National Quality Assurance
National governments want to ensure that farmers are receiving high quality seed from the formal and intermediate sectors, yet often do not i) have proper regulations in place, and/or (ii) do not implement or assure implementation of their existing regulations well, resulting in low quality seed for farmers.
Vision of a healthy system: . Vision of a healthy system: Farmers have confidence that formal and intermediate sector seed in the market meets labelled quality standards, and actively patronize the brands with the highest quality seed of the varieties they want to plant. Seed companies work to exceed quality standards, and view the regulator as their partner in this quest.
Effective government/regulatory Quality Assurance will incorporate the following:
- Collaborative design and oversight of effective and affordable processes that are fit-for-purpose, including authorizing and auditing third-party inspectors, to ensure that seed producers and merchants are supplying their customers with seed that meets best practice standards for seed quality and phytosanitary testing
- Proactive focus on engaging seed producers and merchants in a continuous cycle of seed quality improvement through training, coaching, process oversight and improvements, and timely feedback on quality and phytosanitary testing results
- Presence of functional, two-way dialogue and feedback mechanisms related to farmers’ experience of seed quality (including feedback on counterfeit seed) to support ongoing improvement in the quality of seed planted by farmers
Basis of comparison:. Best practice standards for seed quality and phytosanitary testing (ISTA, OECD where applicable), plus best practice standards for a customer-focused sector.