EU Correction 2026/75: What Importers and Fruit Plant Nurseries Must Review

Key data

Importers of fruit plants and nurseries operating with material from countries outside the European Union have an immediate obligation: review the corrected text of Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/75. The rectification, published on September 23, 2026, modifies technical or textual aspects of the original decision of January 14, 2026, which recognized the equivalence of control systems in certain third countries with European standards.

Although this is a rectification—not a new regulation—its effects are binding from the date of the original decision. Any operation based on the previous text without incorporating the corrections may be in breach of compliance.

What does this regulation establish?

Decision 2026/75 establishes that certain third countries meet requirements equivalent to those of the EU regarding the production and marketing of multiplication material of fruit plants and fruit plants intended for fruit production. This equivalence allows material from those countries to be imported and marketed in the EU without being subject to all controls applicable to material of non-equivalent origin.

The rectification published on September 23, 2026 corrects the original text in technical or textual aspects. The areas covered by the decision—and therefore potentially affected by the corrections—are as follows:

• Supplier obligations: requirements that operators in recognized third countries must meet.
• Identity: traceability and identification of plant material.
• Varietal characteristics: verification that the material corresponds to the declared variety.
• Phytosanitary aspects: absence of harmful organisms and compliance with health standards.
• Growing substrate: conditions of the medium in which the material is produced or transported.
• Inspection procedures: control procedures applied at origin or at the border.
• Labeling: mandatory information that must appear on imported batches.
• Closure and packaging: conditions for sealing and presentation of the material.

To know exactly what text has been corrected in each of these areas, it is essential to consult the rectification published in the EU Official Journal and compare it with the original version (OJ L 2026/75, 14.1.2026).

Economic and operational impact

The impact of this correction is not minor. The equivalence recognized by Decision 2026/75 is the legal basis that allows importers to introduce fruit plant material from third countries into the European market under a simplified regime. If the corrected requirements are not met, the operational consequences can be significant:

• Retention or rejection of batches at the border due to non-compliance with updated labeling, closure or packaging requirements.
• Paralysis of marketing of already imported material if it does not meet the corrected phytosanitary or varietal identity conditions.
• Review of contracts with third country suppliers to ensure they meet supplier obligations according to the corrected text.
• Documentary and logistics adaptation costs resulting from updating labels, inspection records and internal procedures.

Since the rectification has retroactive effects from January 14, 2026, operators must assess whether operations carried out since that date comply with the corrected text or if there is any regulatory risk exposure.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of fruit plants and multiplication material (cuttings, rootstocks, mother plants, etc.) from non-EU countries.
• Nurseries marketing fruit plant material of non-EU origin in the EU or working with suppliers from third countries recognized by the decision.
• Wholesale trade operators of plant material that distribute imported batches to European agricultural producers.
• Phytosanitary advisors and nursery technicians responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance in the receipt and inspection of imported material.
• Procurement and logistics managers in horticultural companies managing the plant material supply chain.

Practical example

A Spanish nursery importing peach rootstocks from a third country recognized by Decision 2026/75 received a batch in March 2026 with labeling compliant with the original text of the decision. Following the publication of the rectification on September 23, 2026, the nursery's technical manager must:

1. Download the corrected text of the rectification (CELEX:32026D0075R(02)) and compare it with the original version (OJ L 2026/75).
2. Identify whether the changes affect the labeling, packaging or phytosanitary requirements applied to the received batch.
3. If the changes are relevant, assess whether the already marketed batch complies with the corrected text or if it is necessary to communicate the situation to the competent authorities.
4. Update internal receipt and inspection procedures so that future batches comply with the corrected text from the outset.

This scenario illustrates why rectifications—although they may seem like a minor formality—can have real consequences on already executed operations.

What should companies do now?

1. Download and read the corrected text: access the official rectification (CELEX:32026D0075R(02)) in the EU Official Journal and compare it with the original Decision (OJ L 2026/75, 14.1.2026) to identify exactly what has changed.
2. Review the eight affected areas: check whether the corrections affect your supplier's obligations, varietal identity, phytosanitary aspects, substrate, inspection, labeling, closure or packaging of the material you import or market.
3. Audit operations since January 14, 2026: since the rectification has effects from that date, review whether batches imported or marketed since then comply with the corrected text.
4. Update contracts and specifications with suppliers: communicate the updated requirements to your suppliers in third countries so that future shipments comply with the corrected text.
5. Update internal procedures: review receipt, inspection, labeling and packaging protocols to incorporate changes resulting from the rectification.
6. Consult with the competent phytosanitary authority: if you have doubts about the impact of the correction on operations already carried out, contact the phytosanitary body of your autonomous community or the Ministry of Agriculture.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026D0075R(02)