Source: SADC

A meeting of Permanent Secretaries on Harmonization of Seed Regulations was held at the Cardoso Hotel, Maputo, Mozambique on 8 & 9 December 2005, and was attended by Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Agriculture of 12 Member States, namely: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Also in attendance were the representatives of seed organizations and International Agricultural Research Centers. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Dr. Tomas Mondlate. The objectives of the meeting were:

• To review progress made in the preparation of harmonization of seed regulations;
• To provide further guidance and inputs to the process;
• To take ownership of the process at Policy Level; and
• Develop a road map leading to approval by SADC Ministers of Agriculture and implementation by Member States.

At this meeting technical proposals on SADC Variety Registration and Release System, SADC Seed Certification and Quality Assurance System, and SADC Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for Seed were presented. These documents will form an integrated harmonized seed regulation system that would facilitate easier movement of seed across borders within the region, without compromising quality and plant health aspects.

At this meeting the Permanent Secretaries of Agriculture agreed to adopt a harmonized seed regulation system. Currently only 10% of farmers in the region are using seed of improved varieties. The system, when implemented, will improve seed trade among Member States, thereby increasing the availability of quality seeds to farmers. This is in line with the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration, which emphasizes the need for seed security in order to attain food security.

The meeting noted the need for capacity building at national and regional levels. The proposed system will require qualified personnel in seed testing and inspections, variety release procedures and aspects of quarantine and plant health. In addition, the proposed system would require adequate seed testing and plant health equipment in order to meet the relevant regional and international standards.

The meeting further noted the need to have a cost effective institutional framework which can be implemented within the existing structures at national and regional levels. The meeting stressed the need for the system to be sustainable without unduly burdening the Member States and farmers.

In order to facilitate seed movement across borders, the meeting noted the need to involve the Ministries of Trade and Commerce to participate in the follow-up discussions, which will prepare final proposals for submission to the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM).

The SADC Seed Security Network, operating under the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate, has been mandated to spearhead the process.

The meeting expressed appreciation to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for their financial support, as well as the government and the people of the Republic of Mozambique for hosting this event.