NEWSLETTER OECD Seed Schemes

July 2010 ISSUE 3

Meeting of the Ministers noted that recent Committee for developments have brought a number of issues and questions Agriculture at confronting the global food and Ministerial Level agriculture system into clear focus. In February 2010, Ministers of Agriculture from the OECD’s 30 Strong growth in demand for feed, member countries and those from food and non-food uses of

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Estonia, agricultural raw materials, Indonesia Israel, Slovenia, the alongside persistent global food Contents Russian Federation, South Africa security issues; climate change, and Romania and representatives exacerbated by increasing • Meeting of the Committee from the EU, the FAO and the competition for land, water and for Agriculture at Ministerial WTO met in Paris around the other resources; price volatility; Level theme “Food and Agricultural opportunities for “green growth”. Policies for a Sustainable • 2010 Annual Meeting of the Future; Responding to Global With potential economic and OECD Seed Schemes Challenges and Opportunities”. environmental benefits; growing This meeting brought together interest in the manner in which • OECD welcomes Chile, Ministers and senior policy- food is produced; food related Estonia, Israel and Slovenia makers from countries that health concerns; a renewed together account for a large emphasis on innovation, efficient • Training on Industry proportion of the world’s resource use and productivity Development in Iraq production and consumption of growth, in both developed and food and agricultural products. developing countries, including • Emerging Global Wheat the production of renewable Rust Threats: The Role of FAO energies such as bioenergy on a viable economic and • ISF Conference on AP and environmentally sustainable basis. LLP: Impact on the International Seed Trade The essential role of trade in ensuring a sustainable and reliable • ESA: Times of change – flow of food and raw materials. Europe’s seed industry faces

radical overhaul of EU rules From left: Nikolaus Berlakovich The Ministerial meeting agreed and policies (Austria), Minister and co-chair; Angel that a deeper understanding of the Gurría, OECD Secretary-General; David nature, extent, and implications of • 39th Session of the Specialised Carter (New Zealand), Minister and co- these issues for the sector and for Section on Standardization of chair; Ken Ash, Director, OECD Trade public policy choices is required Seed Potatoes of the UNECE and Agriculture Directorate and invited the OECD to explore these issues further over the medium and longer term, in cooperation with national

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governments and other relevant 2010 Annual Meeting of Version of the Rules will apply international organisations. the OECD Seed Schemes from January 2011.

Finally, it was concluded that the Guidelines for Control Plot Tests The Annual Meeting of the OECD task for Ministers and members of and Field Inspection of Seed Seed Schemes took place on 25 their governments, is to ensure Crops and 26 March 2010 in that the regulations, the The Guidelines for control plot Christchurch, New Zealand. The institutions and the policies are in test and field inspection are primary purpose was to discuss place to enable farmers and the intended to address the methods issues relating to the Varietal entire food system to supply safe used to determine varietal identity Certification of Seed Moving in nutritious food to where it is and varietal purity and consist of International Trade. The meeting needed, respond to various procedures which are advisory to was highlighted by the following societal and consumer demands, National Designated Authorities new documents and a Workshop and act as custodians of our (NDA). The last issue of the on Seed Certification in Asia. natural resources. In parallel, guidelines was published in 2001 careful monitoring and analysis of and has been identified by Compact Version of the Seed progress would be essential. With delegates as a very useful tool. Schemes Rules this in mind, Ministers agreed to The Technical Working Group The aim of the “Compact come together again at OECD, not meeting in 2007 decided that the Version” of the Seed Schemes later than mid-decade, to take guidelines needed to be revised, Rules is to streamline the existing stock of progress. updated and complemented, in rules in a more user friendly order to keep abreast of new layout. The revision has been The Seed Schemes, through its developments. carried out in order to reduce programme of work, already deal with a number of key issues duplication, without making any identified by the Ministerial substantive changes to the rules. Meeting. The countries participating in the Schemes have set up harmonized procedures for production, processing and trade of seed. More specifically, the adoption of OECD seed certification standards has encouraged the growth in the seed trade by reducing the technical barriers to trade and by increasing access by farmers to high-quality seed in all regions of the world. After several years of discussion and revisions, the Guidelines were adopted at the 2010 Annual This has been done by taking the Meeting. The brochure will be common texts from each of the published in September 2010. seed schemes (excluding Vegetables) and putting them Guidelines for Multiplication together in a single part of the Abroad Rules, applicable to all Schemes. The purpose of the Guidelines for Therefore, all rules and conditions multiplication abroad is to identify present in the 2010 Rules shall be responsibilities of each party in the identifiable in the new compacted seed multiplication process, version, either in the section on starting with the NDA of the Left to right: Nikolaus Berlakovich, information applicable to all Austria’s Agriculture Minister, Angel country of registration, the NDA Gurría, OECD Secretary-General and schemes or on specific pages of of the country of multiplication, David Carter, Agriculture Minister, New the schemes. The new Compact the company sending the seed, and Zealand. Paris 25.02.2010.

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the company conducting OECD member countries, multiplication. candidate countries and enhanced engagement countries, all of these The work on multiplication abroad countries are already members of started in 2007 in the form of an the Schemes, with exception of Ad-Hoc Working Group (AHWG) Korea, China and Indonesia. consisted of experts dealing Therefore, the Workshop on Seed regularly with multiplication Certification in Asia was held in issues. The primary aim of the order to get these countries AHWG was to set up rules on involved in the Schemes. multiplication abroad, but the idea of having guidelines was seen as being very important. The OECD welcomes Chile, Guidelines will be published in Estonia, Israel and September 2010. Slovenia

During the annual Council meeting at Ministerial Level, held on 27 May 2010, OECD countries welcomed four new members: Chile, which joined the Left to right: Andrus Ansip, Prime Organisation on 7 May 2010, Minister of Estonia; Felipe Larrain, Slovenia, which joined the Minister of Finance of Chile; Benjamin Organisation on 21 July 2010, Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel; Estonia and Israel, which OECD Silvio Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy; Borut Pahor, Prime Minister of Slovenia countries agreed on 10 May 2010 and Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of to invite as members. The the OECD. remaining candidate country, Russian Federation, is still in the process of accession.

These accessions are part of a Training on industry Workshop on Seed Certification broader process of global outreach development in Iraq in Asia through which OECD is As part of the Annual Meeting, a strengthening its collaboration The Dutch General Inspection Workshop on Seed Certification in with emerging and developing Service for agricultural seeds and Asia was held on 26 March 2010. economies, and strategically seed potatoes, NAK, organized a Presentations were made by engage with them through 10-day “train the trainer” course delegates from Japan, India regional activities on Middle East for the seed industry development (current members of the Seed and North Africa, Latin America, in Iraq. The training was Schemes), Indonesia, Korea Southeast Asia and Africa. This organised on behalf of the FAO, (potential applicant countries) and process also includes the and was held at NAK in the president of the Asia Pacific Enhanced Engagement process Emmeloord, the Netherlands. Seed Association. The purpose of with Brazil, China, India, the Workshop was to get a better Indonesia and South Africa. The training was attended by nine understanding of the different Iraqi employees from the seed systems for seed certification and Being a Part II Programme of the testing staff, field inspection staff trade in Asia and evaluate the use OECD, membership of the Seed and growers, together they and value of the OECD Seed Schemes is not only open to covered the whole seed supply Schemes in the Region. It could OECD member countries, but also chain. The goal was to up-date the also encourage greater to non OECD countries. knowledge of the trainees on seed participation in the Schemes from Currently, 58 participants from sampling, purity, germination, Asian countries. around the world participate in the moisture determination, Seed Schemes. Remarkably, it can Tetrazolium, seed health and be observed that from the 32

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quality management and to enable Emerging Global Wheat are now recognized in the Ug99 them to train their own staff in Rust Threats: The Role lineage within Africa. These Iraq. Also investigated, was variants generally exhibit whether the laboratories comply of FAO increased virulence compared to with the ISTA rules for seed Ug99. The Ug99 lineage now By Thomas Osborn, Agricultural Officer, testing and the ISTA accreditation Plant Production and Protection Division threatens the Near East, Eastern standard, and advice was given on Africa and Central and South Asia. how to improve their own Many of the OECD Seed Scheme These regions account for some 37 situation. The scope concerned the members are wheat producers percent of global wheat full range of crops and species and exporters. Wheat is grown on production, and wheat is the staple that are cultivated in Iraq. more than 200 million hectares of food crop for most of the countries land worldwide and is a source of in these regions. On average wheat This training is part of a project to food and livelihoods for over one provides 40 percent of the per improve food security and billion people in developing capita calorie supply, and it is nutrition for the Iraqi people with countries. Plant disease had always especially important to the diets of increased domestic production of placed constraints on wheat the most vulnerable. An estimated vegetable crops. This will be production. Exacerbated by 80% of commercial wheat brought about by the use of climatic stress, especially in cultivars are considered improved seeds, and locally rainfed areas, the impact of susceptible to Ug99; the risk that it adapted varieties of the major disease is expected to increase. By could cause serious epidemics is vegetable crops, by rehabilitation eliciting additional losses in yield, very real. In Kenya, where Ug99 of the infrastructure in the disease causes wheat prices to has become well established, field government research centres and increase, in turn creating trials have shown resulting yield by enhancing seed production and additional challenges for losses of up to 80 percent on quality control capacity. vulnerable, wheat-reliant susceptible varieties. Moreover, populations. the cost of a 10 percent loss in The training included practical areas immediately at risk is sessions and demonstrations, estimated to exceed USD 7 billion. lecturing and visits to areas of seed quality control activities in In addition to the re-emergence of the Netherlands. The training stem rust as a threat to wheat provided the Iraqi trainees a wider production, global yellow rust knowledge of regulations, seed epidemiology is changing testing and reporting of results. dramatically. Since 2000, two closely related strains of yellow Website: www.nak.nl rust are now causing serious epidemics across several

FAO data - Year 2008 - Millions of metric continents. These new strains are tons of wheat produced per annum more aggressive (producing two to three times more spores per day Throughout recorded history, rusts than older strains) and adapted to have always been the most warmer temperatures. This economically damaging diseases temperature adaptation is highly affecting wheat. However, several significant, as it is permitting the new emerging threats from rusts colonization of areas in which are of particular concern. The yellow rust was previously virulent strain of wheat stem rust unknown as a serious economic disease known as Ug99 has disease of wheat. There are also emerged from East Africa and new races of yellow rust spreading spread quickly across borders. which are virulent to Yr27 (a key Ug99 reached the Islamic Republic resistance gene in much of the of Iran in 2007 and now has also CWANA region that has replaced been found in the Republic of Yr9 after the famous global South Africa. The pathogen is also epidemics in the 80 and 90’s). changing rapidly; seven variants Regional breakdown of this gene

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was reported from South Asia in systematically reducing the Programme countries on the status 2002-2004, and favorable world’s vulnerability to stem, and threats posed by wheat rusts. conditions have been inductive to yellow, and leaf rusts of wheat and The events fostered inter- epidemics in several Near East and advocating/facilitating the institutional cooperation and Central Asia countries in 2009 and evolution of a sustainable exchange of information at both 2010. international system to contain the the national and regional levels to threat of wheat rusts and continue enhance the countries’ the enhancements in productivity preparedness and capacities to required to withstand future global prevent and manage the spread of threats to wheat. The partners in wheat rust diseases. the BGRI include CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICAR, Cornell In the area of surveillance, the University, FAO and a network of foundation of the Global Cereal scientists and national agricultural Rust Monitoring System, namely research institutes around the databases, applications and a web- world. CIMMYT, ICARDA and based information portal for the Cornell University have focused dissemination of surveillance and mainly on breeding for resistant monitoring information, were varieties and other pathology created at FAO Headquarters research aspects and disease (www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/ru surveillance. Using additional st/stem/en/). At national level, resources, FAO developed its support and training in wheat rust Wheat Rust Diseases Global field survey and race analysis Programme, to complement the were extended to researchers and work of the BGRI and national plant protection technical officers partners. The Programme covers from several countries. around 30 countries and is Laboratories and greenhouses for focusing on the following aspects race analysis are being upgraded to counter the threat of wheat rust: in five priority countries. (i) support to national policy for preparedness and contingency Capacity building of the planning; (ii) enhancement of national seed sectors was surveillance, global monitoring initiated to strengthen the fast- and information sharing systems, track release, seed multiplication including virulence tracking; and distribution systems of wheat (iii) enhancement of national rust resistant varieties. Seed wheat varietal registration multiplication facilities are also programmes for the quick release under physical upgrading in five of resistant varieties; priority countries. At community (iv) enhancement of seed systems level, season-long participatory for quick multiplication and training using the Farmer Field distribution of quality seeds of School approach was organised in resistant varieties; and Pakistan and several farmers (v) improvement of wheat rust groups facilitated by national management at the field level researchers and extension officers through participatory farmer initiated their participatory field training to reduce risk and improve experimentation work in Yemen yields under local farming to test best management practices Many international and national conditions. on wheat rust control and wheat organizations have come together productivity enhancement. to coordinate their work under the FAO together with its partners “Borlaug Global Rust Initiative organised global, regional and As a result of these activities, the (BGRI)”, founded by the late Dr. national advocacy events to raise Governments of some countries N.E. Borlaug. The BGRI has the awareness of over 150 key policy- have already taken independent overarching objective of makers and researchers from the actions in the context of country

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preparedness to prevent and for seeds and commodities that targeted were very well presented manage wheat rusts and can be used as seed when low and explained. requested further FAO technical level of biotech material, with assistance. approval for cultivation in at least Two speakers illustrated the one country but not in the country situations and the perceptions that In conclusion OECD Seed of import, is found. may be experienced in the field Scheme members need to crops or in the vegetables sector, maintain vigilance regarding the The first session was aimed to respectively. The speed and the threat of wheat rusts. The seed provide the participants with an frequency of international scheme may be a useful way to update on the global use of plant movement of commodities and move wheat rust resistance biotechnology and what is in the produce as well as of seed, add varieties between countries since pipeline of events and crops. In complexity to the scenario. In resistant varieties are the best 2009 approximately 14 million both cases it has been pointed out way to counter this threat. farmers in 25 countries grew GM that there is a need for a global crops on 137 million hectares. The policy in order to maintain the Website: first presenter stated that to date international trade of seed and www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/en/ close to 40 GM events have been help the seed industry perform its approved for commercialization activities and fulfil market and it is foreseen that in 2015 demands. Risk assessment and there will be more than 120 events the definition of reasonable ISF Conference on AP available for cultivation thresholds have been indicated as and LLP: Impact on the worldwide. the tools that governments may International Seed Trade adopt to maintain the trade of Another speaker discussed on seed. Acceptance of GM crops has By Piero Sismondo, Director, Seed distinctions between food, feed been analyzed and found non Technology and Trade and seed as far as AP and LLP is uniform in different regions of the concerned and pointed out that it world causing difficulties in the More than 120 representatives of is becoming more and more commercialization of fresh food the seed industry participated to difficult (if not impossible) to items. the Conference on Adventitious work for the concept of “zero and Low Level Presence of GM tolerance” or zero presence of a The seed industry was invited to in seed. This event was organized GM trait in farming products. He explain how it is equipped to by the International Seed warned the audience that if this manage all production phases in Federation (ISF) and was held on situation persists, the prices that order to comply with the June 3rd in Calgary, in countries that enforce this regulations using systems and conjunction with the World Seed measure will have to pay will information resources available, Congress 2010. In the full day increase exponentially. Also he such as the OECD Seed event, during 3 sessions, 12 mentioned that the system of Schemes, AOSCA guidelines, speakers covered a broad range of testing upon arrival creates a lot ISTA standards and protocols aspects and specific issues that an of delays and extra costs to and the ASTA Seed Quality unintended presence of a GM trait exporters and is always subject to Manual. The participants were may have on the activity of the the risk of AP. As an alternative exposed to what are the operating global seed industry. he suggested moving from testing procedures of a seed company that to verification of the production can assure the respect of stringent The opening note indicated the process. quality standards and what are the main goals of the Conference. It appropriate methods that may be explained in detail the terms AP The third speaker informed about used for testing and detecting AP and LLP which are commonly international efforts that are being in seed. The importance of the used in trade and set the goals of developed especially by the standards that are set as well as of the Conference. Also, it reported OECD Working Group on the the sample that will be used for about the project that is being Harmonisation of Regulatory determining quality compliance of developed in OECD to provide Oversight in Biotechnology. In seed was pointed out. general guidance to regulatory few slides, the scope of this authorities on appropriate project as well as the actions The importance of testing was elements of a safety assessment already taken and objectives discussed mentioning all the

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advantages and disadvantages of represents one of the most appears as the only alternative for different analytical methods and important players in the world for China to being able to feed its explanations of when one method production of seed on a regular population. Both public and is better adapted than another for a basis and for the offseason private sector are very active in specific objective. A very production for other regions. research and breeding activities important aspect that was stressed for developing new varieties that is that seed is neither food nor Europe is in a very good situation will support the growth of this feed: the value of a small sample from a regulatory standpoint since huge country; there are today 8 to be tested may be of very high there is a Directive providing species approved for cultivation in value (for example a parent line of guidance in the deliberate release China: cotton, tomato, pepper, a hybrid vegetable) and therefore and cultivation of GM crops, two petunia, poplar, papaya, rice and it is extremely important to define Regulations supporting corn. the appropriate size of the sample. traceability and labelling of food After speaking of the importance and feed, indicating threshold The conference was successful in of harmonization at international levels, and guidelines for raising the level of awareness in level and of monitoring the coexistence. But from a practical the industry on adventitious performance of seed laboratories view, Europe has not been able to presence and provided clarity on the concept of performance accept the evaluation of products the difference between based approach testing was based on science made by its adventitious presence and low- introduced: it represents a step official Agency, has not been able level presence. As a threshold of forward in the aim of facilitation to issue authorisations for ‘zero’ was impractical there was of the international seed trade. cultivation and to agree on industry-wide consensus that a thresholds and is not ready yet to pragmatic approach to During the third session, several accept LLP of GMOs approved adventitious presence was presentations explained the for cultivation and use in third imperative. To avoid trade different approaches that have countries. The speaker concluded disruptions caused by a patchwork been adopted in different regions that the seed industry asks the EU of regulatory procedures, the of the world in order to support to reach reliable authorisation industry called for a policy the development of both processes respecting timelines and framework that was global and conventional and genetically based on science, to develop an practical to implement. engineered crops. enabling policy that is practical and to give to breeders freedom to A conclusive panel discussion has In Australia acceptance of GM is operate and to farmers freedom to consolidated final considerations mixed, but the Australian choose. and suggested action items. The Government recognized the seed industry needs to aim for a increased production of GM crops China is currently faced with global and integrated approach; worldwide and moved to important challenges: population it should come to common understand and manage the risk growth: 1/5 of the world understanding of wording and with the cooperation of the population with only 6% of the consistency in its use: it should Australian Seed Federation. The world cultivated land; agricultural choose for either AP or LLP or industry responded by developing land reduction: in 2008, farmland at least define the differences a Best Practice Guide to was about 121.7 million hectares, between AP and LLP. The Management of AP in Canola. In which is about 12.2 million concept of “zero tolerance” Chile coexistence between GMO hectares less than 1978, with an should be expanded: a presence and Non-GMO seed activities is annual reduction of 0.39 million of impurities at “zero” level is not not only possible but successful; hectares on average; climate possible in nature and this should the Chilean experience has proven change and water shortage: water be broadly accepted, especially by it for more than 15 years. A resources pro capita are only 1/4 the authorities. Next step will be comprehensive overview of the of the world average; the average to work on developing the situation in this country was made farmland pro capita is 1.00ha, acceptance of a threshold: and an interesting demonstration which is 40% of the world without threshold, it would be of the method for tracing all the average and it is forecast that, in difficult to make progress. A production sites based on use of 2010, farmland pro capita will possibility may be to examine if the GPS was given. With its decrease to 0.93ha. In this existing quality assurance geographical situation, Chile scenario, the choice for GM crops testing can be used, e.g. OECD

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varietal purity levels. Also, it is With the decision of Commission material, e.g. regarding DUS and advisable to seek for a better President Barroso to transfer the VCU testing and certification and communication within the seed responsibility for GM related possibilities for differentiation of industry and between industry and legislation from DG ENVI to DG obligations in relation to the regulators with the objective of SANCO, we certainly hoped that importance of the crop will be looking at regional solutions for this would be the beginning of a discussed. ESA wants to assure global opportunities. Public more practical and pro-active that the principles of the acceptance should be a priority policy approach that would result legislation which are well that may help to find a way to in the setting of appropriate established and trusted by continue working for the thresholds for adventitious breeders, seed producers and evolution and development of the presence of GMOs in seed of farmers all across Europe will not seed industry, respecting all conventional varieties. Judging be hampered by the desire to parties, keeping the balance and from a first analysis of the new please a few, albeit very vocal allowing coexistence of all. Coexistence Guideline and the interest groups outside of the proposed change to the legislation farming community. for authorisation of GMOs for Website: www.worldseed.org cultivation (where competence Directly linked to the evaluation

shall be entirely transferred to of the seed marketing legislation Member States), both published is a similar exercise for Europe’s Times of change – on July 13th, it seems that the Plant Health regime. Here, the Europe’s seed industry needs of the seed sector are again result of the evaluation will be neglected. ESA will do its best to presented at a large scale faces radical overhaul of obtain improvements of the conference in fall where first ideas EU rules and policies proposals to finally achieve the for a revision will be put forward. much needed legal (and with that With an ever increasing exchange By Garlich von Essen, Secretary General economic) certainty for its of plant breeding material and ESA membership. Realism and seed all around the word, the leadership are needed to convince industry’s interest is twofold: the public that an acceptance of effective rules and procedures to GM presence is a precondition for assure that the spread of harmful achieving coexistence and organisms is either avoided or freedom of choice for all. Here, properly controlled – and a regime ESA also sees a strong role for that takes account of the OECD and we are committed to specificities of the seed sector, its continue our contribution to the high value material and the high discussions with the OECD’s frequency of movements between Committee on Regulatory countries and regions. Here, ESA Oversight for Biotechnology via also works closely with IPPC and the International Seed Federation national governments to improve ISF. international rules and procedures to these effects. Next to the discussion on the future policy for GMOs, the Another very important subject, ongoing work on the Better maybe the most important one, is Regulation initiative aiming at a the work on an update of ESA’s A new Commission, new policy modernisation and simplification Position on Intellectual responsibilities and - with the of Europe’s seed marketing Property. Following a conference entry into force of the Lisbon legislation will keep ESA busy in in April, ESA is now defining its Treaty - important changes in the the coming years. Moving from approach to the various aspects of regulatory environment marked the first evaluation to the IP protection based on the guiding the start of the year 2010 for the implementation of the respective principles of the need for access to European Union and with that also Commission Action Plan, more genetic resources for further for ESA, the European Seed detailed studies on some aspects breeding and the importance of a Association. of the future regulatory strong stimulus for innovation and framework for seed and planting appropriate protection of such

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innovations. Again, this is not a the European Union and Europatat The Standard theoretical or academic debate. (the European Association of The current strategy of the The European Commission has potato producers) were also Specialized Section comprises: (a) just launched its evaluation of the present. continuing activities to update and current legal framework for the develop further the Standard to Community Plant Breeders’ The United Nation Economic reflect the technological and Rights and the seed industry must Commission for Europe scientific developments assure that its voice is heard and UNECE is one of the five regional concerning production and its needs are well understood and commissions of the United certification of seed potatoes; and accepted in the following political Nations. Its primary goal is to (b) worldwide promotion of the debate. encourage greater economic Standard as a global reference and cooperation among its 56 Member its implementation in different It is obvious: the legal and States. However, all interested parts of the world. political but foremost the societal United Nations Member States framework in which the seed may participate in its work. Over There are many similarities industry operates is changing. And 70 international professional between the UNECE Standard and it is changing fast. It is a huge organizations and other non- the OECD Seed Schemes, challenge for the industry to governmental organizations take although it is of evidence that contribute to all the evaluations part in UNECE activities. The phytosanitary issues are of key (and later on contribute to the standards set by UNECE aim at importance for seed potatoes. As a political decision making and facilitating fair international trade matter of fact, the UNECE regulatory developments) in a and preventing technical barriers Standard covers requirements timely and effective manner. But to trade, improving producers' concerning varietal identity and it is also a great opportunity for profitability and encouraging purity, genealogy and traceability, the seed sector to help shape its production of high-quality diseases and pests, external own regulatory environment and produce, protecting consumer quality and physiology, sizing and with that its own future. It is now interests. The Standard for Seed labelling. As a consequence, the that we have to sow the seeds for Potatoes is one of the about Standard considers issues falling a good future for plant breeding! hundred standards, drawn up by under the WTO-TBT agreement UNECE. Other standards are as well as under the WTO-SPS Website: www.euroseeds.org developed for fresh fruit and agreement. vegetables, dry and dried produce, meat products, eggs and egg Recent developments products, and cut flowers. At its March 2010 session the Governments use the Specialized Section agreed on The 39th Session of the internationally agreed UNECE several important amendments Specialised Section on standards to set their commercial and improvements to the Standardization of Seed rules. Regarding seed potatoes the Standard, such as: (i) the inclusion Potatoes of the United UNECE Standard was used as a of the definition of rots in annex basis for the marketing directives VII to the Standard; (ii) the update Nations Economic regulating the internal market of of the list of Diseases and Pests to Commission for Europe the EU. Recently the Russian cover dry and wet/soft rots and (UNECE) Federation has made use of the images to illustrate them; (iii) the UNECE Standard to update the extension of annex III to cover By Pier Giacomo Bianchi and Serguei national seed potato certification internal defects, including tuber Malanitchev (1) scheme. An increasing number of moth; (iv) the inclusion of a new countries are also using the annex on international dispute th The 39 Session of the UNECE Specialized Section as a settlement; (v) the inclusion of Specialised Section on Forum for discussing seed potato field inspection procedures in Standardization of Seed Potatoes topics of common interest and for annex II; (vi) the inclusion of of the United Nations Economic agreeing on recommended post-harvest evaluation Commission for Europe (UNECE) practices of cultivation and procedures in annex IV. took place in Geneva in March certification of seed potatoes. 2010. Representatives of 19 countries attended the meeting;

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The Specialized Section also discussion papers on statistical formulated its position regarding comparability of the post-harvest blackleg of seed potatoes: evaluation results, on internal defects caused by low • Blackleg occurrence in seed temperatures, on practices in potato crops is an important cutting tubers for internal defects indicator of quality. In the during inspection, on crop rotation UNECE Standard for Seed practices, reproductive cycles and Potatoes, strict tolerances for Silver scurf. The delegates will blackleg in the growing crop also update information on and at lot inspection Promotion national certification schemes. underpin, as part of the rot The Specialized Section decided tolerance, the control of this to carry out an experimental For more information please visit: disease in certified seed. demonstration trial in 2010 in the www.unece.org/trade/agr/welcom • Disease expression in the Russian Federation to show how e.htm progeny crop is not always the Standard can be used in (1) directly related to either practice to control the quality of Chairman and Secretary of the UNECE inspection findings or seed potatoes for certification. Specialised Section on Standardisation of seed potatoes

bacterial loading in mother The Specialized Section will tubers. This is due to the importance of the hold a regional workshop for environmental and Asian countries in Bandung, agronomic influences in the Indonesia, from 18 to 22 October epidemiology of this disease. 2010. The purpose of the For articles to be included in However, regular inspections workshop, to which about 20 the next edition, remain an effective tool to countries have been invited, is to please contact Isabelle Braud limit the spread of the promote the practical application E-mail: disease. of the Standard in that part of the [email protected] world. This event will be Tel : +33 1 45 24 95 13 • Conditions which favour organised back-to-back with the blackleg, particularly meeting of the Extended Bureau excessive moisture and in of the Specialized Section, which the case of Dickeya, high will allow participants to learn temperatures, can lead to more about the work of the spread of the disease. For the Section and to participate in its time being, enforcing strict substantive work on the tolerances at certification Standard. continues to be the best available regulatory Similar regional events were mechanism to control organised in 2008 in Kyslovodsk blackleg in marketed seed (Russian Federation) for the potatoes. former Soviet Union republics • Good agronomic practices, and in 2009 in Cairo for such as forced ventilation Northern A immediately after harvest, frica and Middle East countries. removal of diseased tubers prior to planting, allowing Future work mother tubers to fully The planned future activities of deteriorate prior to harvest, the Specialized Section include: are all important in blackleg the preparation of a questionnaire control. on varietal identity and purity;

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