Wet Chemistry Soybean Series - Seed World

Harmonizing Regulationsfor Better TradeThere is a need for global harmonization of seed health and seed trade regulations.Seed companies in today’s global environment need tobe aware of many different types of seed trade regulationsaround the world. These regulations can be unclear,contradictory, ever-changing and downright frustrating to seedexporters, but with global harmonization, the process can bemade easier.Whether developing a local business presence in an overseasmarket or exporting seed around the world, most companiesship seed (including commercial, foundation or research seed)from one country to another at some time. Shipments mustmeet complex seed health standards and other requirements.The regulations can be even more intricate in the case of there-export of seed, where product is produced in one country,shipped to another for processing or other value-addition, andfinally ends up in yet another country.The Background to Seed TradeWhen selling seed in a foreign country, all local requirementsgoverning seed trade must be met. This includes any productregistration or seed certification requirements, local seed lawsand intellectual property rights systems. In many cases, local laws(for example, laws regarding deregulation of biotech products,use of plant patents and tolerance levels for unapproved events)are vastly different than laws in the seller’s home country.All of these issues are part of a country’s foreign and tradepolicy agenda, and government and industry groups are focusedon harmonizing regulations across regions and ensuring theseare science-based and reasonable, while still allowing seedto move around the world so the benefit of technology andimproved varieties reaches the world population.Seed health regulations for seed shipments have themost immediate impact on many seed companies. While it isappropriate to use phytosanitary regulations as a way to protect alocal environment from the introduction of unwanted pests, theregulations should be based on scientific research, and should beclearly and consistently communicated. All too often regulationsused at borders are either unknown to the shipper and/or arenot science-based. They may be either politically motivated orbased on assumptions or incorrect science.Communicating the RegulationsThe two primary forms used to communicate phytosanitaryregulations to the importer and exporter, as well as borderofficials, are a government-to-government notification systemor a phytosanitary certificate. Any special seed health issuesare addressed in an additional declaration requirement onthe certificate.Shipments of seed for fruit such as watermelon must meet complex seedhealth standards.Governments determine the pest issues of concern for cropspecies from each country of origin. In the United States, forinstance, seed health officials from around the world notify thePlant Protection and Quarantine program of the Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service, responsible for maintaininginformation on global import regulations (from the United Statesto the destination country) in the Export Certification Project(EXCERPT) database. Likewise, APHIS works to prevent theintroduction of potential pests into the United States, andcommunicates its import requirements to foreign governments.Similar organizations and systems exist around the world.An acceptable controlled pest restriction is one where allof the following conditions are met:• The pest occurs in the area of production.• The pest is transmitted by or with seed as the pathway.• The pest does not exist in the destination country andwould cause problems if introduced or, if present, isunder some form of official control such as eradicationor containment.10 Seed World