1. Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association The following presentation serves as a reference or background slide deck that explains ESTA, the European Seed Treatment Assurance scheme; Relevant slides can also be used to discuss specific aspects of ESTA. The presentation consists of: (1) an introduction to the ESTA standard (2) dust (3) the governance structure (4) the general certification model and relations between ESTA and individual certifying bodies (5) an outline of next steps (6) a summary of the initiatives in France, Germany and the UK (7) An explanation of ESTA as an industry-driven certification system Brussels, March 2013

2. Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

3. European Seed Treatment and Treated Seed Quality Assurance System Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

4. Scope: Seed treatment and treated seed _______________________________________________ ESTA has been developed as a universal quality assurance system Focus was (initially) on maize and oil seed rape + insecticides. Further crops covered already: sugar beet and sunflower. Next crops are cereals and open field-sown vegetables. Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association ESTAs scope

5. ESTA in one glance Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

6. Key aspects 1.Solid quality management system 2.Risk analysis 3.Business specific requirements 4.Proven competence of personnel Treated seed from ESTA certified facilities will carry the ESTA logo as a quality seal Focus: Continual improvement Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association ESTA key aspects

7. Seed treatment plant Seed supplier Farmer Grower Plant raiser Contractor 1 2 467 3 5 8 Waste management Other suppliers 3 rd party logistics Scope of ESTA certification 1: receive, store, transport seed 2: receive, store, transport other 3: prepare seed treatment mix 4: treat seed 5: sample and test 6: dry, package treated seed 7: pack, prepare for shipment 8: manage waste ESTA: process approach Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

8. Well-described processes are the basis for: Defining measurements (process control; quality assurance; continual improvement) Risk analysis (basis for risk management and continual improvement) And ultimately for the certification of the entire process ESTA: processes, measurements, risks Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

9. Crop-specific requirements on moisture and cleanliness of seed. Proven stability/reliability of the seed treatment process (incl. recipes & equipment). Relevant documentation on correct and safe use available on-site. Monitoring of the seed treatment process. An aspiration system. Reference samples of each treated seed lot. Samples are tested at least for dust levels (Heubach test). Labeling according to industry standards / legal requirements. Transport companies should avoid temperature extremes, moisture and rough handling. Farmers have to be made aware of proper handling (including limiting dust during drilling/planting, worker safety, avoid ingestion by animals, disposal of leftover seed and packaging materials). Specific requirements Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

10. The industry dust reference values are published to assist the seed treatment industry to continually achieve safe treatments. Seed treating companies have to assure that treated seed meets the industry dust reference values. It is noted that Member States may install legal dust limits different from the industry reference values Industry dust reference values Crop (seed)Dust reference value Maize0.75 g / 100,000 seeds Oil seed rape0.5 g / 700,000 seeds Sugar beet0.25 g / 100,000 seed pellets Sunflower0.4 g / 75,000 seeds Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

11. Reference method: Heubach dust test – see ESA website http://www.euroseeds.org/esta-1 http://www.euroseeds.org/esta-1 In France: Cofrac accredited reference lab for Heubach test In Germany: SGS certifies on code of practice for Heubach test Industry labs must participate in ring tests (FR and DE) Testing for dust: reference method Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

12. ESTA governance Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

13. Certification: general model National Accrediting Authority Audits/monitors compliance and grants accreditation Certifying body accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65 - ISO/EN 45011 (General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems) Accreditation authorities: Cofrac, RvA, UKAS, DAkkS, … Accredited certification bodies: SGS, SOC, MPS-ECAS, PAI, Lloyds, Norske Veritas and so forth… Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

14. ESTA Structure ESTA Standard ESTA certified companies Certifying bodies ESTA Board National Central National Accrediting Authority Audits/monitors compliance and grants accreditation Certifying body accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65 - ISO/EN 45011 (General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems) Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

15. ESTA Structure: two options Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

16. Timeframe: ESTA standard (1.2.1) has been approved 3 May 2012 and published on internet with all relevant further documentation: http://www.euroseeds.org/esta-1 http://www.euroseeds.org/esta-1 Implementation has started; all seed treatment facilities in Germany (13; treating oil seed rape) and in France (21; treating maize) will be certified in 2013; for individual plants in other countries the certification process is under way. Other steps: Appointment of an ESTA manager based in Brussels Fine-tuning of the ESTA standard: continual Communication: continual Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association ESTA timeframe of implementation

17. German initiative: treatment of oil seed rape was 1 st project Cooperation BDP, BVL, JKI and SGS All 13 seed treaters participate (2010) over 90% of seed used Key aspects of checklist: Calibration of equipment & recipes at beginning of season Central aspiration at seed treatment plant Before packaging: sieving, visual inspection, sampling Voluntary monitoring: Heubach dust tests on random samples Process description and documentation required Well trained personnel National initiatives: DE Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

18. Lfd. Nr.PrüfkriteriumErfüllungskriteriumStatus 1Probebeizung und Funktionsprüfung bestehender Rezepturen 1.1Wird bei jeder neuen Rezeptur eine Probebeizung durchgeführt? Probebeizungen werden vor dem erstmaligen Einsatz einer neuen Rezeptur durchgeführt. Eine neue Rezeptur liegt vor beim Einsatz eines neuen Beizmittels oder neuen Zusatzstoffes oder beim Einsatz neuer Beizgerätetechnik. Die Probebeizungen werden solange wiederholt, bis die Rezepturen funktionieren. k.o. 1.2Werden bestehende Rezepturen einer regelmäßigen Funktionsprüfung unterzogen? Funktionsprüfungen bestehender Rezepturen werden bei erstmaliger Verwendung der Rezeptur in der Saison und in sinnvollen Abständen (dem Produktionsrhythmus angepasst) durchgeführt. k.o. 1.3Wurden Rückstellmuster aus den Partien der Probebeizung entnommen? Als Nachweis werden Rückstellproben der Probebeizung gezogen. Als Rückstellmenge werden 500 gr. benötigt. Die Proben müssen mindestens 6 Monate aufbewahrt werden. k.o. 1.4Wurden Proben auf Beizgrad untersucht? Erläuterung: Beizgradbestimmung = Anlagerung des Mittels am Korn in % vom Sollaufwand. k. 1.5Wurden Proben auf Staubgehalt überprüft? Mindestens visuelle Ermittlung des Grob- und Feinstaubs bei der Absackung, bzw. aus dem Sack direkt nach der Absackung. k.o. National initiatives: DE Auszug Checkliste – Raps (fragment of oil seed rape checklist) Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

19. National initiatives: FR French initiative: dust control of treated maize seed Legal base: ordinances of Jan 13 th 2009 and April 13 th 2010 Cooperation UFS and GNIS-SOC (SOC certifies) 21 seed plants were audited (2010-2011) over 88% of seed used Key aspects: Process description + identification & control of risks Dust level less than 3 g/100 kg seed Sampling of every lot 5 internal or external tests at the beginning of each new process Internal or external tests of at least 10% of treated seed Validation of recipes; calibration of measuring equipment Aspiration of packaging line Well trained personnel Annual audit by SOC Tests at random by reference lab Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

20. National initiatives: UK UK initiative: implementation of the ESTA standard as an additional TASCC scheme (TASCC = trade assurance scheme for combinable crops) TASCC schemes are owned and managed by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) TASCC schemes are an industry initiative Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

21. Other industry-driven quality systems exist Examples are: Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC, UK) GSPP (Good Seed & Plant Practices; international, driver FR, NL) NAL (Naktuinbouw Accredited Laboratory; international) Process Verified Programs (PVP, AMS-USDA) National Seed Health System (NSHS, APHIS-USDA) British Retail Consortium certification scheme (BRC, UK) GLOBALG.A.P. (international)... ESTA compared to... Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

22. ESTA is built to be a universal quality assurance system dedicated to seed treatment and treated seed The French Plan qualité poussière (treated maize seed & dust control) and the German Seedguard quality scheme for treated oil seed rape both fit within ESTA and can be regarded national crop-specific implementations of the ESTA standard Other industry-driven schemes show viability of the approach ESTA compared to... Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association

23. Copyright ESA, 2013 © European Seed Association