1. NATIONAL SEMINAR
Regulations & Governance
Issues in Indian Seed
Sector
Facilitating Seed
Movement in
APAC region
Asia Pacific Seed Alliance Ltd,
Singapore - Thailand
Dr. Manish Patel
President
Asia Pacific Seed Alliance Ltd
Singapore - Thailand
September 26, 2023
ICAR Lecture Hall,
Second Floor, NASC Complex,
Pusa, New Delhi

2. Section Title

3. Asia and Pacific Seed Association
Our mission
“Sustainable agriculture through the
production and trade of quality seeds
for the world”

4. “Sustainable
agriculture
and food
security”

5. Asia – Pacific is at the heart of global food supply chain
• By 2030, Asia’s population is projected to be 250 million people larger and 65% of the
world’s middle-class population will reside in Asia-Pacific.
• Asia-Pacific is a major component in the current global food chain, accounting for 19% of
total global food and agriculture exports, and 31% of total food and agriculture imports.
• Asia-Pacific is estimated to be one of the largest growth rates with a CAGR of 14.9% from
2018 to 2025, owing to growth in industries such as fresh produce & seeds, fisheries, and
meat & livestock along with expansion of leading players in China, India, and other emerging
economies.
Ken Kodama, 23 June, 2021, CEO of EMURGO, “rising Demand for Product Traceability in Asia”,
https://digitalchamber.org/emurgo-asia-pacific-demand/

6. Facilitating Seed Movement in APAC Region
• Seed movement is complex
• Involves several years of planning
• Moves through many countries before it reaches its destination
• Movement through many countries mean complying with different phytosanitary
regulations
• For the same pest, import requirements differ from country to country, and for
each country of origin (production)
• Frequent re-exports
̶ Processed and packed in limited countries
̶ same seed lot, multiple destinations, over many years

7. Special Nature of International Seed
Movement
Source: International Seed
Federation

8. APSA
Phytosanitary
expert
consultation
Public Private
A closed forum for invited public and private
stakeholders and invited resource persons to
exchange experiences, ideas, challenges and
solutions for seed specific phytosanitary
measures
Innovative,
predictive and
science-based
regulations

9. How APSA is helping- APSA Phytosanitary expert consultation
• Key topics : Phyto-harmonization: country updates by NPPO and
company reps, round table discussion on ePhyto, ISPM38, Systems
Approach initiative and lab accreditation program.
• Participants include NPPOs in Asia & Pacific, Seed Associations and
stakeholders

10. Our journey so far…..
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
1st
Phytosanitary
expert
consultation
Continue our focus
on ISPM38 and key
challenges
First survey to
understand the
chllenges on
ISPM38 and
systems
approach and
seed import
requirement
database
Identify the gap of
infrastructure and
capacity building to
support ISPM38
Include APAARI as a key
stakeholder and start to
work with ISF, CLA and
ASTA for STDF proposal
Start
adding the
ISPM45,
ePhyto
and lab
accredi-
tation
(STDF PPG
was
approved)
STDF proposal
was approved
with 7
participating
countries, still
continue our
key topics in
the
consultation
with adding
more seed
industry
practices
Participants
including
NPPOs in
Asia &
Pacific,
Seed
Associations
and
stakeholders
2023
Continue
dialogues on
ISPM38,
ePhyto, Seed
Health Lab
accreditation
and ISPM45

11. STDF/ WTO Project: Strengthening phytosanitary
compliance and public private partnerships to boost
seed trade in the Asia Pacific region
APSA is Associated Technical Implementing Partner with APAARI as lead
implementing partner
Seven Beneficiary Countries- Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal,
Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam

12. Key Areas for Engagement for Seed Movement
• Identifying gaps between the infrastructure and capabilities of NPPOs
• Creation of a portal where all information related to importing phytosanitary requirements
for the countries in the region are recorded
• Capacity building for PRA and other related ISPMS
• Advocate the adoption of initiatives such as ePhyto
• Promoting the involvement and investment of the private seed sector.
• Facilitate the lab accreditation program for the independent private laboratories by NPPOs.

13. Key challenges and our efforts to continue for
enhancing seed movement in APAC
• Pest list update (seed as a pathway)
• Seed Movement as per ISPM38
• ISF regulated pest list (new updated list) to be recognized as one of
the resource to conduct pest risk analysis
• ePhyto to be fully implemented by all countries (pilot can be done
among countries in APAC)
• Implementation of ISPM45 for third party lab accreditation

15. THANK YOU!