Paris, France
December 2013

Source: OECD Biotechnology Update, December 2013, pages 24 & 25

The following three criteria namely; distinctness, uniformity and stability are used for defining crop varieties and form the basis for agricultural seed development and trade. Identification and minimum purity criteria are important components of sustainability, especially in the case of hybridisation and genetic modifications. For forest reproductive material reliability depends on several factors including local identification, regions or provinces, selection and breeding.

The OECD Seed Schemes, established in 1958, are a set of international standards for field inspection and certification of the most important agricultural and vegetable species. The Schemes aim to harmonise seed certification; thereby facilitating and promoting international seed trade. The seven Seed Schemes establish rules and standards for varietal inspection and certification of OECD listed varieties. Fifty-eight countries across the world are currently a member of one or more of the OECD Seed Schemes. The List of Varieties Eligible for OECD Certification covers 200 species – including all major crops – and more than 53 000 varieties. OECD statistics indicate that the total weight of OECD certified seed traded corresponded to 470 million kg in 2010. The electronic database of the list of varieties was launched in 2011 and provides an online search facility for OECD listed varieties. Among the emerging issues in the OECD Seed Schemes are the role of biochemical and molecular techniques in describing and identifying varieties; the extension of the seed lot size for Poaceae seed; guidelines for complex multiplications abroad; and electronic systems of seed. In order to assess the current and future needs of international certification, the Technical Working Group on Varietal  purity and Varietal Identity develops new definitions and procedures to be introduced into the Schemes and discusses emerging issues in world seed trade.

The OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme was introduced in June 2007. This Scheme encourages the production and use of forest reproductive material that have been collected, processed and marketed in a manner that ensures their trueness to name. It is currently implemented by 25 countries. However, the 2013 Annual Meeting approved the Evaluation Reports of Uganda and Kenya and recommended the adoption of their application’s request to the OECD Council. The Scheme's rules were recently completed by the most advanced "Tested" category and new types of basic materials, such as clones, clonal mixture and parents of families. Moreover, the Scheme is now adapted to deal with multifunctional forest trees. Currently the Scheme is exploring the possibilities how to deal with challenges caused by climate change especially how to use region of provenances in the future.

Future events:

• Forest Seed and Plant Scheme, Annual Meeting of the National Designated Authorities: 24-26 Sept. 2014 (OECD Paris)
• Agricultural Seed Schemes,
  • Technical Working Group Meeting on Varietal Identity and Purity: 30-31 Jan. 2014 (Edinburgh, UK)
  • Annual Meeting of National Authorities: 9-13 June 2014 (Zagreb, Croatia)

Recent Publications:

• List of Varieties Eligible for Seed Certification; July 2013 (available in the electronic database)
• OECD Seed Schemes: Rules and regulations; 2013 edition [français]: Systèmes des semences de l’OCDE : Règles et directives ; édition 2013 [espagñol]: Sistemas de semillas de la OCDE, edición 2013
• Capacity Building in the OECD Seed Certification Schemes (2013) [français]: Renforcement des capacités dans le cadre du système de certification de semences de
  l’OCDE (2013) [espagñol]: Creación de capacidad en los sistemas de certificación de semillas de la OCDE
• OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme “2012” (Rules and Regulations) [fr.]: Système de l’OCDE pour les semences et plants forestiers “2012” (Règles et Directives)

Web sites: www.oecd.org/tad/seed ; www.oecd.org/tad/forest

Contacts: Ira Matuschke, Csaba Gaspar (TAD/COD)

Website: http://www.oecd.org

Published: December 20, 2013