Gaborone, Botswana
July 6, 2007Source:
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2007/pdf/19743.pdf
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat
through Food, Agriculture and Natural Resoucres (FANR)
Directorate presented the SADC Harmonnised Seed Regulatory
System to SADC FANR Ministers at a meeting held on 29th June
2007 in Lusaka, Zambia.
At this meeting Ministers noted
that Senior Officials of Agriculture at their meeting of 18-19
September 2006 agreed to harmonise the Seed Regulatory System.
The system comprises the following:
- SADC Variety Release
System – The main feature of this system is that seed of any
new variety that has been tested and released in two SADC
Member States, and listed in the SADC Common Catalogue,
shall be allowed to be marketed in any SADC Member State
with similar agro-ecological regions without any more
testing. Currently new varieties of seed have to be tested
for at least 2 - 4 years before they can be considered for
release. In the proposed system, new and existing varieties
of crops will gain access to SADC countries quickly since
the restrictions imposed by the current national
legislations on variety testing and release will no longer
be valid. Implementation of the SADC variety release system
will increase the number of varieties available to farmers,
promote investment into the seed sector, and will make it
easier and cheaper for Seed Companies to introduce seed
varieties in other SADC Member States.
- SADC Seed Certification
and Quality Assurance System – Variations in the
certification and quality assurance systems among Member
States makes it difficult to compare the quality and classes
of seed between countries. It also increases the cost of
seed when traded across borders because of the need to
establish the quality of the seed based on the importing
country’s standards. The seed certification and quality
assurance system will reduce costs and promote seed trade
through production and sale of consistently high quality
seed using common terminologies, standards, procedures,
seals and labels throughout the region. The system will have
the following seed certification classes: Breeder Seed,
Pre-basic seed, Basic Seed, Certified Seed (1st Generation),
Certified Seed (2nd Generation) and Quality Declared Seed.
Seed traded in the region will have to meet the minimum
laboratory standards as formulated under the System.
- SADC Phytosanitary
Measures for Seed System – The system proposes the use of
common quarantine and phytosanitary measures as well as a
rationalised pest list to guide the safe movement of seed
between Member States and also from outside SADC. This will
be supported by science-based common standards and
procedures as well as efficient phystosanitary documentation
based on the rationalised pest list.
At this meeting Ministers also
noted that when the system is adopted, Member States will have
to amend their national legislations in order to accommodate the
SADC Harmonised Seed Regulatory System.
At this meeting Ministers also
noted that before the SADC Harmonised Seed Regulatory System can
be effected in Member States, all the countries will be required
to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will facilitate
the implementation of the system. To this effect, a draft MOU
has been produced by the Secretariat which will be finalized
after receiving inputs from Member States.
Ministers further noted that the
SADC Secretariat is also developing a framework of Plant
Breeders’ Rights legislation, which will be used by Member
States to develop their own and enact such legislation.
Ministers directed SADC
Secretariat to ensure that issues of genetic piracy are
addressed through the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
and Breeders Rights. The MoU will be circulated to Member States
for approval at the next meeting.
At this meeting Ministers approved
the SADC Harmonised Seed Regulatory System, comprising the
following:
i) SADC Variety Release
System
ii) SADC Seed Certification System
iii) SADC Phytosanitary for Seed System
Ministers also encouraged Member
States to increase investment in the seed sector and promote the
use of quality seeds at subsidised prices.
Ministers urged Member States to
amend their national legislation in line with the SADC
Harmonised Seed Regulatory System. Ministers refered the SADC
Harmonised Seed Regulatory System to Council for approval.
Source:
http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2007/pdf/19743.pdf |
