Posted on June, 13, 2017 at 10:36 am
Comesa has developed seed labels and certificates that seed companies will use for large consignments crossing borders. This is expected to grow regional trade volumes through improved seed varieties. The Comesa seed Labels and Certificates will be used by member statesto identity seeds in the market that meet the COMESA seed Trade Harmonization Regulations of 2014.
Speaking at the Comesa Alliance of Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) meeting in Nairobi on Thursday last week, Mr John Mukuka, the seed Expert at ACTESA, said: “ the certificates will be given to a seed company upon verification that a seed lot is of a released variety on the regional catalogue.” He said procurement of the labels and certificate will be done in July before being ready for use in August 2017.
Seed exporting companies will be issued with a comesa regional seed Certificate to confirm they are qualified,” Mr Mukuka said. This development is line with the Comesa Regional Seed harmonization and Implementation Plan that provides a framework for the 19 Comesa member states to trade facilitate seed industry and support to local seed companies. Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi participated in the meeting alongside 20 seed companies in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
LABELS
The Comesa seed labels are based on the organization of Economic cooperation and Development (OECD) and will apply to four seed classes: Pre-basic seed, Basic Seed, and Certified Seed (First Generation) and certified Seed (Second Generation). The labels and certificates are designed to certify the sees having been produced in accordance with all the requirements the Comesa Seed Certification System as provided by the Comesa Seed Harmonization Regulations.
Source: Daily Monitor | Tuesday June 13, 2017 | Page 25