Harmonization of seed testing for the facilitation of trade

Transcription

1 Session 5 Facilitation of trade and market development Harmonization of seed testing for the facilitation of trade Joël Léchappé

2 The methods for seed quality evaluation: measurement tool or competitiveness factor Seed trade: $ 37 billion Quality of seeds: a factor of competition The methods for evaluation of quality : a tool for trade Harmonization versus biodiversity : a paradox? 2

3 ISTA proposes harmonised tools for facilitating the seed trade Mètre étalon Paris The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of of a second. Wattmeter communication: internet -satellites ISTA Rules ISTA Orange Certificate 3

4 Content The ISTA procedures for standardization of methods The input of harmonized tests to the seed sector, the regulation bodies and to seed production programmes in different regions of the world. 4

5 I- The ISTA procedures for standardization of methods Identification of needs ISTA method validation for seed testing Communication: International certificates Accreditation Proficiency tests Disputed results 5

6 I- The ISTA procedures for standardization of methods 1. Identifying methods needed by the seed sector : To gather information from all important sources State representatives (designated members) ISTA member country/laboratories (182) Collaboration with the seed industry Research Collaboration with other organisations such as OECD, FAO... 6

7 2. The method validation programme : a guarantee of transparency, relevance and traceability A worldwide availability and applicability Approved processes and procedures for validation Proposal from Outside ISTA ISTA method validation programme _programme_content html ISTA Committees members laboratories Method proposals Validation : technical and statistical Submission to the Executive Committee Introduction into the ISTA Rules External expert International Comparative test Internal Vote of the relevant technical committees Submission to the Ordinary Meeting 7 Designated members from governments

8 3. The International certificates (Orange and Blue) to communicate the tests results ISTA test results can be reported on different kind of reports according to the needs Local commerce: laboratory test report Domestic trade : such as seed certification test reports or Reports with the logo of a national accreditation body International use: for import and export : (IOC: International Orange Certificate, IBC: International Blue certificate) 8

9 4. Accreditation A guarantee of the competence of the laboratories ryaccreditationstandard_version5.pdf 9

10 ISTA Member Countries in the World CZ (2) FI (1) KG (1) RO (2) BG (1) SK (2) CA (3) ISTA accredited laboratories in the world DK (5) GE (12) SI (2) SE (3) NO (1) PL (2) HU (2) RS (3) EE (1) LV (1) LT (1) LU (1) GB(3) NL (2) BE (1) FR (2) JP (4) US (5) IE (1) ES (1) KR (1) BO (1) CL (1) CH (1) PT (1) AT (2) HR (1) GR (1) EG (1) IL (1) TR (1) ZM (1) KE (1) AR (1) IT (4) BR (1) UY (1) ZA (1) MW (1) ZW (1) IN (5) 10 AU (5) TW(1) TH(1) NZ (4)

11 5. Proficiency tests: ensuring the efficiency of laboratories Results of the 2008 proficiency test on Lolium multiflorum: Comparison of the efficiency between: accredited and non accredited laboratories(voluntary) rating A: good performance rating B: medium performance rating C: poor performance rating BMP: Below Minimum Performance 11

12 6. Arbitration role of ISTA in Disputed results: a simple and efficient procedure Validation of methods Accreditation Proficiency tests ISTA Secretariat ISTA procedure for disputed results (ISTA rules 1.7 disputed results Arbitration role of ISTA in disputed results Standard test report=ioc Reduced risks of litigations Most of disputed results are with non accredited laboratories (from countries without ISTA accredited labs) 12

13 II- Harmonised Seed testing methods : a tool for seed regulations and seed sector 1. The users of the ISTA methods 2. The methods can be the precursor of regulations 3. The methods and regulatory standards are closely linked 4. The methods are aimed to answer to the needs of the seed sector 5. Seed testing methods : a tool to support seed production programmes in different regions of the world 13

14 1- The users of the ISTA methods: or who may need standardized methods, for what reason? Seed testing laboratories Official state laboratories ISTA accredited/member laboratories Seed company laboratories, Private laboratories Governments, regulatory bodies International organisations (OECD...) Seed industry (represented by ISF/ISHI, ESA,... ) National accreditation bodies (e.g. UKAS (UK),...in the framework of ISO national accreditation 14

15 2. The methods can be the precursor of regulations Example : Europe from 1870 to the present 1874: Friedrich Nobbe 1924: Creation of ISTA 1931: 1 st ISTA Rules, Orange International Certificate 1966: 1 st European directive on seed certification Extract STI 136 Oct The three members of the standardization committee (from left): Wilhelm Edler, Oskar von Kirchner and Hermann Rodewald (Steiner, 1998 ). 1970s: Development of seed health methods (mycology, bacteriology, virology) Late 70s : Directives on seed certification including seed health requirements 1990s: cooperation between ISTA and AOSA resulted in harmonization of methods, enabled EU and USA to establish equivalence and facilitate the seed trade 15

16 3. The methods and regulatory standards are closely linked The standards of quality such as percentage of germination or % of contaminants, are closely dependant on the method. Example : Sunflower/Botrytis, influence of seed sample size on the risk of rejecting a seed lot contaminated with less than 5% or to certify a seed lot contaminated with more than 5 %. Thresheld 5% contaminated seeds limits of the confidence interval 400 seeds tested lower limit 3.08 % upperlimit 7.62% 200 seeds tested lower limit 2.42 % upperlimit 9.0% EU certification standard : percentage of contamination of sunflower seeds with Botrytis cinerea. Maximum 5% of contaminated seeds (upper and lower limits are the limits of the confidence interval) We cannot therefore divorce the test methods used to check the quality of seed lots with the legislative standards used to control seed quality. 16

17 4. The methods are aimed to answer to the needs of the seed sector Demands for methods adapted to the trade: A starting point for harmonisation was the demand form the trade of internationally accepted test reports ( = ISTA Orange certificates ) OECD demand for methods on seed mixtures of species ISF request adaptation of the seed lot sizes to the conditions of the production Experiment on seed lot size for herbage seeds, Sorghum and pulses: increase of the seed lot size to Kg (Ista Rules 2009) 17

18 An increasing need for seed health methods To control diseases Trade healthy seeds To contribute to a sustainable agriculture: less chemical treatments, increased food production 1992: Creation of ISHI within ISF and close partnership with ISTA to set up seed health methods Fusarium spp on wheat An urgent need for detection methods of GMO s : Quick response from ISTA Combined efforts within the framework of a committee including governmental laboratories, seed company laboratories, ISF agarose gel identification of Xanthomonas hortorum carotae

19 5. Seed testing methods: a tool to support seed production programmes in different regions of the world Methods for tropical and subtropical species - Strategic aim of the technical committees - There are hundreds of tropical species. - ISTA needs: More participating laboratories from tropical and sub-tropical areas Providers of seeds for experimentation Financial support for technical work proposal of a germination method for a new species : Brachiaria brizantha (Extract : OM ISTA method Validation report 2008) 19

20 ISTA methods : a tool for the development of seed production programmes in specific regions of the world. First step in the setting of national seed production schemes Control of quality of seed produced Tool for the national seed regulation bodies Facilitate import/export (necessary documents for customs controls) Decrease in disputed results (resulting in a big cost saving) Increase in national autonomy for control and import or export of seeds Jumelage TU05/AA/CP06 France Tunisia 20

21 CONCLUSION (1/3) The outlook for standardized methods What are the future trends? will harmonization still be beneficial? Positive trends: For fundamental tests such as purity, germination Foundation of the seed trade Developing in the context of a strong network of partners/stakeholders with the same aim : Quality seeds 21

22 CONCLUSION (2/3) Questions: Context of tests based on new technology such as molecular biology : GMO testing, seed health testing Many organisms (such as: ISO,ENGL, EPPO, IPPC...,) not specialized in seeds, include seed testing as a secondary requirement Increasing risk of having different standards and methods not fully adapted to the seeds 22

23 CONCLUSION (3/3) Proposal: Look for synergy not competition Seed sector : to agree on a collective policy for the development of the standardization of tests especially GMO and seed health tests. 23

24 Thank You for your attention 24