It comes ahead of the publication of the European Commission’s review of legislation for plant reproductive material on Monday May 6, which will represent the first major review of all European seed legislation in forty years.
The existing legislation and current draft proposal is designed to protect UK consumers by ensuring that seed traded on a commercial scale is distinct, uniform and stable. Without robust tests farmers and consumers are exposed to an increased risk of ineffective and unusable seed, increasing the likelihood of crop failures.
NFU combinable crops board chairman Andrew Watts said: “For anyone who has bought seed expecting to rely on a crop and it fails to deliver, it is impossible to return it to the retailer for a replacement, as you will have missed the growing season.
“The ever increasing emphasis and public demand for traceability and product authenticity should not be ignored. Seed reproduction is at the heart of food security and as a result we must approach this review of legislation with consumer protection in mind, rather than allow it to be marginalised.”