The Dutch plant reproduction material sector has a highly international focus. The worldwide export and import of cuttings, seeds, young plant and tissue culture material is part of the daily business. In recent years further globalisation of the production of plant propagation material of ornamental crops has been seen. From production all over the world, propagation material is sent to the Netherlands for further treatment (quality control, cleaning, rooting, etc.) and trade purposes. This plant propagation material is increasingly transported directly from the production site to regions located close to the cultivation centres. Seeds are generally still sent to the Dutch mother companies due to the high demands of the seed companies on the high quality of the seed. Seed health analyses, germination, variety purity and variety trueness, as well as seed treatments of the seeds are high-tech activities demanding specialized knowledge and technique.
 
The Netherlands occupies a key position as a production and trade country of plant reproduction material. It is therefore of vital significance for the sector that sound agreements are made with countries outside the European Union regarding access to foreign markets. Plantum NL facilitates this through its extensive national and international network.
 
Export and import policy (third countries)
Plantum signals opportunities and threats for the import and export of Dutch plant reproduction material. Policy is developed for this purpose, action taken and attention drawn to the matter in relevant bodies. The third countries policy of Plantum focuses on removing the non-tariff barriers to the marketing of Dutch plant reproduction material and on increasing the market access in the important countries. Market access can be categorised into four main themes: phytosanitary import demands imposed by countries, variety registration of vegetable and agricultural crops, protection of intellectual property in third countries (legislation and compliance) and import levies and inspection fees.
 
The 10 most important countries where Plantum focuses on are:

• Brazil 
• China 
• Egypt 
• Ethiopia 
• India 
• Mexico 
• Ukraine 
• Russia 
• Turkey 
• United States of America

Phytosanitary policy
The phytosanitary demands placed by third countries are derived from the phytosanitary policy of the governments in question. In turn, these must comply with the international agreements. As the framework within which the phytosanitary legislation is defined is essential for the daily trade and production of plant reproduction material, Plantum is active in the following areas:
 
International
Subjects related to the international scope of the:

• WTO (Word Trade Organization) and the associated sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
• IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) and the associated phytosanitary regulations. 

EU (Phytosanitary Council Directive)
The Phytosanitary Council Directive lays down the provisions regarding protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community. This is translated in import conditions and intracommunity trade.
 
National policy
This concerns the national phytosanitary policy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I) and the execution thereof by the National Plant Protection Organisation. Points of attention are the performance of inspections and the fees involved.