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NEWS and VIEWS

Admission Procedures to OECD Seed Schemes

In Seed Info No 23 we reported on procedures of how to become an accredited laboratory to issue ISTA international seed lot certificates. In the following article we summarize the admission procedures to OECD seed certification schemes. At present 52 countries are members implementing seven different seed schemes: (i) Cereals (48 countries); (ii) Maize and sorghum (38 countries); (iii) Crucifers and other oil or fiber species (49 countries); (iv) Grasses and legumes (49 countries), (v) Beet (29 countries), and (vi) Vegetables (25countries); and (vii) Subterranean clover and similar species (4 countries). From WANA only six countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey) are members of one or more seed schemes.

Eligibility
Any member country of the UN or its specialized agencies may submit a written application to the Secretary General of the OECD to join one or more of OECD seed schemes. OECD member countries may use the schemes by writing and notifying the Secretary General. The technical criteria shall apply equally to both OECD member and non?member countries.

Technical Criteria
Any applicant country or the notifying OECD member country should provide a detailed description of the national seed certification scheme and a copy of the rules and procedures governing seed certification. A comparison shall be made between the rules of the OECD scheme and the rules of the national scheme, specifically in respect of: (i) previous cropping, (ii) isolation, and (iii) varietal purity standards.

The country should also provide details of its certification scheme during the previous five years and specify the amount of certified seed produced over the last three years. There should be a national list of varieties that have been tested and found to be distinct, uniform and stable and of acceptable value for cultivation and use in at least one country to operate OECD certification schemes. There should be adequate arrangements for variety maintenance, breeder, pre?basic and basic seed production as well as pre? and post-control plot testing for at least three years.

The country should have qualified staff and facilities to carry out seed certification efficiently and enforce the minimum OECD varietal purity standards. Moreover, all sampling and sealing of basic and certified seed lots should be handled by official or authorized seed samplers according to ISTA methods, all seed testing conducted by an ISTA accredited laboratory and labeled according to OECD requirements.

Review of National Scheme
The OECD Secretariat will acknowledge receipt of the application/notification and will examine the submitted technical documentation. If the documentation is considered satisfactory, the Secretariat will visit the applicant/notifying country with a representative of a National Designated Authority to explain the technical and administrative implications of the Rules and Directives of the Schemes, as well as its organization and coordination at the international level. Moreover, the team will ascertain that adequate technical and administrative facilities are available for the operation of the schemes and the need for expert assistance during the initial period of operating the scheme.

Obligations of Applicant or Notifying Country
On admission, the applicant country should agree that its representative attends the annual meetings of the National Designated Authorities and become directly responsible for implementing the schemes in their country. During the first two years the scheme will be under review and a seed certification specialist selected by the OECD will make annual visits and examine the administrative and technical procedures with particular reference to documentation of seed crop inspection and control plot testing.

Annual Contributions and Payments
The applicant/notifying country shall agree to the payment of an annual fee as set out in the General Principles from the calendar year immediately following the year of the Decision of the Council admitting the country to the schemes.

The cost of the mission prior to admission will be borne by the country whereas the costs after the admission will be arranged in agreement with the Secretariat. However, the attendance of Annual Meetings will be borne by the country. Before admission, the applicant/notifying country will be authorized to attend the Annual Meeting, as an observer, to explain the documentation submitted.
Granting admission
Provided the OECD is satisfied with the review of the national scheme and the applicant/notifying country has submitted in writing, to meet its obligations on admission, the Annual Meeting will advise that the application/notification be granted. The Committee for Agriculture of the OECD will then recommend that the Council approve the admission of the country to the seed schemes.

Following approval by the Council, the Secretary General of the OECD will notify the applicant country accordingly. The National Designated Authorities in all countries participating in the schemes will also be informed. For more information on OECD visit the website at: http://www.oecd.org. Source: AGR/CA/S(2002)22, June 2002.

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The International Seed Federation

The International Seed Federation (ISF) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization representing the seed industry. With members spread over 68 developed and developing countries, ISF represents the seed trade and plant breeders and serves as an international forum where issues of interest to the world seed industry are discussed.

ISF results from the merger in 2002 of the International Seed Trade Federation (FIS) and the International Association of Plant Breeders (ASSINSEL).

Mission
The mission of ISF is to:

• Represent the interests of its members at international level and improve relationships between its members
• Develop and facilitate the free movement of seed with fair and reasonable regulations whilst serving farmers, growers, industry and consumers
• Increase recognition of its members' contribution to world food security, genetic diversity and sustainable agriculture through development, production and supply of quality seed using modern technology
• Promote the establishment and protection of intellectual property rights for seeds, plant varieties and associated technologies which follow from research investments in plant breeding, plant biotechnology and seed technology
• Facilitate the marketing of seeds and other reproductive planting materials by publishing rules for the seed trade in international markets and for the licensing of technology
• Provide for the settlement of disputes through mediation, conciliation and/or arbitration
• Encourage and support the development of national and regional seed associations
• Encourage and support the education and training of seedsmen throughout the world

Activities
ISF represents the seed and plant breeding institutes, in particular at the: (i) International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants; (ii) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; (iii) International Seed Testing Association; (iv) Food and Agriculture Organization; and (v) Convention on Biological Diversity. ISF maintains official contacts with these organizations in order to promote the views and safeguard the interests of its members, notably in improving the conditions of international seed trade and strengthening intellectual property rights worldwide.

Exchange among the members
ISF organizes annual congresses, bringing together up to 1500 seedsmen to:

• Exchange information on recent developments in seed trade and plant breeding;
•  Identify mutual concerns, enable strategic thinking and discussion on these issues, and adopt common positions;
• Meet customers and suppliers to negotiate business contracts.

Communication
ISF maintains:

•  Internal communication: publication of congress reports, a quarterly newsletter, seed trade statistics, etc. for the members;
• External communication: publication of leaflets on the contribution of the seed and plant breeding industries to sustainable agriculture;
• Internet site: ISF has a regularly updated website.

Trade Rules
ISF has issued:

•  Trade rules that clarify and standardize the contractual relations between buyers and sellers at the international level;
• Procedure Rules for Dispute Settlement for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes and for Management of Intellectual Property.

Membership
FIS membership is of two kinds:
Ordinary Members are national associations representing seed trade or plant breeders in respective countries
Associate Members are individual seed enterprises or plant breeding institutions
Affiliate Members are provider companies to the seed industry

Crop Related Sections:
ISF is constituted of six sections to handle problems related to the seeds of specific crops. These are: (i) Cereals and Pulses, (ii) Forage and Turf Crops, (iii) Industrial Crops, (iv) Maize and Sorghum, (v) Sugar and Fodder Beets, and (vi) Vegetables and Ornamentals.

Thematic Committees
The Thematic Committees include: (i) Breeders, (ii) Intellectual Property, (iii) Phytosanitary Issues, (iv) Risk Management & Regulatory Matters, (v) Rules & Arbitration, (vi) Sustainable Agriculture and (vi) Communication & Promotion

Technical Groups
There are two main technical groups: (i) Tree and Shrub Seed and (ii) Seed Treatment & Environment.

For more information you may contact: ISF Secretariat, Ch. du Reposoir 7, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland; Tel: ++41-22-365 44 20; Fax: ++41-22-365 44 21; E-mail: isf@worldseed.org; Website: http://www.worldseed.org. Information supplied by Radha Ranganathan, ISF, E-mail: r.ranganathan @worldseed.org