New Legislation on the Marketing of Forest Reproductive Material

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The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced today that The Forest Reproductive Material Regulations will come into force on 1st January 2003. The legislation controls the quality of seeds, plants and cuttings marketed for forestry purposes and replaces existing regulations.

The legislation implements in Northern Ireland the requirements of a European Directive that was published in January 2000. The directive requires that forestry reproductive material marketed to the end user is clearly labelled and identified, is well adapted to the site it was collected from, and is of high quality.

The legislation was made after consulting the forest nursery industry and other interested parties.

Compared with the regulation that it replaces, the new legislation [Forest Reproductive Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002] will extend the definitions and classifications that apply to forest reproductive material. They now require that forest reproductive material marketed to the end user is clearly labelled and identified throughout the various stages of production. The new regulation also requires people who market or import forest reproductive material, in the course their business or trade, to place their name on the “Register of Suppliers of Forest Reproductive Material”.

Nursery owners have been made aware of transitional arrangements under the legislation for stock in the nursery at the 1st January 2003.

Registration forms are available from Andy Dowie, Forest Service, Room 23, Dundonald House, BELFAST, BT4 3SB Tel. 028 9052 4116. Further information can be obtained from the above address.