New agricultural crops will gain access to variety testing
Author(s): Растителна защита
Date: 31.05.2017
3110
In 2016, a European directive was adopted, by which in the EU Member States the number of agricultural crops whose varieties are subject to testing and registration in the national lists and in the Common European Catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species is increased. This also leads to changes in Bulgarian variety testing.
The expected changes in the procedure for variety testing, recognition, registration and deletion of plant varieties from the Official Variety List of Bulgaria, related to the European changes, will be regulated by amendments and supplements to Ordinance No. 7 of 2013 on the conditions and procedure for variety testing.
The Bulgarian authority responsible for the amendments to the ordinance is the Executive Agency for Variety Testing, Field Inspection and Seed Control (IASAS). The Agency exercises control over the production, preparation, distribution, trade and storage of seed and planting material; its certification in compliance with the adopted methods, schemes and technological quality characteristics; it manages the procedure for testing, recognition and zoning of varieties of cultivated plants; it annually issues the Official Variety List of the Republic of Bulgaria for varieties of arable, vegetable, fruit crops and vines; it enters newly registered varieties in the European Union Catalogues; it is responsible for the full harmonisation of national legislation in the field of seeds and planting material with that of the Community.
The introduced changes contain two lists of plant species (A – agricultural plants and B – ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants), which meet the requirements for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS), the requirements for biological and economic value (VCU) for the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Bulgaria and are not genetically modified.
With the introduction of the changes, this list will now include:
Rapeseed, or Brassica napus L, approved by TP 36/2 of 2011.
Sunflower, or Helianthus annuus L, approved by TP 81/1 of 31.10.2002.
Potatoes, or Solanum tuberosum L, approved by TP 23/2 of 1.12.2005.
Triticale, or xTriticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus (Hybrids obtained from crossing species of the genus Triticum and species of the genus Secale), approved by TP 121/2 rev. 1 of 16.2.2011.
Lettuce, or Lactuca sativa L., approved by TP 13/5 rev. of 19.4.2016.
Tomatoes, or Solanum lycopersicum L., approved by TP 44/4 rev. 2 of 19.4.2016.
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman ex A. W. Hill, approved by TP 136/1 of 21.3.2007, etc.
The complete list of agricultural crops for variety testing, recognition, registration and deletion of plant varieties in and from the Official Variety List of the Republic of Bulgaria can be found HERE
For the testing of varieties of agricultural plant species and vegetable species started before 1 July 2017, in accordance with Article 3 of Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/1914, Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC may be applied in their versions applicable before their amendment by Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/1914. The Ordinance shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the “State Gazette”.
