Certification of grapevine polyclonal propagation material: a reality in Portugal

Grapevine polyclonal propagating materials are obtained according to an innovative selection technique, mainly developed in Portugal and internationally recognized by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), through the resolution OIV-VITI 564B-2019, which establishes the “OIV process for the recovery and conservation of intra-varietal diversity and polyclonal selection in varieties with wide genetic variability”. In this paper it is explained how Portugal was able to establish the procedures for the official recognition of a voluntary certification of grapevine polyclonal propagating material, integrating it in the system of mandatory official certification for commercialization of viticulture propagating material, in force in the EU.