Transcript SEED CONTROL IN ZIMBABWE

INTRODUCTION
 SEED SERVICES

› Seed laws
› Variety Release system
› Seed certification
› Necessary changes for harmonisation
› Institutional Capacity and Constraints

PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICES
› Phytosanitary regulations and Standards
 Acts of Parliament
 International Standards
› Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for
Seed
› Necessary changes for harmonisation
› Institutional Capacity and Constraints
Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation
and Irrigation Development (formerly
Ministry of Agriculture)
 Department of Research and Specialist
Services (DR&SS)
 Research Services Division

To develop framework and cooperation
between agro-industries, farmers,
government and other relevant
stakeholders, through the provision of
reliable, efficient and competitive
regulatory services.
 To ensure quality agricultural inputs and
produce thereby promoting sustainable
agriculture and economic growth.

DRS
PLANT
QUARANTINE
SERVICES
INTERNAL
PLANT
QUARANTINE
Throughout
8 Provinces
Zimbabwe
PPRI
CSI
Gene Bank
Botanic Gardens
EXTERNAL
PLANT
QUARANTINE
21 ENTRY/EXIT
POINTS
SEED SERVICES
SEED
INSPECTORATE
SEED TESTING
MANDATE
Legal mandate of regulating and
administering activities related to
agricultural, vegetable, tree and flower
Seeds
New variety evaluations
• Granting Plant Breeders Rights
• Registering seed crops and growers
• Conducting seed inspections
• Seed testing
• Registering seed sellers, seed testing
laboratories and seed companies
• Regulating import and export of seed
•

1.
2.
Seed Services has two Acts of Parliament
Seeds Act, Chapter 19:13 and its
enabling Regulations – Seed Regulations
(1971) and Seed (Certification Scheme)
Notice 2000.
Plant Breeders Rights Act Chapter 18:26
of 1979
•
RECOGNITION
•
REGISTRATION
•
INSPECTION
•
TESTING
•
MARKETING
O
N
E
W
A
Y
Recognition
A variety that is known should :
 Be true to type, thus it must maintain its
characteristics over repeated
propagation
 Must be on a government list (Second
Schedule of the Seed Certification
Scheme Notice, 2000) that show varieties
recognised for seed production in
Zimbabwe.
New variety evaluations by Seed
Services- D.U.S.
 National Variety Release Committee
assesses the data on performance and
approves- Value for cultivation and use
(VCU)
 Listing of the new variety in the Second
Schedule

•
•
•
•
•
Applicant submits completed S.C.S 2 application
forms in triplicate – with seed sample of new
variety (1kg) – application fee – BY stipulated
deadlines (31 Oct & 30 April)
SS verifies application & selects appropriate
control vars (i.e closest similar vars)
Maintainers of listed vars are reqd to provide
samples of control vars selected by SS
Applicants plant candidate vars & their
appropriate controls according to planting
instructions given by SS
candidate vars are grown adjacent to control
vars to facilitate easy visual characterisation of
the crops – plots replicated 2X
Evaluations are conducted at the V, F & P
stages of crop growth – use Technical Test
Guidelines dvpd by UPOV
• Breeders/ applicants participate in the
evaluation exercise
• Level of off-types in plots are used to
predict degree of uniformity expected from
‘new var’
• Vars found to be uniform can be considered
stable – HOWEVER stability will continue to
be monitored in post control trials (also done
by SS)
•
If SS is satisfied with DUS results, applicant
is informed - new var is recommended for
variety release – a VRP has the final say
(approves/ rejects application)
 When a new variety is approved for release,
it becomes listed on the 2nd Schedule of
SSCN

The new var will remain listed on 2nd
Schedule if:
1. It remains stable
2. Genetically pure seed is propagated
3. Annual renewal fees are paid to the
CA
•
Shows varieties of crops approvd for seed
prodn & mkting in Zimbabwe
• Quite diverse
• SS is responsible for maintaining & updating
the list (whether listing or de-listing vars)
• BE FAMILIAR with the list- check when not
•
sure!
•
Clearly shows KIND & VAR OF CROP,
VARIETY NAME & MAINTAINER
•
•
•
A seed company can only multiply seed
of crops it is licensed to produce.
The seed company is also obligated to
formerly notify Seed Services of its seed
growers, where they are located,
hectarage grown and the varieties
being produced.
Recognised varieties should only be
produced by seed growers under
authorised seed companies.
Registered seed crops should only be
inspected in the field by authorised seed
inspectors, whether from seed
companies or government (ensures
uniformity in the manner in which
certification is conducted).
 Certification inspections are conducted
at vegetative, flowering and pre-harvest
stages of crop growth.

•
•
The first function of field inspection is to
examine the seed crop as a whole to
ensure it is consistent with the
characteristics of the variety given in the
official description, thus the crop must
have the correct varietal identity.
In the case of hybrid varieties, the
inspector must be able to identify
without difficulty the male parental lines
and the female parental lines.
Registered and inspected seed must be
tested for purity and germination before it is
sold, to ensure that it meets the minimum
purity and germination standards outlined
in the Seed Regulations 1971.
• Seed tests are conducted to determine the
following seed parameters:
-germination
-moisture content
-number of weed seeds
-purity (presence of chaff and other
unwanted material)
•
presence of seeds of other crops
 Seed samples that meet the specific
requirements are given local or
international certificates (O.I.C.)
Only quality guaranteed seed must be
sold.
 The seed must also:
a) Have labels;
b) Be non-expired;
c) Sold by authorised people with valid
seed sellers’ licences
d) Stored properly for maintenance of
quality


SADC and national implementation
almost similar

Capacity difficult to gauge as the system
is yet to be implemented

Seed services is ready to tackle
harmonization
PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICES
(PQS)/NATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION
ORGANIZATION (NPPO)
Phytosanitary Regulations and Standards
 Plant Pests And Diseases Act Chapter 19:08
 Zimbabwe is a signatory to the World Trade
Organization’s Agreement on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (WTO-SPS)
 Also a signatory to the FAO-International
Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and
follows International Standards of
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs)
 Regulatory powers to inspect, disinfect and
eradicate







To import vegetable seed into Zimbabwe, an Import Permit is to
be applied for prior to movement of seed by the importer so as
to get details of conditions for to importing.
The Zimbabwe NPPO issues Import Permit only after having seen
documentation from Seed Services Department allowing for
importation of the seed.
The Import Permit is sent to the exporter (vBSS) for use to apply to
export vegetable seed.
Seed should follow seed export procedures (Seed Health and
Control aspects) for the NPPO of the country from which seed is
coming from.
Consignments of seed are to be accompanied by a
Phytosanitary Certificate on a Government prescribed form from
the NPPO of the country from which seed is coming from.
Form to have been completed by the Plant Health Inspector
indicating certification of conditions required by importing
country ( Zimbabwe).
Seed exportation basically consists of reversal on NPPO duties
from the Seed importation procedures
Approved seed importation arrival ( Receipt and checking of import
documentation ; Is it ok?)
No
Yes
If NO order for rejection, destruction, re-export is made, if YES
Sampling and Inspection of seed is made
Decision to conduct seed health tests is made
If laboratory seed health is necessary, seed
quarantined until seed health test results are known
(7 days))
May decide due to limited seed quantities to monitor seed
growth/ production/ multiplication at destined
production site (under isolated conditions)
Seed health results
Recommendations
Re-export of/
destruction/rejection
Seed treatment prior to
release
Recommendation followed
Seed released
Seed Export
Procedure
Seed Documents received : Import Permit from importing country + application for Phytosanitary field Inspections
Field Inspections Conducted during active growth stages of seed crop
Phytosanitary Field Inspection Report filed and copy submitted to potential exporter
Exporter makes an Export Application: brings samples + Phytosanitary Field Inspection Report of seed to be exported
Decision to do seed health /seed testing is made
Seed health test results
Recommendation
Seed treatment prior to export
Phytosanitary certificate issued
Export non-approval
Head Office situated in Mazowe
 Site has well-developed laboratories,
glasshouses, incinerators and offices.
 Works with all points of entry/exit into/out
of Zimbabwe.
 Manned by Plant Health Inspectors and
their assistants
