The Council has approved a decision recognizing that seed production and field inspection systems in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova meet EU standards for certain crops.
Specifically, the decision grants equivalence for beet, sunflower, swede rape, and soya bean seed certified in Ukraine, as well as fodder plant seed certified in Moldova. This means that seeds from these crops, produced and certified under each country’s national procedures, can now be marketed within the EU.
The equivalence confirms that both countries’ certification processes offer guarantees comparable to those required within the EU, including standards for seed quality, inspection protocols, and control measures, according to a press release from the European Council.
As a result, seed produced in Ukraine and Moldova will have access to the EU market, enabling EU-based companies to expand their sourcing options. This move also supports a stable supply of high-quality seed across 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.