b'EUUK SPS CHAPTER NEGOTIATIONS: THE SEED TRADE RESET WE CANT AFFORD TO BOTCHEUROSEEDS CLAUDIUS MARONDEDZE ON WHY ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS COULD MEAN FEWER BORDER HEADACHES, OR A NEW KIND OF BUREAUCRACY.BY: MARCEL BRUINSSEED WORLD EUROPE (SWE): CLAUDIUS,great milestone towards dynamic alignment since WHY IT MATTERS WERE IN THAT AWKWARD NEGOTIA- UK-exit of the Union. For the European seed After years of post-BrexitTIONS ARE ONGOING PHASE, NOT Acompanies, it would mean engaging in trade more friction, seed movingDEAL YET, BUT CLEARLY MOMENTUM. FROMefficiently with the UK and in a more predictable between the EU andEUROSEEDS PERSPECTIVE, WHATS THE SIG- manner. Practically, it would mean reduction in the UK has become aNIFICANCE OF THESE SPS TALKS FOR THEimport checks, expedited border control, mini-masterclass in delays,SEED SECTOR?mised administrative burden, and an increased duplicated costs, andCLAUDIUS MARONDEDZE (CM): Let meregulatory predictability. By and large, companies regulatory conjecture.start by first pointing out that UK-exit from thecan optimise operational efficiency, reduce costs, Now, with EUUK SPSEuropean Union family of Member States in 2020and adopt a more competitive position within the negotiations gatheringhas brought considerable challenges to the seedmarket.momentum, the seedbusinesses across both the EU and UK in moving sector has a rare windowplant breeding material and trading seed as aSWE: WHERE ARE EUROPEAN SEED COMPA-to swap complexity forconsequence of a lack of regulatory alignment,NIES CURRENTLY LOSING THE MOST TIME clarity and simplicity.including on the phytosanitary measures.OR MONEY WHEN MOVING SEED BETWEEN And maybe even rebuildEuroseeds welcomes the shared commitmentTHE EU AND THE UK? IF YOU HAD TO RANK something close toof the UK government and the EU CommissionTHE TOP TWO: IS IT BORDER DELAYS, CER-smooth trade. In thisto negotiate a new Sanitary and PhytosanitaryTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, ADMINISTRA-interview, Claudius(SPS) agreement between the parties with the aimTIVE COSTS, OR UNCERTAINTY OVER HOW Marondedze, technicalto address barriers to trade that have been put inRULES ARE APPLIED?manager plant health andplace since the UKs exit from the EU. The ongo- CM: Currently, the two principal areas where seed trade at Euroseedsing SPS negotiations between the EU and theEuropean seed companies are experiencing the explains whats reallyUK are extremely significant for the seed sector.most significant losses of time and financial at stake for EuropeanThese negotiations hold the potential to stream- resources are border control delays (import mon-seed companies, whatline trade processes, reduce regulatory divergence,itoring) and cost burden on variety registration success should look likeand establish a more predictable framework forin the two jurisdictions (the UK and the EU) in practice, and why theseed movement between the EU and UK.when applying for plant breeders rights. Border sector cant sit back andcontrol delays have been shown to extend wait-hope the details take careSWE: IF SEED COMPANIES REMEMBERing times, which disrupts supply chains in addi-of themselves. ONE THING ABOUT THIS MOMENT, WHATtion to increasing storage and transport costs. SHOULD IT BE? On the other hand, having no mutual DUS CM: I believe that the seed sector welcomes the(Distinct, Uniform and Stability) takeover of commitment by both the EU-UK to negotiate areports presence an additional cost burden than new SPS agreement. The outcomes of these nego- pre-UK exit. tiations have a direct impact on seed movement (including genetic resources) between the EU and UK in addition to directly impacting the ability to operate efficiently and competitively between the two markets. Positive outcomes will beyond no doubt influence both short- and long- term logistics and strategic planning.SWE: IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR EUROPEAN SEED COMPANIES TRADING WITH THE UK? IS IT FEWER CHECKS, FASTER CLEARANCE, LESS PAPERWORKOR SIMPLY MORE PREDICT-Claudius Marondedze ABILITY?CM: All the above simply because all the dotsThis is an abbreviated version. For the are connected. A successful implementation of anfull story, scan the QR code.SPS Chapter between EU and UK would be a FEBRUARY 2026|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 13'