USDA/Seed Industry Seed Summit, IPPC Seed Standard: New Approaches to Phytosanitary management Michelle Klieger APSA SC-ITQ Meeting Macau, China

APHIS/Seed Industry Summit Acronyms: – USDA: United States Department of Agriculture – APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (this is the U.S. National Plant Protection Office) – NSHS: National Seed Health System (APHIS program that accredits 3 rd parties to conduct certain activities that support export certification) – POE: Port(s) of entry – STP: Seed transmitted pathogen

Current USDA Phytosanitary Framework for Seed Imports Most seed imports require a phytosanitary certificate plus visual inspection at POE – Usually additional declarations are not required No testing/verification of seed imports at POE for plant/seed pathogens Federal Seed Act inspections are for noxious weed seeds and other visible pests Some grain seed is prohibited (e.g. rice seed; corn seed from Africa; wheat seed from Asia)

Constraints of USDA’s Current System Inadequate inspections: – Growing number of imports – Limited workforce – Lack of resources/capability to sample/test at POEs Seed transmitted pests/pathogens usually lack visual symptoms - visual inspections are ineffective Limited testing methods are available for most pathogens of concern

What has Changed? July 2013: Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) detected in a California melon field as part of a phytosanitary field inspection for a export certification – CGMMV is a STP; mechanically transmitted; and occurs in at least 14 countries where host seed is produced November 2013: ASTA stakeholders & USDA leadership meeting – APHIS indicated that it is looking for non-regulatory, industry driven options to address seed phytosanitary issues – less rather than more regulation

APHIS Seed Summit (July 15-17, 2014) 80 participants from USDA, universities, and the seed industry/ASTA to: – Begin a dialogue to explore and identify new/improved approaches to address/mitigate phytosanitary risk associated with seed imports – Identify/address seed trade/export issues of concern to the industry

Summit Topics Framing the problems associated with STPs Addressing the challenges for specific issues: – Cucurbit seed (CGMMV) – Wheat seed (wheat blast) – Solanaceous crops (foreign viruses, viroids) – Corn seed (foreign diseases such as late wilt, mildew diseases) USDA National Seed Health System (NSHS) Export certification issues/needs

General Conclusions The seed industry needs to deliver quality seed that performs according to the label and is free from foreign germplasm (pests, diseases, weed seeds, soil, etc.) Phytosanitary is one aspect of seed quality that the industry deals with routinely Industry already has many internal quality management systems/programs that reduce phytosanitary risk

Conclusions, con’t The industry is driven by competition: any factor that reduces seed quality will result in loss of customers! Accreditation programs that recognize QM practices which reduce/manage phytosanitary risk need to be developed Incentives need to be developed to encourage companies to become accredited – E.G.; “USDA Seal of Approval”

Summit Outcomes Cross-functional working groups have been established for each topic area – Approaches to reducing/managing phytosanitary risk will be a joint industry/APHIS effort – Approaches will be customized according to the specific issues associated with each topic APHIS is looking for voluntary industry actions that will significantly reduce the need to develop additional regulations

Summit Outcomes A CGMMV pilot project is under construction: – Voluntary accreditation program for seed companies (will include seed testing, traceability) – Baseline monitoring of seed (to be implemented by USDA and States) – Growers will be encouraged to only purchase seed tested for CGMMV – CGMMV workshop planned for January 2015

IPPC Seed Standard

Acronyms IPPC: International Plant Protection Convention, which is the international organization responsible for developing international phytosanitary standards. There are now 189 member countries ISPM: International standard for phyto measures NPPO: National Plant Protection Office CPM: Commission for Phytosanitary Measures; meets in Rome annually and is the IPPC’s governing body PRA: Pest Risk Assessment EWG: Expert Working Group ISHI: International Seed Health Initiative (ISF)

Why an ISPM on Seed for Planting? Healthy crops start with healthy seed Seed for planting require a specific targeted approach – Focusing on ‘seed as a pathway’ for specific pests – PRAs focusing on seed and seed-related pest management options – Protocols and controls adapted to seed Seed industry is global – Frequent exports and re-exports of variable quantities of seed – Requires flexibility in phytosanitary measures Seed industry is highly professionalized – Industry QM systems to prevent and reduce pest risks – Link industry systems and official phytosanitary controls

The Making of the ISPM on Seed  CPM needed to be convinced of the necessity, i.e. why the current ISPMs are inadequate  CPM added developing a standard on seed to the work programme and scope identified 2010  IPPC called for expert nominations to the Expert Working Group (EWG) December 2012  EWG meeting and first draft of the standard 2013-July 2014  Review of draft standard by IPPC Standards Committee 2014  IPPC member consultation July- November 2014  Adoption by CPM March-April 2015 ?  In effect from 2016 ?

Draft Seed Standard Provides guidance to NPPOs on the criteria for harmonizing import requirements, export/re- export procedures Addresses commercial seed as well as seed used for research, breeding and multiplication Address unique aspects of seed compared to other commodities

Summary of Standard Introduction cross references applicable standards already in place Divided into 5 main sections: – Section 1: Risk assessment/seed as a pathway; risk assessment of different categories of seed (R&D, breeding, stock seed, commercial seed, etc.) – Section 2: Phytosanitary measures that could be used to prevent entry/establishment of pests potentially associated with seed

Summary of Standard – Section 3: Importance of establishing equivalent phytosanitary measures, especially for seed re-export – Section 4: Lists and explains when necessary seed specific requirements need to be considered (field inspection, sampling seed lots (small and commercial) and detection methods – Section 5: General considerations on phytosanitary certification, followed by technical annexes and appendices for reference purposes; includes a link to ISF pest lists and ISHI seed testing methods This information is for guidance only and is not binding

Seed as a pathway for pests Introduction: The entry of a pest resulting in its establishment [FAO, 1990; revised FAO, 1995; IPPC, 1997] Spread: Expansion of the geographical distribution of a pest within an area [FAO, 1995]

Is seed the pathway? An example Pepper - total number of pest entries: 106 “Yes” – seed is a pathway: 9 “No” – seed is not a pathway: 46 Species not a host: 34 Pathway not proven (transmission not verified, evidence doubtful, conflicting evidence): 17 Total number of supporting references (including those on detection and mitigation): 207

ISF Crop Specific Pest Lists 12 vegetable crops √ √√ √

ISF Pest List Database

ISF Pest List Database

The ISPM for Seed is a Major Step Forward But ………it is only a 1 st step on a long road Seed industry has a key role to play: To bring the ‘undiluted’ ISPM to approval To ensure the ISPM is implemented by as many countries as possible ISHI protocols and ISF pest lists are a major asset This work is not finished!

Role of the Seed Industry Country consultation Interact with your NPPO – Explain the relevance of the ISPM and its contents – Prevent dilution Contribute to the ISF efforts – To expand the pest lists – To increase the number of ISHI protocols Prepare to interact with your NPPO to adapt requirements and get in line with the ISPM principles – Collaborative action of ISF & regional associations

The ISPM is “a recommendation for countries and NPPOs”. Adapting country requirements will take time and will need Encouragement from the industry Training National Associations and seed companies Interaction with NPPOs to eliminate requirements that are technically unjustified ISF Sections to define priorities (crops and countries) ISF Phytosanitary Committee to co-ordinate Continue work in ISHI-protocols and on ISF Pests Lists Role of the Seed Industry National Implementation

Thank you for your attention.