Decision of the Council Revising the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade 8 OECD Legal Instruments This document is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. It reproduces an OECD Legal Instrument and may contain additional material. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in the additional material do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. This document, as well as any data and any map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. Note by Turkey The information in this document with reference to “Cyprus” relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Turkey recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). 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The only official versions are the English and French texts available on the OECD website http://legalinstruments.oecd.org" _____________________________________________________________________________________________OECD/LEGAL/0308 3 Background Information The Decision Revising the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade was adopted by the OECD Council on 28 September 2000 on the proposal of the Committee for Agriculture. The Decision establishes a common set of basic principles and methods of operation for the seven groups of species constituting the OECD Seed Schemes. The objectives of the Schemes are to encourage the use of seed of consistently high quality in Adherent countries. The Schemes authorise the use of labels and certificates for seed produced and processed for international trade according to agreed principles ensuring varietal identity and purity.The Schemes facilitate the import and export of seed, by the removal of technical barriers to trade through internationally recognised labels (“passports” for trade). They also lay down guidelines for seed multiplication abroad, as well as for the delegation of some control activities to the private sector (“authorisation”). The COVID-19 crisis created specific problems for the seed sector due to the reduced availability and increased cost of transport, shortage of personnel, and a contraction in the market for plants and seeds. Despite these challenges, the international seed production and distribution system remained resilient thanks to the efforts of governments and stakeholders in the seed value chain. In order to continue to maintain sufficient seed supply during the crisis, governments and national designated authorities (NDAs) need to continue to implement specific measures. The classification of the agriculture sector as “essential” is important for the continued movement of seed and for employees to carry on their work. Avoiding changes to the regulatory framework and technical barriers to trade is critical at a time when the relevant authorities are short staffed and under pressure. The maintenance of seed quality is important to ensure good crop production and high yields. As such, instead of introducing derogative measures to the Decision, NDAs are allowing its flexible implementation. Communication, collaboration and harmonisation of measures among the relevant national authorities and border controls is critical. For more information, see : Policy responses to COVID-19 in the seed sector _____________________________________________________________________________________________4 OECD/LEGAL/0308 THE COUNCIL, HAVING REGARD to Article 5 a) and c) of the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 14 December 1960; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 10 October l988 Revising the OECD Scheme for the Varietal Certification of Herbage and Oil Seed Moving in International Trade [C(88)68(Final)], amended on 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 19 May 1992 [C(92)53/FINAL], 2 December 1993 [C(93)119/FINAL], 27 December 1993 [C(93)120/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL], 16 December 1996 [C(96)173/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 10 October l988 Revising the OECD Scheme for the Varietal Certification of Cereal Seed Moving in International Trade [C(88)69(Final)], amended on 24 September 1990 [C(90)80/FINAL], 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 10 October l988 Revising the OECD Scheme for the Varietal Certification of Sugar Beet and Fodder Beet Seed Moving in International Trade [C(88)66(Final)], amended on 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 10 October 1988 Revising the OECD Scheme for the Varietal Certification of Seed of Subterranean Clover and Similar Species Moving in International Trade [C(88)70(Final)], amended on 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 10 October 1988 Revising the OECD Scheme for the Varietal Certification of Maize and Sorghum Seed Moving in International Trade [C(88)67(Final)], amended on 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 3 June 1993 [C(93)51/FINAL], 2 December 1993 [C(93)121/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 16 March 1971 Establishing the OECD Scheme for the Control of Vegetable Seed Moving in International Trade [C(71)31(Final)], amended on 24 October 1974 [C(74)197], 24 June 1976 [C(76)133], 14 June 1977 [C(77)121], 19 March 1991 [C(91)19/FINAL], 20 July 1995 [C(95)113/FINAL], 14 September 1995 [C(95)161/FINAL] and 13 July 1999 [C(99)70/FINAL]; HAVING REGARD to the Decision of the Council of 28 September 2000 Revising the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade [C(2000)146/FINAL and C/M(2000)22/PROV], as amended 22 June 2001 [C(2001)101 and C/M(2001)14/PROV, C(2001)100 and C/M(2001)14/PROV], 29 November 2001 [C(2001)264 and C/M(2001)23/PROV, C(2001)266 and C/M(2001)23/PROV, C(2001)265 and C/M(2001)23/PROV], 22 January 2002 [C(2001)288 and C/M(2002)2/PROV], 26 February 2003 [C(2003)18 and C/M(2003)4/PROV], 1 April 2003 [C(2003)23 and C/M(2003)8/PROV], 4 June 2004 [C(2004)97 and C/M(2004)14/PROV], 24 January 2005 [C(2004)210 and C/M(2005)2/PROV], 29 April 2005 [C(2005)38 and C/M(2005)12/PROV], 21 December 2005 [C(2005)170 and C/M(2006)1/PROV, C(2005)169 and C/M(2006)1/PROV, C(2005)171 and C/M(2006)1/PROV], 14 April 2006 [C(2006)53 and C/M(2006)8/PROV], 11 May 2006 [C(2006)71 and C/M(2006)9/PROV, C(2006)75 and C/M(2006)11/PROV], 30 March 2007 [C(2007)12 and C/M(2007)5/PROV], 14 November 2007 [C(2007)122 and C/M(2007)15/PROV, C(2007)123 and C/M(2007)15/PROV], 29 November 2007 [C(2007)128 and C/M(2007)17/PROV], 16 October 2008 [C(2008)120 and C/M(2008)18/PROV], 23 October 2008 [C(2008)150 and C/M(2008)19/PROV, C(2008)151 and C/M(2008)19/PROV], 30 October 2008 [TAD/CA(2008)17], 10 November 2008 [TAD/CA(2008)28], 20 November 2008 [TAD/CA(2008)30], 3 February 2009 [C(2008)153 and C/M(2009)3/PROV, C(2008)152 and C/M(2009)3/PROV], 10 September 2009 [TAD/CA(2009)6], 16 November 2009 [C(2009)155 and C/M(2009)22/PROV], 02 November 2010 [C(2010)133 and C/M(2010)20/PROV], 23 March 2012 [TAD/CA(2012)2], 2 November 2012 [TAD/CA(2012)13], 19 December 2014 [C(2014)154 and C/M(2015)1], 31 July 2015 [C(2015)103 and C/M(2015)18], 16 December 2015 [TAD/CA(2015)15], 23 December 2015 [C(2015)171 and C/M(2016)1], 29 November 2016 [TAD/CA(2016)27], 23 December 2016 [C(2016)177 and C/M(2017)2], 17 November 2017 1 _____________________________________________________________________________________________OECD/LEGAL/0308 5 [TAD/CA(2017)17], 22 December 2017 [C(2017)143 and C/M(2018)2], 30 January 2019 [C(2019)2 and C/M(2019)4, 29 January 2020 [TAD/CA(2019)7 and C(2020)4 ]; On the proposal of the Committee for Agriculture; I.