Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi has confirmed that EU law requires systematic reporting of all cross-border movements of forest reproductive material between Member States, including the transfer of personal data such as supplier and receiver names and addresses. In a written answer to MEP Pascal Arimont (PPE) on 3 July 2026, Várhelyi clarified that Regulation (EC) No 1598/2002, read together with Directive 1999/105/EC, imposes a legal obligation on competent authorities to exchange information via a standardised document to ensure traceability from collection to end user.
The answer addresses three specific questions from Arimont. First, Várhelyi stated that the regulation systematically covers all transactions, not just a subset. Second, he explained that the processing of personal data—including buyer names and addresses—is lawful under the GDPR, as it is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation and for a task carried out in the public interest. The standardised information document annexed to the regulation explicitly includes fields for supplier and receiver details. Third, Várhelyi confirmed that requiring economic operators to systematically submit delivery documents is compatible with EU law, as it stems from the same legal framework.
However, Várhelyi stressed that compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation remains the responsibility of Member State authorities acting as data controllers. The answer does not introduce new policy but clarifies existing obligations under the 2002 regulation and 1999 directive. No immediate institutional follow-up is expected, as the Commission considers the current legal framework sufficient.