The South African National Seed Certification Scheme produced a surplus during the period under review, despite the drought and water restrictions in major seed production areas.  This was mainly due to the registration of more agronomy crop units under seed certification. Mr D Olivier of D& PL was elected chairman and Mr. W van Pletsen of Agricol Seed (former chairman) as vice-chairman for the next year of the Certification Standing Committee.  This committee is the biggest standing committee in SANSOR and is closely involved in both financial and technical sides of seed certification.  The main objective of the committee, however, is to ensure that the Scheme remains relevant and that seed moving in the national and international trade adheres to the set standards. Important issues concerning seed certification and quality for the period under review were as follows:

Mr EG (Whitey) van Pletsen Chairman: SANSOR Certification Standing Committee

The authorization of SANSOR inspectors for phytosanitary purposes by the Executive Officer of Agricultural Pests was implemented in principle.  Although the theoretical training and practical evaluation had been in place for some time, problems with authorization still occurred.  Set protocols and memoranda for training drawn up in consultation with the Department, would hopefully resolve these constraints in future.

Amendments of the South African Seed Certification Scheme had been finalized and updated copies were available from SANSOR since February 2004.

The update and the issue of authorization cards, stating particulars of inspectors, company, crops, etc., would in future be conducted by the SANSOR Secretariat, since the necessary equipment for this purpose had been purchased.  This measure was necessary owing to frequent problems with the former service provider.

The South African seed industry participated successfully in the OECD experiment on seed sampling (including fastening and labelling and seed analysis) during the period under review.  Of the 112 samples drawn from seed lots of the various crop species under consideration and after some retests and comparison with the Official Seed Testing Station, a deviation of only 1,7% was reported.  This figure compared favourably with data from other OECD participating countries.

SANSOR authorized inspectors again assisted the Executive Officer of Agricultural Pests with the survey on Karnal bunt.  This particular survey led to a decision by the relevant Executive Officer not to expand quarantine areas in this regard.

There had been an increase in the submission of open pollinated maize varieties for Table 8 listing during the period under review.  The International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) contracted the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) for the maintenance of their varieties under the S.A. Seed Certification Scheme.  A special protocol was developed to ensure a more comprehensive genetic quality assurance system for certifying the genetic purity of open pollinated maize varieties in particular.

The assessment of genetic quality also became problematic in the certification of groundnut seed.  Negotiations with breeders and seed maintainers led to the introduction of temporary measures to resolve the situation until a more permanent solution could be found.  These measures included the shortening of the production chain; inspection of pre-basic seed units by the breeder; and monitoring of a percentage of basic and certified seed units by SANSOR technical personnel assisted by the breeder and/or an expert.

The update of the S.A. Seed Certification Scheme brought it in line with international standards particularly in respect of the certification of pre-basic seed, which must at least conform to basic seed standards.  These amendments, however, could lead to abuse, as pre-basic seed registration was only liable for registration fees and not the “per hectare” fee.  A recommendation to the Board of Directors according to which fees for the certification of pre-basic seed should be the same as for basic seed, was accepted and would be implemented in the forthcoming seed production season.

A request had been received to declare the Lutzville, Vredendal and Koekenaap region as disease-free areas for seed production.  The SANSOR divisional committees, however, recommended that the matter be taken up with the Executive Officer of Agricultural Pests to declare this area only as a disease-free area for dry- and garden beans.

The Standing Committee for Seed Certification recommended the use of printing paper for certificates with a SANSOR logo.  This logo, together with the addition of a watermark, would limit the possibility of fraud, as well as add further value to certified seed.

The Committee also recommended that the Horticulture Division Committee should look at a method for maintaining vegetable breeder seed, as the Agricultural Research Council was not maintaining breeder seed anymore.  The departmental section for variety control was prepared to plant trials and assist the industry with the evaluation of cultivated varieties in cases of doubt.  This would be an important precautionary measure to prevent different sources of the same variety in the national market.

A new type of label, which compared well with the Tyvac label in respect of durability and printability, was introduced during the period under review.  These Agrifilm labels led to cost saving of more than 30% for companies involved in national seed certification.

Although problems were still being experienced with the SANSOR electronic management system for seed certification, progress was made towards establishing an electronic network for the national co-ordination of seed certification activities.

Since the rationalization of seed certification almost 15 years ago, SANSOR could report with confidence that the seed schemes were still functioning well and that the genetic integrity of seed under the system was still maintained at a high level.