GEVES & EU examine suitable framework for listing organic varieties
The new EU Organic Agriculture Regulation adopted in 2018 will be implemented from 2022. The measures introduced by this new regulation include an experimentation on the listing and marketing conditions for organic varieties adapted to organic production which will be conducted from 2022. This experimentation is planned to last 7 years. Some varieties selected for organic farming and dedicated to this method of cultivation present a higher level of heterogeneity than currently allowed for the registration of inbred lines or hybrid varieties. A working group led by the European Commission met in June 2021 to discuss this issue by focusing on 2 species: carrot and kohlrabi. This group brings together experts from several official bodies including GEVES, the CPVO and stakeholder representatives. Its mission is to evaluate the current measures for population varieties and to propose new possible measures for DUS testing which will be discussed at trial visits, in particular at the GEVES Brion station.