Marketing forest reproductive material for forestry purposes

See the public register of forest reproductive material suppliers.

Register as a basicBasic materialMaterial managerManager

Only basicBasic materialMaterial managersManagers can register basicBasic materialMaterial onto the Register of UK basicBasic materialsMaterials. Apply to the Forestry Commission to become a basicBasic materialMaterial managerManager.

See Guidance on registering basic material (PDF, 891 KB, 12 pages).

It is important that wethe areForestry Commission is informed of any changes to basicBasic materialMaterial to prevent marketing of reproductive material that does not meet the requirements of the appropriate category.

Owners must tell usthe Forestry Commission of any reduction in area of the basicBasic material,Material, or any material change to its composition or stocking, no later than 28 days before a collection of reproductive material.

Changes to basicBasic materialMaterial can result in its downgrading to a lower category in, or its removal from, the nationalNational register.Register. This may involve inspection.

Join a voluntary certification scheme

If you collect species not covered by the regulations, you can join a voluntary certification scheme. It allows:

• collectors to certify their native seed collections

• buyers to trace species from you the same way they can trace regulated (controlled) planting stock

To market species on the voluntary list you must follow the same procedures as for controlled species.

Register as a supplier and follow the same notification and application process for seed collection and certification.

What is forest reproductive material (FRM)?

FRM can consist of:

• fruits

• seeds

• cones

• all parts of a plant obtained by vegetative propagation, including embryos, and plants produced from any of these

Forestry purposes includes:

• timber production

• forests and woodlands for tourism, recreational, sporting, educational or amenity purposes

• the conservation and enhancement of the forest and woodland environment

The following are not covered by the regulations:

• landscape planting for transport infrastructure

• urban planting associated with industrial and urban developments

• production of Christmas trees

Market FRM from registered basic material

You can only market FRM from the Forestry Commission’s national register of basic material.

Basic material is sourced from:

• seed sources
• stands
• seed orchards
• parents of tree families
• clones
• clonal mixtures

If you’re the owner of the basic material, you, your agent or an authorised person can apply to register basic material for forestry purposes.

How FRM is categorised

FRM is categorised according to the basic material from which it is collected.

Source-identified FRM

This comes from general or specific locations within a single region of provenance and seed zone (PDF, 1.54 MB, 1 page) with an altitude band but no specific superior qualities have been identified.

Selected FRM

This is collected from stands that show superior characteristics, for example, they have very good form, growth rate or health.

Qualified FRM

This comes from the selection of superior individual trees which have not had any form of testing.

Tested FRM

This comes from the selection of individual trees or stands that have been evaluated for genetic quality or exceed minimum standards.

How to collect FRM for marketing

After you have registered as a supplier, you must:

• get permission from the owner or agent of the site before starting work
• use the land information search to check for site designations or other sensitivities
• notify usthe Forestry Commission that you intend to collect tree seed at least 14 days before

Provide usthe Forestry Commission with details of:

• place of collection, including a grid reference
• species to be collected
• basic material reference in the national register, or the public register of forest reproductive material suppliers for source identified (SI) material
• proposed date and duration of collection

How to market your collection

You must apply for a master certificate or licence within 9 months of collection or before marketing FRM, whichever is soonest.

A certificate is issued for each single entry in the national register of basic material. It shows information such as:

• quantity
• species
• provenance
• origin

Each certificate has a unique number to identify that collection.

Seed testingTesting

In general, all seed thatwhich is marketed must be tested for the following:

• percentage by weight of pure seed, other seed, and inert matter
• germination percentage of the pure seed, or where this is impractical, the viability percentage
• weight of one thousand pure seeds
• number of germinable/viable seeds per kilogram

This information must be on the supplier’s document.  The supplier must also give the date of the seed test. Theretest.  There is no statutory seed testing year and no requirement to re-test the seed lot each year, or to re-test any smaller lots separated from the original lot. Therelot.  There must be re-testing after mixing seed lots.

Small quantities of seed as defined in Schedule 11 of the Regulations (available from frm@forestrycommission.gov.uk) do not need to be tested for germination percentage of the pure seed or number of germinable/viable seeds per kilogram.

Only seed testing facilities approved by the Forestry Commission can carry out statutory seed testing. See list of approved seed testing facilities.