Harmonization of phytosanitary/regulatory policy and seed health testing for safe global seed movement:
Samantha Thomas: Monsanto
<div><span style="font-family:'Arial';"><span size="3">Many pests that are neither seed borne nor seed transmitted are regulated. Individual country seed import requirements differ substantially from one another for the same pest risk. The seed industry is a global business with international operations making it increasingly challenging to meet seed import requirements bilaterally and not multilaterally as befitting international trade.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:'Arial';"></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:'Arial';"></span><span style="font-family:'Arial';"><span size="3">Seeds are a unique group of commodities where most pest risks can be collectively addressed by industry best practices reducing the need for commodity-specific phytosanitary requirements. ISF works to harmonize phytosanitary policy through the development of regulated pest lists, seed health tests, and encouraging recognition of industry best practices as alternative measures, or a systems approach, for import requirements.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:'Arial';"></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:'Arial';"></span><span style="font-family:'Arial';"><span size="3">An extensive review of scientific literature by ISF for seed species with high volume trade shows that seed is a pathway for the introduction, spread and establishment of disease for a fraction of all regulated pests. Seed health testing is a tool used by the seed industry to prevent the introduction and spread of pests known to be associated with seed and ISHI-Veg, an industry-led group, develops internationally recognized seed health tests for seed-as-a-pathway pests. These tests are also part of the quality management practices companies use to protect their seed from exposure to pests and diseases at all stages of seed development, production and commercialization significantly reducing overall pest risk. </span></span><span style="font-family:'Arial';"></span></div>
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