Pl. PATH-605 Introduction to certification. International scenario of certification and role of ISTA, EPPO, OECD etc. in certification and quality control.

Pl. PATH-605 (Principles and Procedure of Certification). During this course of Ph,D., I presented on topic: Introduction to certification. International scenario of certification and role of ISTA, EPPO, OECD etc. in certification and quality control. In which the seed certification and certification authorities are explained.

1. Semester- III Credit- 1+0=1 Course No.- PL. PLATH-605 Course Title- Principles and Procedure of Certification Course Teacher- Dr. K. S. Raghuwanshi Ph.D. student- Gaikwad Harshvardhan Dattatraya (2016/49) Presentation topic- Introduction to certification. International scenario of certification and role of ISTA, EPPO, OECD etc. in certification and quality control.

2. Certification and Role of ISTA,EPPO and OECD in Certification and quality control

3. What is seed certification? Seed certification is legally sanctioned system for quality control, seed multiplication and production. It involves the field inspection, pre and post control tests and seed quality tests.

4. Objectives To maintain and make available the high quality seeds and propagating materials of notified kinds to the farmers, through the certification.

5. Seed certification phases or methods 1) Receipt and scrutiny of application 2) Verification of seed source 3) Field inspection 4) Post harvest supervision of seed crops 5) Seed sampling and testing 6) Labelling , tagging, Sealing and grant of certificate

6. 1) Receipt and scrutiny of application Any person wants to produce certify seed shall resister his name with concern Assistant Director of seed certification. The applicant shall submit 2 copies of application to AD 10 days before commencement of season. On receipt of application AD will verify documents, time limits, eligibility and it’s source.

7. 2) Verification of seed source During his first inspection of seed farm ,the seed certification officer will verify whether the seed used to raise the seed crop is from an approved source.

8. 3) Field inspection Is done to verify the factors which can cause irreversible damage to the genetic purity or seed health. Crop stages for inspection :- Pre flowering stage Flowering stage Inspection during post flowering and pre harvesting stage Inspection during harvest.

9. 4) Post harvest supervision of seed crops It involves the operations carried out at threshing. transport of the raw seed produce to the processing plant Pre-cleaning, drying and cleaning Grading, seed treatment and bagging Post processing storage of the seed lot

10. 5) Seed sampling and testing To obtain uniform and accurate results in seed testing, it is essential that the samples be prepared in accordance to the ISTA rules to ensure that the small size of sample represents truly in the same proportion of all the constituents of the seed lot.

11. 6) Labeling, tagging, sealing and grant of certificate After receiving the seed analytical report, the seed certification officer will get the tags from AD and affixes label and tags (blue for certified seed and white for foundation seed) to the containers and seal them to prevent tampering and grants of certificates fixing a validity period for 9 months. Tagging should be done within 60 days of testing.

12. Types of samples Primary sample Composite sample Submitted sample Working sample

13. Primary sample : When a seed lot is sampled either from container or in bulk several individual samples are drawn from different containers or different places in the bulk. Each probeful or handful of seed so drawn is called a primary sample . Composite sample: All the primary samples drawn for one lot are combined to form a composite sample of the lot. This sample is generally much larger than required for analysis .

14. Submitted sample: This is the sample derived from the composite sample and is submitted to the Seed Testing Laboratory. The size of this sample is specific to crop . Working sample: This is the sample derived in the laboratory from the submitted sample and is used for analysis.

15. Systematic efforts for large scale seed certification began to take shape with the launching of seed production programme of hybrid maize, sorghum and pearl millet in early sixties.

16. Seed certification involve the following three steps 1) Inspection of crop during it’s growth 2) Analysis of harvested seed for quality attributes in seed testing laboratories. 3) grow out test to ascertain genetic purity.

17. Seed quality evaluation is done in seed testing laboratories and they play a vital role in seed certification. There are 90 such laboratories including central seed testing laboratory, out of which 62 are notified under section 4(2) of the seed act ( 1966). The annual capacity of seed testing in these laboratories is 0.720 million samples. Private seed companies have also set up 17 seed testing laboratories. Thus the rapid progress has been made since 1967 with the establishment of these laboratories.

18. In order to have uniformity in seed testing it is important that the methods evaluated for testing seeds by different laboratories are the same. Uniformity in the seed testing procedures is also necessary to play a statutory role under the Seeds Act (1966), In case of dispute in a court of law the result cannot be checked and verified unless the method adopted in analysis is uniform. Uniformity is also needed for reproducing results in different laboratories. For this purpose, it is essential that rules are written and printed.

19. A Seed Testing Manual by Chalam , Douglas and Singh was published in 1961

20. International Scenario of Seed Certification

21. International Scenario of Seed Certification With the establishment of World Trade Organization (WTO) in the beginning of 1995, the world market has provided unlimited opportunities of international trade of Agril. products .

22. The devastating effects resulting from diseases and pests introduced along with international movement of planting materials, Agril . produce and products, is a matter of great concern, however, that legal standards have been promulgated in the form of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures for regulating international trade.

23. In Denmark , it was also farmers organization that was responsible for initiating comprehensive seed testing programmes. The federal seed testing station was responsible for checking the genetic purity and stability of all material sold as seed stock. This was the beginning of seed certification, maintenance and multiplication of cultivars for distribution in Denmark. At present Denmark has one of the most complete modern research and service center for seed testing.

24. In Holland , the farmers used to display their seeds by holding seed fairs which gave opportunity of viewing several seed. Stocks with different qualities and ultimately made their selection. The farmers even visited the farms where the seeds were being produced.

25. The USA Department of Agriculture was established in the year 1862 with the role objective of distribution of seeds to the farmers only limited number of farmers were benefited as the seed stock was limited.

26. In USA , the certification was carried out as a legal function of the State Government agency on a national basis in providing seeds of minimum genetic standards. In Australia , certification is a voluntary service conducted by the State Department of Agriculture and Coordinated nationally by a committee of State Department Official . Almost all the certifying agencies in USA are members of AOSCA (Association of Official Seed Certifying agency) and adhere to the same minimum standards. In some states the certification is carried by either CIA (Crop Improvement Association), Land Grant University or State Department of Agriculture.

27. Seed Certification in India 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.

28. 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.

29. In the development of seed industry in India the significant achievement of NSC are : 1.It has helped in the establishment of scientific seed industry in India. 2.It has produced foundation seed of varieties of all India importance. 3.It has also taken up multiplication of pre-release varieties of all India importance.

30. 4. It has developed standards for seed certification and also developed methods for field inspection. 5 . It has encouraged Indian manufacturers to produce and market seed processing equipments. 6. It has exported the seeds to some of the developing countries and thus open new horizon for Indian Seed Industry.

31. Role of ISTA, EPPO and OECD in seed certification and quality control

32. International Seed Testing Association - ISTA Founded in 1924, with the aim to develop and publish standard procedures in the field of Seed testing, ISTA is linked with the history of seed testing. The ISTA was founded during the 4th International Seed Testing Congress held in Cambridge ,United Kingdom in 1924. The ISTA Membership consists of over 250 personal members, over 30 associate members and almost 200 member laboratories of which over 100 laboratories are ISTA authorized . The membership is a collaboration of seed scientists and seed analysts from universities, research centers, government, private seed company, seed testing laboratories around the world. Vision Uniformity in seed quality evaluation worldwide.

33. Objectives of the ISTA The primary purpose of the Association is to develop , adopt and publish standard procedures for sampling and testing seeds . To promote uniform application of these procedures for evaluation of seeds moving in international trade. The secondary purposes of the Association are to actively promote research in all areas of seed science and technology, including sampling, testing, storing, processing and distributing seeds, to encourage variety (cultivar) certification. To participate in conferences and training courses aimed at furthering these objectives. To establish and maintain liaison with other organizations having common or related interests in seed.

34. Role of ISTA 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.

35. 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.

36. EPPO EPPO is an intergovernmental organization responsible for European cooperation in plant health. Founded in 1951 by 15 European countries, EPPO now has 50 members, covering almost all countries of the European and Mediterranean region. Objectives : 1 . To protect plants, 2. To develop international strategies against the introduction and spread of dangerous pests 3 . To promote safe and effective control methods. As a Regional Plant Protection Organization, EPPO also participates in global discussions on plant health organized by FAO. EPPO has produced a large number of standards and publications on plant pests, phytosanitary regulations, and plant protection products .

37. Role of EPPO To protect plant health in agriculture, forestry and the uncultivated environment. To develop an international strategy against the introduction and spread of pest 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. To provide a documentation service on plant protection. To help its member countries to prevent entry or spread of dangerous pests (plant quarantine).

38. OECD The OECD Seed Schemes were set up in 1958. It’s headquarter is situated at Paris, France. To encourage the use of seed of consistently high quality in participating countries. The OECD Seed Schemes provide an international framework for the certification of seed. They aim to facilitate seed trade by reducing technical barriers, improving transparency and lowering transactions costs . There are currently 58 Members of one or more of the OECD Seed Schemes worldwide . 35 Countries comes under OECD.

39. The Seed Schemes authorize the use of labels and certificates for seed produced and processed for international trade according to agreed principles. 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. In addition, satisfactory conditions for the production and processing of Basic and Certified Seed must be ensured and verified by field inspection and post-control tests.

40. Role of OECD The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is existing national system of seed certification in addition to technical discussions among the certification specialist. Establishment of OECD schemes for varietal certification for forage seeds and later on other Agricultural crops moving in international trade. The main role of OECD is to facilitate international movement of certified seeds.

41. Implementation and adoption of various schemes and codes for certification of different kinds of seed of forage crops, cereals, sugar beet seed, oils and vegetables sp. Arranging the approval from the country of origin for the multiplication of their varieties according to OECD rules. Receiving the approval of generation system for each variety. Maintaining the certification records, pre and post control test as per OECD rules.

42. Organizations Location Objectives AOSA ( 1908) Washington, D.C. The organization of member laboratories dedicated to education and research including state, federal, and university laboratories from the United States and Canada. AOSCA (1919) USA Coordinate seed certification activities of state & international member Agencies. ISST (1999) Merida, Mexico Its objects are to foster and promote research, education and communication in respect of the scientific understanding of seeds. EPPO ( 1951) Paris, France 1. To develop an international strategy against the introduction and spread of pests to natural and agricultural ecosystems 2. Encourage harmonization of phytosanitary regulations 3. Promote the use of modern, safe, and effective pest control methods

43. ISTA (1924) Cambridge, United Kingdom 1. Development, validation & standardization of seed testing rules on international level 2. Accreditation of Seed testing labs worldwide. 3. Education & Training of seed analysts 4. Publication of Scientific Journal NSHS ( 2001) USA Accreditation of private and public entities for phytosanitary field inspections, sampling, visual inspection, and laboratory seed health testing SCST ( 1922) Washington, D.C. 1. Education & accreditation of analysts. 2. Research & development of standardized testing protocols  to enhance trade & movement of seed. OECD (1961) Paris, France Aid in movement of Certified Seed to countries which require OECD Certified Seed.

44. Thank You. Happy New Year !!!