Harmonising Seed Regulatory Regime for up-scaling Global Seed Trade

Abstract

Quality seed of well adapted improved varieties are fundamental for the agricultural development. Considerable efforts have been made towards the strengthening seed sector in many parts of the world in terms of seed production and distribution with appropriate seed policies, laws and regulations etc. Global seed market is growing enormously and is highly dependent on the seed regulatory frameworks at national and international levels. An efficient and transparent seed regulatory system is crucial to ensure that farmers have timely access to high quality seed at an affordable price. The international seed regulatory framework consists of (i) seed certification schemes based on varietal identity and varietal purity (OECD & AOSCA); (ii) seed testing (ISTA, AOSA); (iii) phytosanitary measures (IPPC, WTO-SPS & NPPO); and the plant variety protection (UPOV or sui generis systems). The rapid growth in the volume of international seed trade has given rise to many challenges, of which, the need for harmonization of seed regulatory framework is of utmost importance. International organisations such as, the OECD, ISTA, AOSA, UPOV, IPPC have been involved in the development of uniform, standard and science-based seed regulatory framework and methodologies, which have been adopted by the governments and seed industries around the world. The harmonization of seed regulatory framework with appropriate seed policies, capacity building activities, and awareness creation among the farmers would certainly help to boost the global seed trade by assuring confidence about the quality, good coordination between the public-private stakeholders, increased transparency and reducing technical trade barriers. This would also improve the farmers access to quality seeds of well adapted crop varieties in all the regions of the world.