[REPONSE] Parlement européen, Question écrite à la Commission E-000500/2022 du 4 février 2022, Jordi Solé (Verts/ALE), Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE) – La situation du commerce des semences de pommes de terre

Niveau juridique : Union européenne

Texte de la question :

« Prior to Brexit, there was a substantial and reciprocal trade in seed potatoes between the UK and the rest of the EU. This included a large quantity of high quality, disease-free seed potato exports from Scotland.

Since January 2021 this trade has been halted, impacting EU farmers previously dependent on Scottish imports as well as the economy of Scotland, a country which voted to remain in the EU.

1. Has the Commission made any progress in resolving the issues currently blocking this reciprocal trade in seed potatoes?

2. Given that the EU has already granted equivalence for certain other certified UK seed products, what are the issues preventing the granting of equivalence to Scottish seed potatoes?

3. Does the Commission have a future timetable for the further discussion of these issues? »

Réponse donnée par Ms Kyriakideson au nom de la Commmission le 1er avril 2022

« 1. For reasons of phytosanitary protection, all imports of seed potatoes from third countries are prohibited, with the exception of those originating in Switzerland, which dynamically aligns its plant health legislation with that of the European Union. In this respect, there is no basis to grant a special exception for the imports of seed potatoes from the United Kingdom (Great Britain).

2. Regrettably the United Kingdom has decided to operate a fully distinct regulatory regime for Great Britain and rejected any commitment to remain aligned with the European Union’s plant health legislation. The Commission remains of the view that the best way to achieve consistency between the plant health regimes of the European Union and the United Kingdom (Great Britain) is through a dynamic alignment, which would ensure market access in both directions.

3. In the absence of such a dynamic alignment, it is currently not possible to allow imports of seed potatoes from Great Britain into the European Union, and no such timetable exists for the time being. »

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