THE “OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME”

1. OECD SCHEME FOR THE CONTROL OF FOREST REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL MOVING IN INTERNATIONAL TRADEFAO Committee on Forestry - March 2007 THE “OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME” 1

2. OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development • Intergovernmental body (30 Members) • Some activities open to non-Members, e.g. within the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, the Agricultural Codes and Schemes Unit deals with: • “TRACTOR TESTING CODES” • “FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SCHEME” • “OECD SEED SCHEMES” for agricultural seed, and • “OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME”

3. OECD CERTIFICATION: BASIC PRINCIPLES • Official • Implemented by National Authorities (= Certification Agencies) • Common harmonised rules and procedures for production and control • Promotes good quality/controlled-origin seed • Facilitates international trade

4. THE OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME Established in 1967 Certification tool to facilitate international trade in forest reproductive material Forest seeds or plants collected, processed, raised, labelled and distributed in a manner that ensures their conformity to their identity ‘quality guaranteed’ ‘of controlled origin (or source)’Certifiedmaterial intended for use in a variety of forestry functions: timber production, erosion control, environmental criteria, landscaping, producing ornamental trees, etc.

5. COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING IN THE OECD FOREST SEED SCHEME–March 2007 AUSTRIA BELGIUM BURKINA FASO (applicant country) CANADA DENMARK FINLAND FRANCE GEORGIA(applicant country) GERMANY HUNGARY IRELAND ITALY MADAGASCAR NETHERLANDS NORWAY PORTUGAL SLOVAK REPUBLIC ROMANIA RWANDA SPAIN SWEDEN SWITZERLAND TURKEY UGANDA (applicant country) UNITED STATES Applicant country

6. RULES AND PROCEDURES Forest seeds and plants produced and officially controlled according to COMMON HARMONISED PROCEDURES: • Approved basic material - Regions of provenance - National Lists/Catalogues • 4 categories of reproductive material (to be amended in 2007) • Inspection during collection, processing, storage • Separated and identified lots = sealing and labelling

7. BENEFITS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE OECD SCHEME • Using world-wide recognised officiallabels and certificates – Facilitate international trade • Making national forest seed resources better known (OECD database/ Web) • Bringing domestic certification performance to international level • Regular exchanges between Authorities of participating countries and observers (ISF, ISTA, FAO…) • Elaboration of international rules and procedures for FRM

8. TWO MAIN CATEGORIES OF FOREST REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL (FRM) UNDER THE OECD SCHEME • "SOURCE-IDENTIFIED " FRM: the geographic origin of the forest stands (i.e., the source of the seeds) is known – YELLOW LABEL • "SELECTED" FRM: from stands located in well-delineated regions of provenance, which have proven to be above average – GREEN LABEL ________________________________________________________________ More « advanced » categories to rediscussed from 2007: • "from UNTESTED SEED ORCHARDS" which can produce seed of improved quality – Future « QUALIFIED » category? • "TESTED"FRM: genetically improved, high-quality material with selected characteristics (growth, pest resistance, adaptability…).

9. National catalogues of approved basic material FOREST STANDS(+ SEED ORCHARDS, CLONES, etc.) listed in national catalogues as eligible for production of OECD certified reproductive material OECD database total all countries: 250 forest tree species, covering an area of 13 million hectares

10. IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR OECD FOREST REPRODUCTIVE MATERIAL CERTIFICATE -- established by the National Authority -- one certificate per lot -- used by Authorities, custom officers, seed sellers and buyers LABELS-- affixed to each bag, cannot be opened without damages -- identify the FRM from the company to final users -- easy to keep/check in case of dispute

11. OECD LABELS: "SOURCE-IDENTIFIED"AND "SELECTED" Source-Identified (recto) (verso) Selected (recto only)

12. DEVELOPMENTS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME • Update the Rules of Procedures = Revision in progress • New forestry production and tree improvement techniques • It is more difficult for “advanced“ material(divergences on GM issues) -- to be rediscussed in future years • Harmonisation with other existing systems (E.U…) • Admit new participating countriesinto the Scheme • Update and develop the database on approved basic material (initiated in 2004)

13. OECD Forest Seed & Plant Scheme WEBSITE www.oecd.org/agr/forestDATABASE ON APPROVED BASIC MATERIAL (stands areas…) = Search by Tree species and/or by Country

14. OECD certification rules, National Authorities contact, Access to database… … www.oecd.org/agr/forest THANK YOU!

16. Rwanda – Regions of Provenance

17. Portugal – Regions of Provenance (e.g. Pinus pinea)

18. PRIVATE/PUBLIC COLLABORATION IN FOREST SEED CERTIFICATION Various national situations FRM producers = registered public & private bodies Official National Lists/Catalogues = public & private stands (+ other materials) OECD Certified seed: controlled “under the responsibility of the Designated Authority, at least by random checks during collection, processing, storage, raising, labelling and sealing…” Stand inspection “by a qualified person acting on behalf of the D.A…” = Room for public/private collaboration in certification process where applicable and agreed by the Authority Company records made available for official inspection Certificates and labels issued by the Designated Authority