Role of intrernational organizations during import and export of seeds. Role of ISTA, UPOV, ASTA, AOSCA, IPPC, AOSA WTO, TRIPS, NPPO, RPPO, NBPGR, OECD, ISF, EPPO, EXIM POLICY

1. Gangadharayya S Hiremath
Sr. M.Sc.(Agri.)
PG17AGR9130
Dept. of SS&T
SEMINAR -I
ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS DURING EXPORT
AND IMPORT OF SEEDS
n1

2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Seed industry status on pre independence era
• Role of import and export
• Organizations involved in international seed trade and their objectives
• Case studies
• Conclusion
2

3. INTRODUCTION
• The availability of a consistent supply of high-quality seed is the key to a
competitive and productive agricultural crop sector.
• Close coordination of the work in breeding, testing and certification of
seed is critical in facilitating import and export of high-quality seed and in
lowering non-tariff barriers.
• Global seed trade has also been progressively increasing with USD 1
billion in 1970 to USD 11 billion in 2012-13.
• Field crops contribute to 65% of the total exports, vegetables 33% and
2.5% by flowers and ornamental seeds. 3

4. • India is the 5th largest seed market globally contributes to less than 1% of the
global exports estimated at 67 million in 2012
• USA and European countries are among the largest exporters and importers of
seeds
• Among these organizations OECD Seed Schemes are globally recognized for the
certification of seed moving in international trade
• ISTA developed the globally recognized standard procedures for seed sampling
and testing
• The International Seed Federation (ISF) provides trade and arbitration rules for
seed companies
4

5. •Import/Export means trade across the political boundaries of different
nation. No nation is self sufficient and had all the goods that it needs.
•This happens because of climatic variation & unequal distribution of natural
resources.
•In India, Govt. has come out from time to time with various policies on foreign
trade to promote export thereby increasing the “Foreign Exchange Reserve”.
•These policies are termed as “Exim Policy”
WHY DO WE NEED IMPORT/EXPORT.?
5

6. Establishment of a nodal agency with representatives from all relevant
ministries and departments.
 Linkage of grievance redressal system on APEDA’s website to premier
research institutions.
 Prepare guidelines for the state pertaining to exports
To boost the Indian Food and Agri. exports a comprehensive
approach is required that shall encompass:
6

7. Challenges to seed exports from India
• Regulations in importing country
-Seed testing and product release process
• Usually long
• Could be restrictive, unclear
-Varying degree of restrictions on
• Seed import per se- none, partial or total
•SPS requirements
- Process compliance requirements
-Most countries in these regions are not members of OECD
-Weak IPR regime
-Lack of harmonization in SPS regulations
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8. International Organizations-
Regulations
Organizations Role
OECD, AOSCA Varietal Certification , Ensures Identity and Purity
ISTA, AOSA Procedures-Sampling &Testing (Accreditation, OIC)
WTO- SPS, RPPOs Phytosanitary Measures (IPPC)
PVP –UPOV Protection of New Varieties of Plants (IPR)
FAO Seed Policy, Legislations & Linkages (PGFRA, MLS, SMTA,
QDS)
ISF Industries Coordination, International Movement, Trade Rules &
Arbitration
8

9. Requirements for import
Importer Exporter Code(IEC) from Director General of Foreign Trade(DGFT)
Registration with National Seed Corporation
Seed Dealer’s License from state govt.
Import permit form from Plant Quarantine Dept.
Appointing Clearing and Forwarding Agent (C and F agent)
Filling bill – Bill of Lading
Payment of customer’s Duty
Phytosanitary Certificate issued by exporting country
9

10. Seed industry status on pre-independence era
•Seed was multiplied on seed farms of agriculture department and on the
farms of registered seed growers.
•Up to the year 1939 vegetable seeds were brought from abroad.
•By the year 1945 Pvt. Vegetable seed companies produced seeds in
Quetta and Kashmir valley for temperate vegetable.
•On the year 1946 vegetable seed producing companies went under the
association formation called as “All India seed growers, Merchants
and nursery men association.”
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11. IMPORT OF SEEDS
EXPORT OF SEEDS
11

12. Import & Export Procedure
Import Procedure: Two phases
1) Issue of Import Permit:
- Inspection of imported agricultural commodities on arrival at the port of
entry
2) The import clearance
- Receipt of reference from customs
- recommendation for its release including sampling, detail testing
- undertaking post entry quarantine inspection in respect of identified
planting materials
12

13. Export Procedure
• The export inspections are carried out to facilitate certification of exportable
plants and plant material as per the requirement of importing country.
• The export inspections involves: sampling and laboratory tests in case of
seeds and planting material for propagation whereas visual examination with
hand lens and washing tests, etc are carried out for plant material meant for
consumption.
• The export inspections are conducted at exporters premises also to facilitate
exports for agricultural commodities meant for consumption.
13

14. •It is the nodal agency which undertakes seed trade within the country and
overseas.
•Earlier NBPGR was known as “Division of Plant Introduction” was upgraded to
an independent institute ‘National Bureau of Plant Introduction’ in August 1976
which was rechristened as ‘National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources’ (NBPGR)
in January 1977.
•Played a pivotal role in the improvement of various crop plants and development of
agriculture in India through germplasm introduction from various institutes located
in foreign countries.
•Present director of NBPGR: Dr. Kuldeep Singh (2016)
NATIONAL BUREAU OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
(NBPGR)
14

15. • Registration of kinds and varieties of Seeds etc.
– Evaluation of performance
– Compensation to Framers
– Registration of Seed Producers and Processing Units
– Seed dealers to be Registered
• Regulation of Sale of Seed and Seed Certification
• Seed Analysis and Seed Testing
• Export and Import of Seeds and Planting Material
• Offences and Punishment.
Seeds Bill, 2004: Salient Features
15

16. National Seeds Policy, 2002: Thrust Areas
variety development &plant variety protection
– Seed production
– Quality assurance
– Seed distribution and marketing
– Infrastructure facilities
– Transgenic plant varieties
– Import of seeds and planting materials
– Seed exports
– Promotion of domestic private sector seed industry
– Strengthening of the monitoring system
OBJECTIVE:
 The provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize
available and prospective opportunities
 Safeguarding of the interests of Indian farmers
 The conservation of agro- biodiversity
16

17. Until sixties, most of the farmers in India used traditional varieties and used
their own seed saved for the purpose. But with the development and release of high
yielding and hybrid varieties of maize (1960), sorghum (1963) and millet (1964), the
farmers were prepared to purchase seeds and thus there was tremendous increase in the
demand of the seeds. So, the need was felt to undertake large scale production of quality
seed.
In 1963, the government of India floated a national organization and named it
National Seed Corporation under companies Act, 1956. It’s primary objectives were to
produce foundation seeds and help in the healthy development of seed industry. It
was also given the responsibility of establishing a good system for quality control,
inspection and for promoting scientific seed processing, storage and marketing.
Seed Certification in India
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18. International organization
invovled in seed trade
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19. Four main pillars of the international regulation of seed trade:
Seed certification schemes
The seed testing areas
The phytosanitary measures
Plant variety protection
1. varietal identity and varietal purity (OECD, AOSCA),
2. phytosanitary measures (IPPC, WTO-SPS, NPPO),
3. plant variety protection (UPOV) and
4. seed testing (ISTA, AOSA, etc.).
The international regulatory framework consists of certification based on
19

20. WTO can be defined as an International Organization
that regulates trade and tariffs between nations in order to ensure the trade flow
smoothly, predictable and as free as possible.
Objectives of WTO: To regulate and ensure smooth, free and predicable
global trade flow.
Function of WTO:
There are 4 main function of WTO
• Administrating the trade agreements( enrolment of members)
• Acting as a form for trade negotiation
• Setting trade disputes
• Reviewing national trade policies to improve transparency and to assses their
impact.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATON (WTO)
20

21. WTO-SPS Agreement
purpose : To prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants
and plant products, while promoting measures for their control.
.
Management options may consist of a combination of two or more
measures. These options may be applied to:
•Area of production (treatment, area of low-pest prevalence, area of pest
freedom, monitoring surveys, etc);
•Place or site of production (isolation in space or time, pest-free place, IPM);
•Parent stock (e.g. treatment, resistant varieties, selection of propagating
material);
•Consignment of seeds (e.g. treatment, preparation and handling, sorting).
21

22. The Agreement on Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS) is an international agreement administered by the WTO that
sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property(IP)
regulation as applied to nations of other WTO Members.
TRIPS (Trade related aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights)
It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) in 1994.
The TRIPS agreement introduced intellectual property law into the
international trading system for the first time and remains the most comprehensive
international agreement on intellectual property to date.
22

23. Two systems of Seed certification exists in the world
• OECD: 57 country members which is a mandatory/compulsory system
• AOSCA : which is a non-compulsory and non-mandatory system
• The OECD Seed Schemes provide an international framework for the certification of
seed.
• OECD aim to facilitate seed trade by reducing technical barriers, improving
transparency and lowering transactions costs.
• OECD certification is applied only to those varieties that are officially recognized as
distinct and having an acceptable value in at least one participating country
Organization for Economic and CooperativDevelopment(OECD)
23

24. OECD Schemes for Varietal Certification of Seed Moving in International Trade
•=> promote the use of agriculture seed of consistently high quality.
•Certified seeds are produced -and officially controlled -according to common
harmonised procedures in 59 participating countries
OECD Seed Schemes
Increase quality of Seed
•High germination
•Fewer weed seeds
•Less inert matter
•Less seed-borne diseases
•Known varieties
24

25. 1. Varietal identity: The identity of a variety is defined by the official description
of its characteristics, resulting from a given genotype or combination of
genotypes.
2. Varietal purity: The purity of a variety is the proportion of plants or seeds
within the population that conforms to the official description of the variety.
The OECD Seed Certification Schemes are
based on two criteria
25

26. 7 OECD SCHEMES
1. Grasses & Legumes
2. Crucifers & Other Oil or Fibre Species
3. Cereals
4. Maize & Sorghum
5. Beet
6. Vegetables
7. Subterranean Clover & Similar Species
26

27. •The opportunity to develop exports and/or imports of certified seed.
•A national seed law which provides the legal framework for variety
registration and seed certification.
• A national list of varieties.
•An efficient domestic certification system, with adequate equipment and
qualified staff for field inspection, seed sampling and labeling.
•An efficient laboratory for seed analysis according to ISTA Rules or
equivalent.
•A system of post-controls to check the varietal purity of the certified seed
Requirements for joining the OECD Seed
Schemes
27

28. Procedure for joining an OECD seed schemes:
Sending of official letter to the OECD secretariat.
Provision of basic documentation explaining seed certification procedures in the country.
Fulfillment of all OECD technical requirements (e.g. establishment of variety list,
implementation of pre- and post-control tests for ≥ 3 years prior to application).
Payment of all fees related to the evaluation mission.
Admittance or rejection on basis of evaluation report.
Final approval (if admitted) by consensus at the OECD Seed Schemes Annual Meeting, the
OECD Committee for Agriculture and the OECD Council
Each generation is identified by the label colour:
 White with a violet diagonal stripe – pre- basic
White – basic
Blue – certified C1
Red – certified C2
28

29. OECD Seed Scheme
The objective of the OECD seeds schemes is to encourage the seeds
of consistently high quality in participating countries.
India’s participation in the OECD Seed Scheme was accepted by the
OECD in 2008 in respect of five seed schemes viz.
i. Grasses and legumes
ii. Cereals
iii. Crucifers and other oil and fiber species.
iv. Maize and Sorghum and
v. Vegetables
29

30. The organization of seed certification agencies of the United States
and Canada. It is a global network providing seed certification and quality
assurance services to the agricultural industry.
AOSCA: Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
AOSCA agencies offer pre-variety germplasm certification for
indigenous or non-indigenous trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants
such as grasses and forbs, including wildflowers. These services assure the
proper identity and purity of native and naturalized plants that are needed to
revegetate, restore, improve, or stabilize wild land plant communities.
30

31. International Seed Testing Association(ISTA)
AIM: To develop and publish standard procedures in the field of Seed testing.
Vision: Uniformity in seed quality evaluation worldwide
Objectives of the Association:
( a) To develop, adopt and publish standard procedures for
sampling, testing seeds.
( b) To promote research in all areas of seed science and
technology, to encourage variety certification.
(c) To participate in conferences and training courses aimed at
furthering these objective.
(d) To establish and maintain liaison with other organizations
having common or related interests in seed. 31

32. • ISTA was founded in 1924 and it’s rules were adopted in 1931.
• To maintain uniformity in seed testing methods all over world.
• Accurate determination of quality of the seed.
• Uniformity in the results obtained.
• Complete the test within shortest period of time.
• Perform the test in most economical way.
• ISTA actively promote research in all areas of seed science and
technology.
Role of ISTA
32

33. It distributes standardized international certificates i.e. orange/green and blue analysis
certificates.
• Orange certificate is used when official sampling and final testing occurs in the same
country while green one is used when a lot sampled in one country and analyzed in
another country.
• To participate in conferences and training courses.
• To establish and maintain liaison with other organizations having interest in seed.
• Uniform application of procedures for evaluation of seed moving in international trade.
Role of ISTA
33

34. ORANGE INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE
BLUE INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE
34

35. Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)
•The UPOV system was came into existence after the adaptation by the Diplomatic
conference on “International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plant’’
which held in Paris on Dec, 2, 1961.
•The convention desired that all the member country of UPOV should provide an
Intellectual Property Rights especially for plant varieties. They may either provide the
UPOV system of Plant Variety Protection or they may develop and adopt their own
system of Plant Variety Protection Right, The membership is totally volunteer.
35

36. For PBRs to be granted, the new variety must meet four
criteria under the rules established by UPOV
1. The new plant must be distinct from other available varieties.
2. The new plant must be novel, which means that it must not have been
previously marketed in the country where rights are applied for.
3. The plant must display homogeneity.
4. The traits unique to the new variety must be stable so that the plant
remains true to type after repeated cycles of propagation. variety
The UPOV convention provides a sui generis form of intellectual
property protection specifically breeder’s adopted process of plant breeding for
development of a new plant variety.
36

37. (a) Breeders
▪Diversity of breeders
▪Number of breeders
▪Investment in breeding
(b) Improved varieties
(c) Farmers, Growers, Consumers
▪Delivering improved varieties to farmers
▪Delivering added value to consumers
▪Income and Knowledge
(d) International dimension
▪Development of new industry on foreign markets
▪Access to foreign varieties and enhanced domestic programs
Benefits of UPOV
37

38. ISF works to enhance the contribution of the seed industry
worldwide to meeting the growing global needs for food, feed, fiber, fuel,
industrial, ornamental and amenity crop applications.
ISF’s mission is to facilitate the international movement of seed for
sowing within the framework of fair and reasonable regulations.
Phytosanitary regulations play an important role in the international
movement of seed
INTERNATIONAL SEED FEDERATION (ISF)
.
The seed industry has a two-fold responsibility in the area of plant
health:
•To deliver sufficiently healthy seed to farmers and seed producers
to secure the start of a healthy crop
•To ensure the safe movement of seed in international trade in
order to protect agriculture, human health and the environment
38

39. American Seed Trade Association
ROLE:
•Regulatory and legislative matters at international, national and state levels;
•New technologies impacting all crop species;
•Communicating and educating the members and appropriate public audiences
regarding science and policy issues affecting the seed industry.
39

40. New Approaches to Regulate Seed Movements
New guidance from the IPPC seed standard
•Pathway analysis/PRA
•Re-export certification
•Seed industry practices that reduce phytosanitary risk
New Initiatives in the U.S. (APHIS)
NSHAPP
ReFreSH
40

41. What is NSHAPP?
•National Seed Health Accreditation Pilot Program
(NSHAPP)
•Testing a new model for mitigating risk of
imported seed
•Coordinated effort between the Iowa State
University and APHIS
•Industry participants voluntarily self-test
imported seed and report results to APHIS
•Initial target – CGMMV in cucumbers,
melons, watermelon 41

42. NSHAPP Successes
•Detected and destroyed positive seed lots
•Increased collaboration with industry
•Increased knowledge of seed business models
within APHIS
•Creating ideas for future seed work
42

43. Regulatory Framework for Seed Health
(ReFreSH)
ReFreSH
43

44. •Regulatory Framework for Seed Health (ReFreSH)
•Risk, science-based systems approach
•Work within current seed trade model
•Leverage industry best practices
•Promote global adoption of seed trade framework
A New APHIS Approach
44

45. International Plant Protection Convention
IPPC is an international plant health agreement that aims to protect
cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of
pests. International travel and trade are greater than ever before. As people
and commodities move around the world, organisms that present risks to
plants travel with them.
The IPPC is a multilateral treaty for international cooperation in plant
protection, promoting harmonization of phytosanitary measures in commerce and the
environment
45

46. The role of IPPC in Seed Health
Technically justified and consistent with the pest risk.
Non-discriminatory: measures applied to imported seeds should be no more stringent
Least restrictive, with minimum impediment to international movement of plants/seeds.
Mindful equivalence of measures.
International Plant Protection Convention
46

47. IPPC obligates the members to
Provide an NPPO(National Plant Protection Organization for SPS measures)
Conduct import and export of plants &plant products according to accepted
international principles & standards
Functions of NPPO
•Negotiations for new markets
•Pest risk analysis for the development of phytosanitory measures
•Inspection and phytosanitory certification
•Surveillance for pest outbreaks and control(Regulated pests)
•Diagnostic and Quarantine Services
•Draft National standards based on international standards
•Training and awareness
47

48. European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)
EPPO is an intergovernmental organization responsible for European
cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region. Under the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), EPPO is the regional plant protection
organization (RPPO) for Europe.
Objectives:
•To develop an international strategy against the introduction and spread of pests
that damage cultivated and wild plants, in natural and agricultural ecosystems;
•To encourage harmonization of phytosanitary regulations and all other areas of official
plant protection action.
•To promote the use of modern, safe, and effective pest control methods; provide a
documentation service on plant protection.
Aim of EPPO is to help protecting plant health in agriculture, forestry
and the uncultivated environment, from spread of pests and alien
invasive species. 48

49. International Standards for Phytosanitory Measures(ISPM)
• Many of the ISPMs provide for regulation of seeds (planting material), for example:
• SPMs Nos. 7 and 12 – Export certification and phytosanitary certificate
• ISPM No 11 – Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of
environmental risks and living modified organisms
• ISPM No 19 – Guidelines on lists of regulated pests
• ISPM No 21 – Pest risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests
• ISPM No 23 – Guidelines for Inspection
• ISPM No 28 – Phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests
• ISPM No 31 – Methodologies for sampling of consignments
• ISPM No 32 – Categorization of commodities according to their pest risk
49

50. EXIM POLICY OF INDIA
The foreign trade of India is guided by the Export Import policy of the
govt. of India .
• Regulated by the foreign trade development and regulatory Act 1992.
•Exim policy contain various policy decisions with respect to import
and exports from the country
•Exim policy is prepared and announced by the central govt.
50

51. •To establish the framework for globalization.
•To promote the productive competitiveness of Indian Industry.
•To Encourage the attainment of high and internationally accepted
standards of quality.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF EXIM POLICY
51

52. 1. To accelerate the economy from low level of economic activities to high level of
economic activities by making it a globally oriented vibrant economy
2. To stimulate sustained economic growth by providing access to essential raw
materials, intermediates, components, consumables
3 To enhance the technological strength and efficiency of Indian agriculture, industry
and services,
4 . To generate new employment.
5. Opportunities and encourage the attainment of internationally accepted standards of
quality.
6. To provide quality consumer products at reasonable prices.
Objective of the Exim Policy
52

53. Role of states for facilitating Indian Exports
• Need to create harmony between the two to achieve the true potential of agri
exports from India.
• Formation of clearly defined guidelines and role of state departments in
facilitating agri exports.
• The guidelines shall be collaboratively prepared through inputs from MoA,
MoC, MoFPI and state agri/ horti departments.
• APEDA to lead the initiative and also take inputs from the industry so that a
comprehensive guideline is prepared.
• Some of the points to be emphasized on are:
 Farmer registration
 Efficient extension services/capacity building
 Infrastructure mapping (need gap analysis)
 Logistics 53

54. Koundinya and Pradeep Kumar ( 2014)54
Indian Vegetable Seed Industry: Status and Chalenges

55. 55Khetarpal and Kavita (2007)
Holistic model for National Plant Bio security system
Plant biosecurity in India –Status and Strategy

56. Top ten countries of world in seed export in the calendar year 2011 (Value in million US $)
Ashok et al, (2013) 56
Export of seeds –History, Present Status and Future Prospects

57. Way Forward and Conclusion
57
Seed, a vital input n agriculture, is a commodity of trade inland as well as
overseas. The movement of improved seeds across nations is essential for the
growth and development of agriculture and fulfill the needs of growing human
population in terms of food, feed, fibre and fuel as well. The export seed
industry is not fully exploited owing to a number of political, trade and seed
related constraints. The issues need to be addressed to harness the enormous
potential of international seed trade.

58. 58