Paris, France
July 2010

The following three criteria namely; distinctness, uniformity and stability are used for defining crop varieties and form the basis for agricultural seed development and trade. Identification and minimum purity criteria are important components of sustainability, especially in the case of hybridisation and genetic modifications. For forest reproductive material reliability depends on several factors including local identification, regions or provinces, selection and breeding.

The OECD Seed Schemes were developed in the late 1950s to regulate international exchanges, as well as “counter season” multiplication of seed, particularly between the northern and southern hemispheres. They are implemented by 58 member and non-member countries across all continents. In essence, the Schemes attempt to harmonise certification with a view to facilitating international trade in agricultural seeds. 200 species, including all the basic staples and over 43 000 varieties appear on the latest OECD List of Varieties Eligible for Certification. Among the emerging issues are the role of government in the control and testing of seeds, the accreditation of authorised private field inspectors and laboratories, the impact of biotechnology and advanced breeding methods on seed certification, the certification of seed mixtures (herbage species, hybrid maize, swede rape), rules for hybrid cotton and hybrid grass seed, and the issue of seed lot size and homogeneity. A Strategic Plan was approved in 2009.

Under the broad mandate to assess the current and future needs of international certification, the “Working Group on Varietal Purity and Varietal Identity” established in 2006 have started to develop new definitions and procedures to be introduced into the Schemes.

A new OECD Scheme for the Certification of Forest Reproductive Material was introduced in June 2007. This new Scheme clarifies the terminology and improves the rules relating to the “Source-identified” and “Selected” categories (forest seed stands and sources). The Scheme is implemented by 25 countries. Discussions on the more “advanced” forest reproductive material continue for a possible future extension of the Scheme to cover them at the international level.

Future events:

• Technical Working Group Meetings and Extended Advisory Group Meeting (16-19 November 2010, OECD Conference Centre)
• Annual Meeting of National Designated Authorities/Agricultural Seed (9-13 May 2011, Istanbul - Turkey)
• Annual Meeting of National Designated Authorities/Forest Reproductive Material (28-30 September 2010, OECD Conference Centre)

Recent Publications:

• List of Varieties Eligible for Seed Certification 2010
• OECD Seed Schemes “2010” (Rules and Directives)
• Guidelines for the Authorisation of some certification activities under the OECD Seed Schemes “2008”
• OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme “2009”

Web sites: www.oecd.org/tad/seed, www.oecd.org/tad/forest
Contacts: Michael Ryan, Katarina Djermanovic, Csaba Gaspar

Website: http://www.oecd.org

Published: July 8, 2010