of CAC material; and
(b)
records containing details of that specified propagating material and those specified fruit plants provided by the supplier in the specified third country concerned.
4. Following the import of the specified propagating material and the specified fruit plants, and before marketing of the respective propagating material and fruit plants in the Union:
(a)
the responsible official body of the Member State concerned, or the first supplier under official supervision, shall replace the official label of the specified third country, referred to in paragraph 3, point (a), with a new official label, or attach a new official label in addition to the label of the specified third country;
(b)
in the case of a supplier’s document, the first supplier in the Union shall replace the supplier’s document, referred to in paragraph 3, point (a), with a new one, or a new supplier’s document shall be attached in addition to the supplier’s document of the specified third country.
5. The new official label or the new supplier’s document referred to in paragraph 4 shall respectively contain a reference to the original official label or original supplier’s document of the third country of origin, and a reference to that country.
6. The imported specified propagating material and specified fruit plants shall fulfil the relevant requirements regarding variety identification as set out in Article 7 of Directive 2008/90/EC.
Addressees
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Supplementary provisions
Union categories for genera and species of fruit plant propagating material and the corresponding equivalent categories originating in the specified third countries
ANNEXSupplementary provisions
ANNEX
Union categories for genera and species of fruit plant propagating material and the corresponding equivalent categories originating in the specified third countries
Country
Fruit genera/species
Union category
Equivalent category of third country
1.
Argentina
Olea europaea L.
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
Original/Starting
Basic/Foundation
Certified
Identified (Nominated)
2.
Chile
Olea europaea L.
Ribes L.
Rubus L.
Vaccinium L.
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
Germplasm bank
Foundation, pre-increment and increment
Certified
Ordinary
3.
Moldova
Cydonia oblonga Mill.
Fragaria L.
Juglans regia L.
Malus Mill.
Prunus avium (L.) L.
Prunus armeniaca L.
Prunus cerasus L.
Prunus domestica L.
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.
Prunus salicina Lindley
Pyrus L.
Ribes L.
Rubus L.
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
4.
Morocco
Cydonia oblonga Mill.
Fragaria L.
Olea europaea L.
Pyrus L.
Ribes L.
Rubus L.
Vaccinium L.
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
Non-certified
5.
Serbia
Corylus avellana L.
Cydonia oblonga Mill.
Fragaria L.
Malus Mill.
Pyrus L.
Ribes L.
Rubus L.
Vaccinium L.
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
CAC
Pre-basic
Basic
Certified
Standard
6.
United States
Cydonia L.
Fragaria L.
Olea europaea L.
Pyrus L.
Ribes L.
Rubus L.
Vaccinium L.
Pre-basic
Basic mother plants
Basic material
Certified
CAC
G1
G2
G3
G4
non-certified
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
