Is There a Need for the Indroduction of a New Category in Both the OECD- Scheme and EEC-Directives Governing the Trade with Forest Reproductive Material : Actual Problems of the Legislation of Forest Reproductive Material and the Need for Harmonization of Rules at an International Level

1992

S. 109-120

2 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200065054

The OECD-Scheme for the control of forest reproductive material moving in international trade distinguishes between four categories: source identified, selected, untested seed orchard, and tested reproductive material, while the EEC-Directive comprises only two, selected and tested, and an additional one, which should not be called a category, namely reproductive material with less stringent requirements. The meaning of the categories is explained. Reproductive material is produced using different reproduction methods (sexual, asexual) and different basic material (populations, clones) at different breeding levels. Thus a set of different kinds of reproductive materials is waiting to be released to the market. The question is, are there approval procedures and categories suitable for all the different kinds of reproductive material produced by breeding? In case the question has to be denied, another category is proposed, which could be denoted "predictably genetically improved". This category then contains reproductive material derived from advanced breeding activities, of which genetic gains can be calculated (predicted). The breeder has to test the parent material, which serves as basic material (breeding term) in the breeding programme, but does not simulataneously serve as basic material (legal term) for the production of reproductive material moving into the market. The characteristics of the new category have to be outlined. In this context a very important problem shall be addressed, which is the maintenance of the genetic diversity in managed forest ecosystems and the risk of genetic contamination by introducing hybrids or genetically modified reproductive material. Arguments are given to restrict the deployment of risky reproductive material by dividing the forest ecosystems into 3 types of differently managed forests.