Forest reproductive material (FRM) inspections

 

The Forestry Commission is also responsible for approving basic material for inclusion in the register. Consideration of the application by the Forestry Commission may involve inspection of the proposed basic material and detailed scrutiny of relevant information.

These annual site inspections are undertaken by trained staff from Forest Research Technical Services Unit (TSU).

FRM is made up of the seeds, cones, cuttings, and planting stock of 46 tree species and those of the genus Populus which are marketed for multi-purpose forestry uses. The marketing of these species, known as 'the controlled species’ including both exotic and native trees, is regulated by law.

In Great Britain the marketing of FRM is controlled by the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002.

The purpose of the regulations is to provide an identification system and audit trail for FRM, from the collection of seed or cuttings, through the production process, to final marketing and planting. This is to ensure that buyers of FRM have sufficient information about the material they are purchasing, such as provenance and origin.

The Forestry Commission maintains the National Register of Approved Basic Material for Great Britain (The National Register) which details all approved sources of basic material (ie seed, seed stands, seed orchards and parents of families, clones and clonal mixtures).

For further information about this project contact:

Dr. Janet Dutch
Technical Services Unit
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian
EH25 9SY

Tel: 0131 445 2176
Fax: 0131 445 5124
E-mail: janet.dutch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk