COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/2449

| Official Journal of the European Union | EN L series ---|---|--- * * * | 2025/2449 | 5.12.2025 ---|---|--- COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/2449 of 4 December 2025 amending Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC as regards the protocols for the examination of varieties of swede, fodder kale, rice, kale group, palm kale group, tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage), Chinese cabbage, tomato and spinach (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 2002/53/EC of 13 June 2002 on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species (1), and in particular Article 7(2), points (a) and (b), thereof, Having regard to Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed (2), and in particular Article 7(2), points (a) and (b), thereof, Whereas: (1) | Commission Directives 2003/90/EC (3) and 2003/91/EC (4) aim to ensure that the varieties of agricultural plant species and vegetable species that Member States include in their national catalogues comply with the protocols established by the Community Plant Variety Office (‘CPVO’). In particular, those Directives aim to ensure compliance with the rules concerning (i) the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination; and (ii) the minimum requirements for carrying out the examination of certain varieties of agricultural plant and vegetable species. For the species not covered by the CPVO protocols, those Directives aim to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the International Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (‘UPOV’). ---|--- (2) | The CPVO has updated existing protocols, in particular as regards swede, fodder kale, rice, kale group, palm kale group, tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage), Chinese cabbage, tomato and spinach. Those updates should be reflected in Union law. ---|--- (3) | In addition the UPOV guideline for turnip rape (TG/185/3) has been replaced by CPVO protocol TP/185/1 listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/90/EC. Therefore, that guideline should be removed from Annex II to that Directive. ---|--- (4) | Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC should therefore be amended accordingly. ---|--- (5) | The new rules should apply from 1 July 2026 in order to allow the responsible official bodies to adapt to the new requirements for the official examinations. However, in order not to disrupt the examinations, for varieties that are not yet accepted for inclusion in the Common Catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant or vegetable species, official examinations started but not finalised before 1 July 2026 should continue to be made in accordance with Directive 2003/90/EC or Directive 2003/91/EC as they stood before being amended by this Directive. ---|--- (6) | The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, ---|--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Amendments to Directive 2003/90/EC Annexes I and II to Directive 2003/90/EC are replaced by the text set out in Part A of the Annex to this Directive. Article 2 Amendments to Directive 2003/91/EC Annex I to Directive 2003/91/EC is replaced by the text set out in Part B of the Annex to this Directive. Article 3 Transitional measures For official examinations of varieties started but not finalised before 1 July 2026, Directives 2003/90/EC and 2003/91/EC shall apply as they stood before being amended by this Directive. Article 4 Transposition 1\. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2026 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. They shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2026. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made. 2\. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law, which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. Article 5 Entry into force This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Article 6 Addressees This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 4 December 2025. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN * * * (1) OJ L 193, 20.7.2002, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/53/oj. (2) OJ L 193, 20.7.2002, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/55/oj. (3) Commission Directive 2003/90/EC of 6 October 2003 setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/53/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of agricultural plant species (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/90/oj). (4) Commission Directive 2003/91/EC of 6 October 2003 setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/55/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of vegetable species (OJ L 254, 8.10.2003, p. 11, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/91/oj). * * * ANNEX PART A ‘ANNEX I List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (a), which are to comply with CPVO technical protocols (1) Scientific name | Common name | CPVO protocol ---|---|--- Dactylis glomerata L. | Cocksfoot | TP 31/1 of 25.3.2021 Festuca arundinacea Schreb. | Tall fescue | TP 39/1 of 1.10.2015 Festuca filiformis Pourr. | Fine-leaved sheep’s fescue | TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011 Festuca ovina L. | Sheep’s fescue | TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011 Festuca pratensis Huds. | Meadow fescue | TP 39/1 of 1.10.2015 Festuca rubra L. | Red fescue | TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011 Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Hack. | Hard fescue | TP 67/1 of 23.6.2011 Lolium multiflorum Lam. | Italian ryegrass | TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019 Lolium perenne L. | Perennial ryegrass | TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019 Lolium x hybridum Hausskn. | Hybrid ryegrass | TP 4/2 of 19.3.2019 Medicago sativa L. | Lucerne | TP 6/1 Corr. of 22.12.2021 Medicago x varia T. Martyn | Sand lucerne | TP 6/1 Corr. of 22.12.2021 Phleum nodosum L. | Small timothy | TP 34/1 of 22.12.2021 Phleum pratense L. | Timothy | TP 34/1 of 22.12.2021 Pisum sativum L. (partim) | Field pea | TP 7/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 6.3.2020 Poa pratensis L. | Smooth-stalked meadow grass | TP 33/1 of 15.3.2017 Trifolium pratense L. | Red clover | TP 5/1 Rev. of 13.2.2025 Vicia faba L. | Field bean | TP 8/1 of 19.3.2019 Vicia sativa L. | Common vetch | TP 32/1 of 19.4.2016 Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica (L.) Rchb. | Swede | TP 89/1 Rev. of 23.4.2025 Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. medullosa Thell. | Fodder kale (marrow-stem kale) | TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025 Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. viridis L. | Fodder kale (collards) | TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025 Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers. | Fodder radish | TP 178/1 of 15.3.2017 Brassica napus L. (partim) | Swede rape | TP 36/4 of 31.3.2025 Brassica rapa L. var. silvestris (Lam.) Briggs | Turnip rape | TP 185/1 of 31.3.2025 Cannabis sativa L. | Hemp | TP 276/2 Rev of 30.12.2022 Glycine max (L.) Merr. | Soya bean | TP 80/1 of 15.3.2017 Gossypium spp. | Cotton | TP 88/2 of 11.12.2020 Helianthus annuus L. | Sunflower | TP 81/1 of 31.10.2002 Linum usitatissimum L. | Flax/Linseed | TP 57/2 of 19.3.2014 Sinapis alba L. | White mustard | TP 179/1 of 15.3.2017 Avena nuda L. | Small naked oat, Hulless oat | TP 20/3 of 6.3.2020 Avena sativa L. (includes A. byzantina K. Koch) | Oats and Red oat | TP 20/3 of 6.3.2020 Hordeum vulgare L. | Barley | TP 19/5 of 19.3.2019 Oryza sativa L. | Rice | TP 16/4 of 23.5.2025 Secale cereale L. | Rye | TP 58/1 Rev Corr. of 27.4.2022 Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor | Sorghum | TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019 Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse | Sudan grass | TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019 Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor x Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse | Hybrids resulting from the crossing of Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor and Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii | TP 122/1 of 19.3.2019 xTriticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus | Hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Triticum and a species of the genus Secale | TP 121/3 Corr. of 27.4.2022 Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum | Wheat | TP 3/5 of 19.3.2019 Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) van Slageren | Durum wheat | TP 120/3 of 19.3.2014 Zea mays L. (partim) | Maize | TP 2/3 of 11.3.2010 Solanum tuberosum L. | Potato | TP 23/4 of 28.11.2023 ANNEX II List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (b), which are to comply with UPOV test guidelines (1) Scientific name | Common name | UPOV guideline ---|---|--- Beta vulgaris L. | Fodder beet | TG/150/3 of 4.11.1994 Agrostis canina L. | Velvet bent | TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Agrostis gigantea Roth | Red top | TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Agrostis stolonifera L. | Creeping bent grass | TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Agrostis capillaris L. | Brown top | TG/30/6 of 12.10.1990 Bromus catharticus Vahl | Rescue grass | TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001 Bromus sitchensis Trin. | Alaska brome grass | TG/180/3 of 4.4.2001 xFestulolium Asch. et Graebn. | Hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Festuca with a species of the genus Lolium | TG/243/1 of 9.4.2008 Lotus corniculatus L. | Birdsfoot trefoil | TG/193/1 of 9.4.2008 Lupinus albus L. | White lupin | TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Lupinus angustifolius L. | Narrow-leaved lupin | TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Lupinus luteus L. | Yellow lupin | TG/66/4 of 31.3.2004 Medicago doliata Carmign. | Straight-spined medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago italica (Mill.) Fiori | Disc medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago littoralis Rohde ex Loisel. | Shore medic/Strand medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago lupulina L. | Trefoil | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago murex Willd. | Sphere medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago polymorpha L. | Bur medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago rugosa Desr. | Wrinkled medic/Gama medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. | Snail medic/Shield medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Medicago truncatula Gaertn. | Barrel medic | TG/228/1 of 5.4.2006 Trifolium repens L. | White clover | TG/38/7 of 9.4.2003 Trifolium subterraneum L. | Subterranean clover | TG/170/3 of 4.4.2001 Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. | California Bluebell | TG/319/1 of 5.4.2017 Arachis hypogaea L. | Groundnut/Peanut | TG/93/4 of 9.4.2014 Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. | Brown mustard | TG/335/1 of 17.12.2020 Carthamus tinctorius L. | Safflower | TG/134/4 of 24.10.2023 Papaver somniferum L. | Poppy | TG/166/4 of 9.4.2014 ’ PART B ‘ANNEX I List of species referred to in Article 1(2), point (a), which are to comply with CPVO technical protocols (1) Scientific name | Common name | CPVO protocol ---|---|--- Allium cepa L. (Cepa group) | Onion and Echalion | TP 46/2 of 1.4.2009 Allium cepa L. (Aggregatum group) | Shallot | TP 46/2 of 1.4.2009 Allium fistulosum L. | Japanese bunching onion or Welsh onion | TP 161/1 of 11.3.2010 Allium porrum L. | Leek | TP 85/2 of 1.4.2009 Allium sativum L. | Garlic | TP 162/2 of 30.5.2023 Allium schoenoprasum L. | Chives | TP 198/2 of 11.3.2015 Apium graveolens L. | Celery | TP 82/1 of 13.3.2008 Apium graveolens L. | Celeriac | TP 74/1 of 13.3.2008 Asparagus officinalis L. | Asparagus | TP 130/2 Rev. of 3.1.2025 Beta vulgaris L. | Beetroot including Cheltenham beet | TP 60/1 of 1.4.2009 Beta vulgaris L. | Spinach beet or Chard | TP 106/2 of 14.4.2021 Brassica oleracea L. | Kale group | TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025 Brassica oleracea L. | Cauliflower | TP 45/2 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Broccoli (sprouting type and calabrese type) | TP 151/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Brussels sprouts | TP 54/2 Rev. 2 of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Kohlrabi | TP 65/2 rev. of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Savoy cabbage | TP 48/3 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Capitata (white cabbage and red cabbage) | TP 48/3 Rev. 3 of 11.4.2024 Brassica oleracea L. | Palm kale group | TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025 Brassica oleracea L. | Tronchuda group (Portuguese cabbage) | TP 90/2 of 23.4.2025 Brassica rapa L. | Chinese cabbage | TP 105/2 of 23.4.2025 Capsicum annuum L. | Chilli or Pepper | TP 76/3 of 31.3.2025 Cichorium endivia L. | Curled-leaved endive and Plain-leaved endive | TP 118/3 of 19.3.2014 Cichorium intybus L. | Industrial chicory | TP 172/2 Rev. of 28.1.2025 Cichorium intybus L. | Leaf chicory | TP 154/2 Rev. of 31.3.2023 Cichorium intybus L. | Witloof chicory | TP 173/2 of 21.3.2018 Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai | Watermelon | TP 142/2 Rev. 3 of 29.2.2024 Cucumis melo L. | Melon | TP 104/2 Rev. 3 of 31.3.2025 Cucumis sativus L. | Cucumber and Gherkin | TP 61/2 Rev. 3 of 3.1.2025 Cucurbita maxima Duchesne | Gourd | TP 155/1 of 11.3.2015 Cucurbita pepo L. | Marrow or Courgette | TP 119/1 Rev. 2 of 31.3.2025 Cynara cardunculus L. | Globe artichoke and Cardoon | TP 184/2 Rev. of 6.3.2020 Daucus carota L. | Carrot and Fodder carrot | TP 49/3 Corr. of 13.3.2008 Foeniculum vulgare Mill. | Fennel | TP 183/2 of 14.4.2021 Lactuca sativa L. | Lettuce | TP 13/6 Rev. 5 of 3.1.2025 Solanum lycopersicum L. | Tomato | TP 44/5 of 23.4.2025 Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman ex A. W. Hill | Parsley | TP 136/1 Corr. of 21.3.2007 Phaseolus coccineus L. | Runner bean | TP 9/1 of 21.3.2007 Phaseolus vulgaris L. | Dwarf French bean and Climbing French bean | TP 12/4 of 27.2.2013 Pisum sativum L. (partim) | Wrinkled pea, Round pea and Sugar pea | TP 7/2 Rev. 3 Corr. of 6.3.2020 Raphanus sativus L. | Radish, Black radish | TP 64/2 Rev. 2 of 29.2.2024 Rheum rhabarbarum L | Rhubarb | TP 62/1 of 19.4.2016 Scorzonera hispanica L. | Scorzonera or Black salsify | TP 116/1 of 11.3.2015 Solanum melongena L. | Aubergine or Egg plant | TP 117/1 of 13.3.2008 Spinacia oleracea L. | Spinach | TP 55/5 Rev. 5 of 23.4.2025 Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr. | Corn salad or Lamb’s lettuce | TP 75/2 rev. of 29.2.2024 Vicia faba L. (partim) | Broad bean | TP 206/1 of 25.3.2004 Zea mays L. (partim) | Sweet corn and Pop corn | TP 2/3 of 11.3.2010 Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner; Solanum lycopersicum L. x Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner; Solanum lycopersicum L. x Solanum peruvianum (L.) Mill.; Solanum pimpinellifolium L. x Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner | Tomato rootstocks | TP 294/1 Rev. 6 of 29.2.2024 Cucurbita maxima Duchesne x Cucurbita moschata Duchesne | Interspecific hybrids of Cucurbita maxima Duchesne x Cucurbita moschata Duchesne for use as rootstocks | TP 311/1 of 15.3.2017 ’ * * * (1) The text of these protocols can be found on the CPVO web site (www.cpvo.europa.eu). (1) The text of these guidelines can be found on the UPOV web site (www.upov.int). (1) The text of these protocols can be found on the CPVO web site (www.cpvo.europa.eu). * * * ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir_impl/2025/2449/oj ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition) * * *