New tomato, citrus and bean varieties in the Commercial Registry: what changes in 2026

Key data

Producers, nurseries and seed companies operating with varieties of tomato, citrus, cucumber, durum wheat or beans have new legally enabled options for commercialization in the Spanish market as of July 31, 2026. The Order APA/782/2026, published in the BOE on July 30, incorporates into the Commercial Varieties Registry a set of plant varieties that have completed all required regulatory procedures.

Registration in this Registry is not a minor formality: it is the legal requirement that enables the sale of seeds and plant material of a variety in Spain. Without it, commercialization is prohibited. That is why any company in the sector that wants to work with these varieties must know what has been registered and under what codes.

What does this regulation establish?

Order APA/782/2026 organizes the new registrations in two annexes with different scope and nature:

Annex I — Final registration of varieties

The following species varieties are finally registered in the Commercial Varieties Registry:

Annex II — Conservation varieties

Four conservation varieties of dwarf bean are registered, all of them originating from León. Conservation varieties are those linked to a specific territory and with heritage value, subject to a specific and more restrictive commercialization regime than standard varieties.

Registration in either of the two annexes legally enables the commercialization of seeds and plant material of those varieties in the Spanish market, provided that the assigned registration codes are respected.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this order is not an additional cost for companies, but rather market opening: the registered varieties become commercializable, which generates concrete opportunities for those who produce or distribute them.

• Citrus nurseries: can initiate or expand the production and sale of plant material of the new registered varieties of lemon tree, hybrid mandarin, tangor mandarin and orange tree, accessing a market with high demand in the production regions of Levante and Andalusia.
• Horticultural seed companies: the new varieties of tomato, tomato rootstock and cucumber expand the commercializable catalog, with direct impact on the supply to farmers and cooperatives.
• Cereal sector: the registration of durum wheat varieties opens the possibility of commercializing certified seed of those varieties in upcoming campaigns.
• Local producers from León: the four conservation varieties of dwarf bean are enabled for commercialization under the special regime for conservation varieties, which can open sales channels in proximity markets and protected designations of origin.

The operational risk appears on the opposite side: commercializing seeds or plant material of a variety without current registration or with incorrect identification regarding the assigned registration code constitutes an infraction in the matter of seeds and nursery plants, with administrative consequences for the company.

Who does it affect?

• Nurseries that produce or sell plant material of citrus (lemon tree, mandarin, orange tree).
• Seed companies and seed enterprises that work with tomato, tomato rootstock, cucumber or durum wheat.
• Farmers who want to acquire certified seed of the new registered varieties.
• Agricultural cooperatives in the horticultural and cereal sector that manage seed procurement.
• Local producers from León who cultivate or want to commercialize the four conservation varieties of dwarf bean.
• Plant material distribution companies that must update their catalogs and traceability documentation.

Practical example

A citrus nursery in Valencia has a hybrid mandarin variety in production that until now was not registered in the Commercial Varieties Registry. With the publication of Order APA/782/2026, that variety is finally registered in Annex I.

As of July 31, 2026, the nursery can:

1. Legally commercialize the plant material of that variety in the Spanish market.
2. Issue accompanying documentation (labels, phytosanitary passport) with the registration code assigned in the Registry.
3. Include the variety in its commercial catalog with full legal coverage.

If the nursery had attempted to commercialize that material before registration, or if it now identifies it with a code different from the one assigned, it would be incurring an infraction of the seeds and nursery plants regulations. The first operational step is therefore to verify that the registration codes assigned by the Registry match exactly those used by the company in its internal and commercial documentation.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Order APA/782/2026 in the BOE to identify whether any of the varieties registered in Annex I or Annex II match those produced or commercialized by your company.
2. Verify the registration codes assigned to each variety in the Commercial Varieties Registry and compare them with those used by your company on labels, delivery notes and phytosanitary documentation.
3. Update the commercial catalog to include the new enabled varieties, if applicable, with the official name and code.
4. Review traceability documentation (phytosanitary passports, certified seed labels) to ensure that variety identification is correct from July 31, 2026.
5. Producers from León with dwarf beans: consult the specific conditions of the conservation varieties regime to ensure that commercialization complies with the additional requirements that apply to this type of registration (volume limitations, geographic area, etc.).

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16631