Organic Heterogeneous Material

Organic Heterogeneous Material

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labeling of organic products authorizes the marketing of a new type of plant reproductive material, organic heterogeneous material, from January 1, 2022.

Organic heterogeneous material is defined in Article 3(18) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 as a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank which:

a) presents common phenotypic characteristics;

b) is characterised by a high level of genetic and phenotypic diversity between individual reproductive units, so that plant grouping is represented by the material as a whole, and not by a small number of units;

c) is not a variety within the meaning of Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 ( 1);

d) is not a mixture of varieties; and

e) has been produced in accordance with this Regulation;

Its heterogeneity gives it a capacity for evolution.

Organic heterogeneous material is not a variety. Not being a variety, it does not have an official description defined during DUS (Distinction Uniformity and Stability) studies; the only information available is that provided by the seed or plant supplier. To be able to market seeds or plants of organic heterogeneous material, it is necessary to send a notification of this organic heterogeneous material to the responsible official bodies by means of a file and to comply with the requirements set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/ 1189 in terms of seed quality, batch traceability, labeling.

Notification of an organic heterogeneous material

European Regulation (EU) 2018/848 defines the conditions for notification (article 13).

“The supplier of the organic heterogeneous material provides the competent authorities with a file (contact details of the applicant; the species and name of the organic heterogeneous material; description of the main agronomic and phenotypic characteristics…, selection methods, … country of production and the parental material used;… the veracity of the elements provided…) and a representative sample.

This notification is sent by registered letter, or by any other means of communication accepted by official bodies, with acknowledgment of receipt.

Three months after the date appearing on the acknowledgment of receipt, provided that no request for additional information has been made and no formal refusal has been made to the supplier on the grounds that the file is incomplete or incomplete. in the event of a breach within the meaning of Article 3, point 57), the responsible official body is deemed to have acknowledged receipt of the notification and its content.

After having acknowledged receipt of the notification, implicitly or expressly, the responsible official body may proceed to include the notified heterogeneous biological material on the list. This inclusion on the list does not incur any costs for the supplier.

The inclusion on the list of biological heterogeneous material shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the other Member States and to the Commission.

Such biological heterogeneous material meets the requirements set out in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 3. “

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1189 specifies the content of the notification file.

The French ministry in charge of agriculture has delegated to GEVES the receipt of the notification file and the verification of the conformity of the elements provided in the file. The order relating to the notification procedure, dated February 2, 2022, was published on February 11.

The applicant, supplier of organic heterogeneous material, sends to GEVES:

  • a file bringing together information defining organic heterogeneous material.
  • and a representative sample of organic heterogeneous material.

The application form is available here.

The file must be sent to GEVES at the following address: Notification of organic heterogeneous material

GEVES  25 rue Georges Morel – CS 90024

49071 Beaucouzé cedex

France

Sending by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt is recommended. Sending by email is also possible to the following address: notification.mhb@geves.fr In this case, GEVES returns an acknowledgment of receipt of the request by email.

At the same time, the applicant sends a sample of reproductive material (delivery addresses and sample size are specified in this document). This plant material must comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 relating to protective measures against organisms harmful to plants and other European or French provisions concerning quarantine organisms and regulated non-quarantine organisms.

The instruction concerns the verification of the acceptability of the name and the completeness of the notification. GEVES will call on the Intersections Commission dedicated to Organic Agriculture (CISAB) of the CTPS and experts, those from the DUS commission for the species.

For any request for information, an email address is available:  notification.mhb@geves.fr

Reminder of access: notification file and seed addresses.

Reminder of the rules concerning the name (point B of Annex 1 og Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1189):

“the name must not cause difficulties for its users in terms of recognition or reproduction and must not:

  • be identical or likely to be confused with a name under which another variety or other heterogeneous biological material of the same species or a closely related species is registered in an official register of plant varieties or on a list of organic heterogeneous materials.
  • be identical or likely to be confused with other names which are commonly used for the marketing of goods, or which must be reserved under other legislation;
  • mislead or cause confusion regarding the characteristics, value or identity of the biological heterogeneous material, or the identity of the breeder. »

Conditions for the marketing of plant reproductive material made
from organic heterogeneous material

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1189 specifies the requirements that must be met for the marketing of plant reproductive material of organic heterogeneous material:

1) this material complies with the requirements /

  • identification as referred to in Article 5: its description and history of the material, cultivation conditions, selection and traceability of batches.
  • sanitary quality, specific purity and germination, as referred to in Article 6: compliance with the requirements of regulations relating to plant health and quarantine organisms and regulated organisms, specific purity, germination rate (exemption possible on germination rates if the germination rate is indicated on the packaging so that the user has the information).
  • packaging and labeling, as referred to in Article 7, the mention “Organic heterogeneous material” must appear next to the name on the packaging.

2) its description includes the elements mentioned, these elements are necessary for acceptance of the notification.

3) it is subject to official controls.

4) it is produced or marketed by operators who comply with the information requirements provided for in Article 8. The specific point regarding biological heterogeneous material is to maintain notification and ensure historical traceability of organic heterogeneous material.

and 5) it is maintained in accordance with Article 10. The operator responsible for maintenance keeps a record of the duration and content of maintenance accessible to the competent authorities, kept for a period of five years after the last marketing.

These rules do not apply to the transfer of limited quantities of plant reproductive material from Organic heterogeneous material intended for research on heterogeneous biological material and for development of it.

Seeds or plants of Organic Heterogeneous Material must be produced under Organic Farming conditions.

List of Notified Heterogeneous Biological Materials in FRANCE

List of Notified Heterogeneous Biological Materials in EUROPE

SpeciesMember StateDenominationOperatorDate of registration
Triticum aestivum (spring type)GermanyConvento CLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Triticum aestivum (spring type)GermanyConvento ELandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Triticum aestivum (winter type)GermanyBrandexLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Triticum aestivum (winter type)GermanyLiocharlsLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Zea maysGermanyAlmitoLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Zea maysGermanyBogdanLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel02/02/22
Zea maysGermanyTambudzaiLandesanstalt für Landwirtschaft Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, Am Gereuth 8, 85354 Freising10/02/22
Zea maysGermanyWeihsteph 2Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, Am Gereuth 8, 85354 Freising10/02/22
Zea maysGermanyWeihsteph 3Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung, Am Gereuth 8, 85354 Freising10/02/22
Capsicum annuumCzech RepublicMěňavkaMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0103/03/22
Phaseolus vulgarisCzech RepublicLofthouse Landrace BeansMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0103/03/22
Solanum lycopersicumCzech RepublicValounyMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0103/03/22
Solanum lycopersicumCzech RepublicVejce ptáka OhnivákaMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0103/03/22
Solanum melongenaCzech RepublicKvapíkMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0103/03/22
Secale cereale L.GermanyDodoWerner Vogt-Kaute, Steingrund 27, 97797 Wartmannsroth11/04/22
Vicia faba L. (Partim) – Field beanGermanyDettaWerner Vogt-Kaute, Steingrund 27, 97797 Wartmannsroth11/04/22
Secale cereale L.GermanyBaldachinLandbauschule Dottenfelderhof e.V., Dottenfelderhof 1, 61118 Bad Vilbel12/05/22
Zea maysGermanyEvolinoFirma Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz Deutschland, gemeinnützige GmbH, Gut Mönchhof 2, 37290 Meißner01/06/22
Secale cereale L. (winter type)AustriaBerglandroggenVeronika Müllner, Kaltenbach 25, 3632 Bad Traunstein02/06/22
Triticum aestivum (spring type)AustriaWildschönauer SommerweizenEmil Platzer, Gainfeld 14, 5500 Bischofshofen08/06/22
Triticum aestivum (spring type)DenmarkMariagertobaLandsorten, Houvej 55, DK-9550 Mariager30/06/22
Triticum aestivum (winter type)DenmarkPopkornLandsorten, Houvej 55, DK-9550 Mariager30/06/22
Beta vulgaris L. – Spinach beet or ChardSloveniaTanjaEkološka kmetija Ipavec, Mitja Ipavec, Šmarje 68, 5295 Branik30/11/22
Lactuca sativaCzech RepublicListonohMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0106/01/23
Zea maysCzech RepublicMalované horyMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0106/01/23
Cucurbita pepoCzech RepublicLofthousova zimní tykevMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0107/02/23
Phaseolus coccineus L.SloveniaŠurkEKOSEMENA, Rožna Dolina 50 A, 4248 Lesce, Urška Šranc, Belska cesta 36, 4281 Mojstrana02/12/23
Zea maysPolandHańcza“Pietrzak” sp. z o.o. sp. k.05/12/23
Phaseolus vulgaris L.SloveniaKIS BogoKmetijski inštitut Slovenije, Infrastrukturni Center Jablje, Grajska cesta 1, 1234 Mengeš22/12/23
Phaseolus vulgaris L.SloveniaKIS DeodatKmetijski inštitut Slovenije, Infrastrukturni Center Jablje, Grajska cesta 1, 1234 Mengeš22/12/23
Triticum aestivum (winter type)FrancePop OrvilliersFerme d’Orvilliers25/01/24
Triticum aestivum (winter type)GermanyPerfirmalinaHerrn Malte Kraus, Hofäckerweg 3, 71579 Spiegelberg08/05/24
Allium fistulosumCzech RepublicVariace zimnich secekMarek Kvapil, Pňovice 55, CZE – 784 0115/07/24
Zea maysPolandUkiel“Pietrzak” sp. z o.o. sp. k.27/11/24
Zea maysPolandIsąg“Pietrzak” sp. z o.o. sp. k.27/11/24
Zea maysPolandNotyst“Pietrzak” sp. z o.o. sp. k.27/11/24
Secale cereale L.GermanyArtemisWerner Vogt-Kaute, Steingrund 27, 97797 Wartmannsroth31/01/25
Raphanus sativus L.PolandAxonaGLOBALGRASS sp. z o.o., Kamocin 122, PL-97-306 Grabica08/04/25
Vicia faba L. (Partim) – Fava beanPortugalMarroSementes Vivas08/06/25
Vicia faba L. (Partim) – Fava beanPortugalAurora VioletaSementes Vivas08/06/25
Phaseolus vulgaris L.SloveniaKlošterEKOSEMENA, Rožna Dolina 50 A, 4248 Lesce11/07/25
Pisum sativum L. (Partim)GermanySirkiFirma Getreidezüchtung Peter Kunz Deutschland, gemeinnützige GmbH, Gut Mönchhof 2, 37290 Meißner14/07/25
Cucurbita pepoItalyZucchino NovusArcoiris s.r.l.12/08/25
Secale cereale L.ItalyORZO BOP (ex Orzo Piemonte)Azienda agricola Frè di Raviola Giuseppina12/08/25
Triticum durumItalyBosco dei frumentiIacoviello Liliana18/08/25
Triticum aestivumItalyOROSETArcoiris s.r.l.18/08/25

Germany​

Germany​

Germany​

Germany​