Slovenia does not support the EU regulation on the production of forest reproductive material

Brussels – Slovenia does not support the EU regulation proposal on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, which was agreed upon by the member states. The proposed solutions are not acceptable for Slovenia, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food announced.

According to Slovenia, the proposal does not sufficiently reflect the essential objectives of the regulation and does not respect the fundamental principles of the applicable legislation.

“Slovenia is aware of the need to update legislation in the field of forest reproductive material, especially to ensure equal competitive conditions for all operators and to support the goals of the European Green Deal by preserving and enhancing biodiversity and addressing climate challenges,” the ministry stated.

Representatives of Slovenia pointed out several aspects at the meeting of deputy permanent representatives of EU member states, where an agreement was reached on the Council of the EU’s negotiating position with the European Parliament, for which solutions should be found in the proposal.

Among them, the ministry highlighted the possibility of addressing certain issues at the level of member states, taking into account local and national specificities.

They also advocated for prioritizing the quality, resilience, vitality, and diversity of seeds and seedlings of native tree and shrub species with high genetic diversity. Only forests that are supplemented or restored with such material can sustainably fulfill all forest functions and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

According to Slovenia, it is also necessary to pursue compliance with the highest standards for ensuring traceability in the handling of forest reproductive material.

The precautionary principle and the possibility for states to set stricter national requirements to adapt to local climatic and ecological conditions under special circumstances should also be prioritized. (June 13)