BYBYMUHAMMAD BOOTAMUHAMMAD BOOTA

Director General, FSC&RD Director General, FSC&RD

FEDERAL SEED CERTIFICATION & REGISTRATION DEPARTMENTG-9/4, MAUVE AREA, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

SEED INDUSTRY OF PAKISTANSEED INDUSTRY OF PAKISTANMARCH, 2009MARCH, 2009

2

43.61161.862007- P

43.37159.062006

43.05153.962005

43.05150.472004

42.09149.032003

42.09145.962002

48.42142.862001

Agriculture Labour Force (Percentage)

Population (million)

Year

Population Estimates of Pakistan:

3

23.39Total cropped area

22.00Cultivated Area

8.33Cultivable Waste

22.70Not Available for Cultivation

4.19Forest

57.22Total Reported Area

79.61Total Geographical Area

Area (million ha.) Land Use

Source: Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan, 2006-07

Land Utilization Scenario of Pakistan

4

8-60 and above

3-40 to under 60

10120 to under 40

16410 to under 20

1995 to under 10 ha.

17 (44%)13 (86%)3 to under 5 ha.

11152 to under 3 ha.

10221 to under 2 ha.

4170.5 to under 1 ha.

0319Under 0.5 ha.

Farm Area (%) Farm No. (%)

Farm sizeFarm No. (%)Farm Area (%)

Farm Size Area of Pakistan:

Source: Agriculture statistics of Pakistan, 2006-07

5

Membership in International Convention

•Convention on Biological Diversity•Pakistan is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 1994 together with more than 171 other countries, M/o Environment is being declared focal point of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

•International Plant Protection Convention •Plant Quarantine work is done by Plant Quarantine Division in the Department of Plant Protection, which has the legal authority and management responsibility. •The organizational arrangements are as per Article IV of the International Plant Protection Convention, 1997. •The Head Office is at Karachi and the quarantine stations are located at the seaports, airports, dry ports and, land border points for the convenience of traders. These are modestly staffed and Equipped. There are laboratories for support. •The Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976 and Rules 1967 tare enforced through which the country is protected from the entry and spread of exotic insect pests and disease and trade of plants and plant products is facilitated.

•World Intellectual Property Organization Pakistan, on October 6, 1976, submitted its

instrument of accession to the WIPO Intellectual Property was mainstreamed in Pakistan in 2005. •IP was brought under the limelight of public policy by simultaneously establishing IPO-Pakistan, empowering the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) and activating Pakistan Customs against IPR violations.•The Government decision to establish IPO-Pakistan was particularly aimed at addressing the institutional shortcomings that were impeding the effective management of intellectual property.

6

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SEED INDUSTRY OF PAKISTAN

1947-1961 – No independent seed production and distribution system 1961 – F&A Commission - West Pakistan Agricultural Development Corporation

(WPADC) was created for procurement and distribution of seeds 1972 - WPADC dissolved Provincial Govt. - Seed production, multiplication, procurement and distribution

Seed Act, 1976 Government of Pakistan initiated “Seed Industry Development Project” on the

recommendation of World Bank Appraisal Mission’s Report, which provided legislative support through Seed Act, 1976

This enactment provided regulatory mechanism for controlling and regulating the quality seed through setting up of necessary institutional infrastructure;

- National Seed Council (NSC) & Provincial Seed Councils - *Federal Seed Certification Agency (FSCA) & *National Seed Registration Agency

(NSRA) - *FSCA & NSRA were merged together as Federal Seed Certification &

Registration Department (FSC&RD) in 1997 for austerity measures

7

Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) Islamabad(MINFAL) Islamabad

PrSC PrSC PrSC PrSC FSC&RD Punjab Sindh NWFP Balochistan Islamabad

PSC SSC DOA DOA

PrSC = Provincial Seed CouncilPSC = Punjab Seed CorporationSSC = Sindh Seed CorporationDOA = Department of AgricultureFSC&RD = Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department, Islamabad

National Seed Council (NSC)

8

FUNCTIONS OF FSC&RD(Section 6 of Seed Act, 1976)

• Controlling the quality of seeds• Registering growers in such manner and subject to such

condition as may be prescribed• Certification of seeds• Field inspection of the crops of registered varieties and released

varieties intended for sale as basic seed or certified seed• Sampling and testing of seed lots intended for sale in order to as

certain their purity, viability, germination capacity and health status in the prescribed manner

• Issuing certificates in respect of seed which meet the prescribed standards of particular category of seeds

• carrying out post-control trials on pre-basic, basic and certified seeds

• Sampling and analyzing seed lots delivered to the processing plants to establish a basis for the purchase of such lots

• Arranging training courses for Seed Certification Officer and• Providing technical and specialist advices and assistance to the

National Seed Council in the performance of its functions

(Continued)

9

FUNCTIONS OF FSC&RD(Section 8 of Seed Act, 1976)

11. Conduct pre-registration checking of varieties submitted for the purpose of:

determining suitability for registration as a variety providing definitive botanical description of crop varieties

and providing information on genetic suitability and

adaptability of varieties register seed varieties after conducting pre-registration

checking under clause (i) publish a list of registered seed varieties and perform such other functions as the National Seed Council

may entrust to it

10

COMPOSITION & FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL SEED COUNCIL (NSC)

1. Advice on policy for development, operation and regulation of provincial seed industry

2. Direct initiation of provincial seed projects 3. Protect/ensure investment in seed industry, approve/ sanction seed

standards, regulate inter-provincial seed movement, advice on seed imports

2. Federal Minister of Agriculture (FAM), MINFAL (Chairman)3. Secretary, MINFAL (Member)4. Chairman, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) (Member)5. Secretary Agriculture (All Provinces)6. Director General, FSC&RD7. Managing Director, Punjab and Sindh Seed Corporations8. Director Generals, Agriculture Department, NWFP & Balochistan9. Seed Grower Representative from each province10. Progressive Grower from each province11. Four representatives of private seed sector 12. Agricultural Development Commissioner (ADC), MINFAL (Member,

Secretary)

11

COMPOSITION & FUNCTIONS OF PROVINCIAL SEED COUNCIL (PrSC)

1. Advice on policy for development, operation and regulation of provincial seed industry

2. Recommend changes in seed law, advice on seed standards and quality control, advice on maintenance, multiplication, supply of pure and healthy seeds of new varieties, advice on development of seed production farms, recommend for release of selected new varieties, recommend withdrawal of certain deteriorated varieties

2. Provincial Minister of Agriculture (Chairman)3. Secretary Agriculture, Provincial Government (Member)4. Agricultural Development Commissioner (ADC), MINFAL (Member)5. Director General, FSC&RD (Member)6. Director General, Agriculture Extension/Research (Member)7. Vice President, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC)- Member8. Director General, National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) –

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) - Member9. Managing Directors, Punjab & Sindh Seed Corporations (Member

Secretary)10. Representative of Seed Growers (Member)11. Representatives of private seed companies (Member)

12

Introduction and Registration of Private Seed Companies

Until 1980 most of the seed production, procurement and distribution was the mandate of public sector seed corporations and provincial research system

From 1981 the private seed companies entered in the seed business one by one

An “Inter-Ministerial Working Group” has been constituted in the MINFAL that is responsible for evaluating the proposals and registration/ deregistration of new seed companies in all the provinces of the country

The Working Group comprises of the following; Agriculture Development Commissioner (ADC), MINFAL (CM) Secretary, Agriculture of each province Secretary Agriculture – AJK Chief Food & Agriculture – Planning Division Managing Directors, Punjab & Sind Seed Corporations Director General, Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department

13

INFRASTRUCTURE OF FSC&RD

141731Total:

Muzaffarabad, Mirpur--2AJK

SakarduGilgit2N. Areas

Dera Allah YarQuetta2Balochistan

Larkana, MirpurkhasHyderabad, Karachi, Sukkur, Sakrand

6Sindh

D.G.Khan, Vehari, Gujranwala, T.T.Singh, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar

Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, Faisalabad, R.Y.Khan

14Punjab

AbbotabadPeshawar, Mingora, D.I.Khan

4N.W.F.P

--Islamabad1Headquarters

New StationsExisting StationsStationsRegions

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SEED SECTORS AND SEED & PLANTING MATERIAL(Conventional, Hybrid, Transgenic seeds)

Private Sector

Wheat, Cotton, Rice etc.Farmers Own

Source

InformalSector

Maize, Sunflower, Fodder and Forages, Potato and Vegetables

SeedImporters

c.

Hybrid Maize, Sunflower, Fodder and ForagesMultiNationals

b.

Wheat, Cotton, Maize, Rice, Gram, Vegetables, Fruits and Nursery Plants

NationalCompanies

a.

Wheat, Cotton, Maize, Rice, Gram, Vegetables, Fruit and Nursery Plants

Public Sector

Formal Sector

Crops/SeedsCategories SeedSectors

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SEED GENERATION SYSTEM CATEGORIES/ CLASSES/ PRODUCTION/

IDENTIFICATION OF SEEDS

Not certified by FSC&RD so labels are not issued. Identified by Seed Testing Report/Certificate

The purest seed of a particular variety prepared by the breeder of a particular research station/institute

Breeder Nucleus Seed (BNS)

Pink color labels of importing agency

As imported by the importers under Seed (Truth in Labeling Rules, 1991) and assurance of the quality lies on the importers

Truthfully Labeled Seed

Yellow color labels issued by FSC&RD

Seed true to species as approved by the FSC&RD

Approved Seed

Blue color labels issued by FSC&RD

Progeny of basic seed and is produced with the registered growers of the seed producing agencies

Certified

Seed

White color labels issued by FSC&RD

Progeny of pre-basic seed and produced by an organization set up by the provincial government

Basic Seed

White color labels with diagonal violet line issued by FSC&RD

Progeny of Breeder/Nucleus Seed (BNS), highest genetic purity seed produced by the respective research institutes/breeders

Pre-basic Seed

IdentificationAgency InvolvedCategory

/Class

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VARIETY APPROVAL SYSTEM

Selection of best performing strains by the plant breeder in Micro-varietal Trials (MVTs)

Performance and Adaptability testing through Zonal Varietal trails (ZVTs)

National Uniform Yield Trials (NUYTs) by concerned National Crop Coordinator of PCCC for cotton and NARC/PARC (other crops)

Receive application, Spot examination, evaluation for performance, quality and resistance etc. by Technical Experts Sub-Committees (TESCs)

TESCs recommend to Provincial Seed Councils (PrSC) for approval/rejection of the variety

Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) of National Seed Council (NSC) recommends the variety to PrSC

Respective PrSC then Approves the Variety NSC finally notifies the variety as Released/Approved Registration of the variety by FSC&RD on the basis of VCU

recommendations by PCCC/PARC and DUS tests for at least two consecutive seasons/years

NOTIFICATION

PARC PCCC FSC&RD

VEC VEC DUS

PROVINCIAL SEED COUNCIL

APPROVAL & RELEASE

NATIONAL SEED COUNCIL

2 YRS2 YRS

FSRC

VARIETYREGISTRATION

SUBMITS

MICRO VARIETAL TRIALS

ZONAL VARIETAL TRIALS

SELECTS PROMISING STRAIN

SUB-STATIONS

GOVT. FARMSENLIGHTENED

FARMERS

BREEDER MAKES CROSSES

SELECTS PROMISING STRAINBREEDING STATIONS

PARC PCCC

GERMPLASM GERMPLASM

ALL CROPS EXCEPT COTTON ONLY COTTON

MINFAL

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Registered & Released Crop Varieties in Pakistan (1980-2008)

48113468122012262252Total

520520811132Vegetables

30228--17--20Fodders

59--634117437Pulses

505457020414Oilseeds

331320015512S.Cane

8--8--32--3Barley

222200012--8Maize

34--340061315Rice

793760011758Cotton

110011017311853Wheat

TotalPrivatePublicIslamabadB.tanNWFPSindhPunjabCrop/Seed

19

SEED LAWS/ RULES IN PAKISTAN

--Seed Amendment Bill – 2008 10

1988Procedures, Directions and Seed Standards, 19884

5-6-2003Amendments in Seed (Registration) Rules, 19873

28-2-1998Pakistan Fruit Plants Certification Rules, 19985

--Plant Breeders Rights Bill - 2008 11

12-10-1993Amendment Seed (Truth-in-Labeling) Rules, 19919

19-1-1998Amendment Seed (Truth-in-Labeling) Rules, 19918

12-3-1991Seed (Truth-in-Labeling) Rules, 19917

6-5-2003Amendment in Pakistan Fruit Plants Certification Rules, 1998

6

1987Seed (Registration) Rules, 19872

1976Seed Act, 19761

Date of NotificationTitle of Seed Act/RuleSr

20

To broaden scope of regulation business, enhance participation and investment of

private sector in seed industry and safeguard farmers interest

1. Availability of Pre-basic seed to the private sector2. Establishing Accredited Seed Testing Laboratories in private sector3. Registration of Seed Companies/ Dealers and Processing Plants4. Enhancement of penalties/fines for effective seed act enforcement5. Restriction on unapproved/banned varieties and misbranding 6. Registration of the seed related Persons/ Organizations

Seed Amendment Bill - 2008 after getting authorization from provincial assemblies was approved by the Ex- Federal Cabinet in August 2007 and submitted to Law & Justice Division in 2008. With the establishment of new government Law & Justice Division has recommended for re-seeking fresh authorization from the provincial assemblies for further processing the case.

SEED (AMMENDMENT) BILL – 2008

21

PLANT BREEDERS RIGHT BILL - 2008

2. To encourage plant breeders/ seed organizations/multinational seed companies to invest in research and plant breeding

3. Development of superior varieties of field, vegetable and ornamental/horticultural crops

4. Healthy competition for variety development in public and private sector5. Improvement of an excess to protected foreign varieties6. Protection of local varieties abroad7. Encourage state plant breeders through financial incentives as royalty on

their protected varieties and revenue generation for research institutes 8. Discipline in seed industry Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) after getting authorization from provincial

assemblies was approved by the Ex- Federal Cabinet in August 2007 and submitted to Law & Justice Division in 2008. With the establishment of new government Law & Justice Division has recommended for re-seeking fresh authorization from the provincial assemblies for further processing the case.

22

NUMBER OF REGISTERED SEED COMPANIES IN PAKISTAN 2008

68271666593Total

4---4*Private - Multinationals

67461565588Private – National

41111Public Sector

TotalB.tanNWFPSindhPunjabCategory

* Multinationals : Monsanto, Pioneer, ICI ,and Syngenta Source: Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department, Islamabad

23

Marketing of Seed & Planting Material in Pakistan.

Citrus, Mango, Apple, Walnut, Date palm, Guava, etc.Fruits Nursery Plants

(Public & Private)

6

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, etc.Farmers Own Source

5

Maize, Sunflower, Fodders, Potato, VegetablesSeed Importers4

Hybrid Seeds of Maize, Sunflower, Fodders etc.Multinationals3

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, Maize, Gram, VegetablesPrivate Sector2

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, Maize, Gram, VegetablesPublic Sector1

CropsSeed SourceSr.#

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7.08.78.36011.2287147.6226636.6853.365814.550795.4Fruits

22.622.723.156589.355471.5544032501.22448.12359Fodders

13.813.8141816.52055.71765131.4148.7128Onion

12.7812.7012.773138.03124.83048245.5246.3238.7Vegetable

831795839221.0180.8216265.8227.3257Rapeseed & Mustard

54152859721.117.92639.033.943Lentil

47947749115.916.51815.916.538Mash

636546577138.5113.9130217.8208.5225Mungbean

796466794837.8479.58681052.31028.91094Gram

71171476012856.213018.9142653074.83103.03193Cotton

2107211619945438.45547.250252581.22621.42520Rice

3037298428493088.43109.627971016.91042.0982Maize

27162519258623294.721276.8216128578.28447.98358Wheat

2006-07

2005-06

2004-05

2006-072005-062004-05

2006-07

2005-06

2004-05

Yield per hectare in kg.

Production ‘000’ tonsArea (000’ hectares)Crop

Area, Production and Yield Statistics of Some Major Crops & Vegetables in Pakistan during 2004-07.

25

ALL CROPS SEED PROCUREMENT/AVAILABILITY 2007-08 PAKISTAN

17 %272,83529,543178,71264,577726,3981,610,515PAKISTAN

2 %5,3254870-455286,750286,750Potato9

12 %1,9751,653-32116,04016,040Oilseeds8

13 %9,5429,432-11073,37873,378Fodders7

118 %6,1935,886-3075,2135,213Vegetables6

2 %1,124-54058449,47449,474Pulses5

18 %190,634-135,09955,534208,9921,044,964Wheat4

32 %9,4616,1753,0722149,56130,036Maize3

49 %19,4041,52813,345453111,99039,660Paddy2

45 %29,176-26,6562,52065,00065,000Cotton1

TotalImportPrivatePublic

Seed Proc. %age

Seed Procurement

Seed Procurement/Availability

Target As set by FCA*Total Seed

Requirement(MT)

CROP/SEED

SR#

* Federal Committee on Agriculture (2007-08), Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Islamabad

26

23.323.323.323.323232424Almond

--8175.008175.00622622427427Dates

348.3348.3351.3351.3352352334334Apple

1719.21719.21753.91753.91674167410561056Mango

1472.41472.42458.42458.41944194417601760Citrus

2006-02006-077

2005-02005-066

2004-02004-055

2003-02003-044

Crop

Production of Major Fruit Crops in Pakistan (Production ‘000’ tones)

Source: Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan, 2006-07

27

Citrus, Mango, Apple, Walnut, Date palm, Guava, etc.Fruits Nursery Plants (Public & Private)

6

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, etc.Farmers Own Source5

Maize, Sunflower, Fodders, Potato, VegetablesSeed Importers4

Hybrid Seeds of Maize, Sunflower, Fodders etc.Multinationals3

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, Maize, Gram, VegetablesPrivate Sector2

Wheat, Cotton, Rice, Maize, Gram, VegetablesPublic Sector1

CropsSeed SourceSr.#

Marketing of Seed & Planting Material in Pakistan.

28

The Federal Seed Certification and Registration department has drafted the National Seed Policy, to address the challenges in the seed sector. The Main objective of the National Seeds Policy is to make available and promote utilization of best quality seeds and planting material of diverse elite genetic resources; to enhance and sustain crop productivity, improve food security,

generate additional sources of farm income and employment; provide base for value-added agricultural exports and alleviate

poverty in rural areas of Pakistan. The National Seeds Policy will be executed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and will be implemented through Federal Seed Certification and Registration department.

NATIONAL SEED POLICY, LAWS AND REGULATIONS

29

PLANT BREEDER’S RIGHTS

30

WTO TRIPs AGREEMENTARTICLE 27.3 (b)

Members shall provide protection of plant varieties by Patents or by an effective sui generis system or by any combination thereof.

31

PLANT BREEDER’S RIGHTS :

LEGISLATION Draft of Plant Breeder’s Rights Bill, has been finalized

to protect investment in research for development of new plant varieties and related intellectual property rights; which will stimulate foreign investment and transfer of technology in seed industry.

The Department keeping in view the traditional background of our farming community and socio-economic conditions, where on the whole 80% of the farmers use their own farm saved seed or opt for farmer to farmer seed exchange in cereals, pulses and oilseeds, opted for the Sui generis system for introducing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for plant varieties and to meet the Pakistan obligation as required under Article 27-3 (b) of the WTO-TRIPs Agreement to provide protection to plant varieties .

32

SUI-GENERIS SYSTEM

The system for PVP chosen by the member States, can be designed to accommodate the particular needs of that State according to prevailing scenario of seed industry and plant breeding and genetic diversity.

33

SALIENT FEATURESPLANT BREEDER’S RIGHTS

34

APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PBRS

Criteria for Protection of PBRs A new plant variety shall be protected, if it conforms

to criteria of:

Novelty, Distinctness, Uniformity, Stability &

Designated by an acceptable denomination

35

Requirements for an Application for Protection

In case of public sector breeders, the institute that develops the plant variety and in case of private sector employed breeders, the employer company or corporate body that develops the plant variety shall be entitled to apply for a Certificate and ownership rights.

Variety should contain a complete identification data of the parental lines from which the variety has been derived along with the geographical location in Pakistan from where the genetic material has been taken setting forth its novelty, parentage/pedigree, breeding history and a drawing or photograph to understand and evaluate the novelty of the variety.

be accompanied by an affidavit sworn by the Applicant declaring that such variety does not contain any gene or gene sequence involving terminator technology;

provide a certificate from the National Biosafety Committee established by the Federal Government to this effect that the GMO variety shall have no adverse effect on the environment, human, animal or plant life and health.

36

RIGHTS OF PLANT BREEDERS

Offering for sale or selling or marketing in Pakistan.

Importing or exporting the reproductive or vegetative propagating material.

Conditioning or multiplying the seed. authorizing any personauthorizing any person to produce, sell,

market or otherwise deal with a variety.

37

TENURE OF CERTIFICATE OF PBRS

The term of the Certificate shall be 25years in case of trees and vines and

20 years in the case all other plants.

38

REVOCATION OF PROTECTION

At any time within twelve months after the grant of a certificate, any person interested who did not oppose the grant of the certificate may make an application to the Registrar for an order revoking the certificate on any one or more of the grounds upon which the grant of the certificate could have been opposed:

39

Compulsory License

The Registrar will have the power to grant compulsory license in certain circumstance;

When reasonable requirements of the

public for seedsseeds or other propagating materialpropagating material of the variety have

not been satisfied or that the seed or other propagating materialother propagating material of

the variety is not available to the public at a reasonable price.

40

TRANSITIONAL PROVISION

The plant varieties already protected and released or commercialized which do not conform to the criteria of novelty may apply for Plant breeder’s Rights within one year of the coming into force of this Act.

41

Exceptions for Scientific Research

Any act done privately on a non-commercial basis

Any act done for scientific research or plant breeding as an initial source of variety for the purpose of creating other varieties provided that authorization of the breeder of a protected variety shall be required where the repeated use of such variety as a parental line is necessary fro commercial production of such other newly developed varieties

42

FARMER EXCEPTIONS

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act: —

(a) A farmer shall be deemed to be entitled to save, use, sow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce;

(b) Provided that the farmer shall not be entitled to sell seed of a variety protected under this Act on a commercial basis.

43

BENEFIT SHARING.-.

Any person or group of persons or firm or governmental or non-governmental organization shall submit its claim of benefit sharing to such variety in the prescribed form within such period, and accompanied with such fees, as may be prescribed:

The Registrar shall explicitly indicate in its order the amount of the benefit sharing, if any, for which the claimant shall be entitled and shall take into consideration the following matters, namely:—

(a) the extent and nature of the use of genetic material of the claimant in the development of the variety relating to which the benefit sharing has been claimed; and

(b) the commercial utility and demand in the market of the variety relating to which the benefit sharing has been claimed.

44

RESEARCH INCENTIVES

The Federal Government and each of the Provincial Governments shall constitute a “Research Incentive Board” which shall be tasked to decide proper incentives for research and development including incentives for research scientist in public sector institutions to encourage them to develop new plant varieties.

45

PVP ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(1) The Federal Government shall establish a Plant Variety Protection Advisory Committee consisting of a Convener and such other members from the public and private sectors, as it may deem fit.

(2) The Committee shall advise the Policy Board, the Organization or the Registrar, as the case may be, on such scientific and technical issues which may be referred to it and give its advice to the Organization, Policy Board and Registrar.

46

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REGIONAL CORPORATION:

Formal cooperation between national variety release agencies. Cooperation and specialization in DUS testing among the breeders of the regional

countries Exchange of information and availability VCU reports for use in other Countries. Setting up regional crop-specific networks for VCU information, under responsibility

of a particular country Designation of national institution (public/private) for VCU testing Short-term: DUS testing in one country be accepted in all countries. Medium-long term: Once a variety is released in one country, it may be automatically

released in all countries, based on results of VCU testing. Information-sharing and development of regional variety catalogue Establish legal mechanisms with the effect that varieties listed in the regional

catalogue are eligible for marketing in countries of the region Catalogue may be updated every year. Institutional arrangements Coordination, Facilitation in collaboration with UPOV, FAO, ICARDA Technical Committee for coordination, advice and monitoring of the Variety Release

System,and sharing of information on VCU tests Composition: national variety testing / seed certification agencies and relevant

stakeholders. Participation of seed associations / links to the private seed sector.

47FSC&RD - PAKISTAN