Better regulation

The UK National Authorities are committed to better regulation to ensure regulatory outcomes are achieved through legislation that is proportionate, simple and fit for purpose and does not hinder economic development or impose unnecessary burdens.

The current regulatory framework for national listing, seed and seed potato certification is based largely on 40-year old directives. Over this time the needs of the industry have changed greatly. We believe that we have achieved as much as we can in the UK within the existing legislative framework to improve the way in which we deliver services to industry and need now to look towards fundamental change at Community level to open up further opportunities to liberalise the legislative framework in which we operate. During the UK's Presidency of the European Council, PVS Division pioneered a better regulation initiative at Community level. As a result the Commission agreed to launch an EU wide project to evaluate Community legislation on Seed & Propagating Material. A link to the EC Seeds Evaluation website can be found here on the EC Seeds Evaluation website.

The EC commissioned the Food Chain Evaluation Consortium (FCEC) to carry out this Evaluation. The FCEC are assisted by a Steering Group composed of experts from a number of Member States, including the UK, and from the Commission's services.

Work commenced in May 2008 with a questionnaire for all Member States (MS) and stakeholders. PVS Division responded on behalf of the UK National Authorities taking into account stakeholder views from the UK Better Regulation Consultation. The UK responses to the questionnaire can be found here:

• Small-True Seeds (PDF 132 KB)
• Seed Potatoes (PDF 114 KB)
• Young Plants (PDF 107 KB)
• Forestry (PDF 106 KB)

In parallel to the Community initiative, PVS Division conducted a UK Consultation on Better Regulation in 2006 seeking stakeholder views on how domestic legislation might be improved. This Consultation and summary of responses can be viewed at Better Regulation Consultation.

The FCEC published the Final Report and Executive Summary in December 2008 and these are now available to download at the EC Seeds Evaluation website.

Following on from the UK Consultation on Better Regulation, the UK National Authorities established a UK PBR (Plant Breeders' Rights) Review Group - as a forum at which stakeholders could discuss their own proposals for change. Three half-day workshops took place at NIAB at which issues were identified and explored and proposals offered and discussed. Whilst the Group agreed that the current system has some limitations, no improvements were identified that would meet the wishes of the majority of stakeholders. In conclusion, although the current system has some limitations, it continues to work acceptably well.

• The UK PBR Review Group Final Report (PDF 110KB)