Harmonisation of Seed Certification Processes in Bangladesh and India

[Neha Jain]

From CUTS International

 

Harmonisation of Seed Certification Processes in Bangladesh and India

 

Evidences suggest that both India and Bangladesh suffer from technical and resource constraints in production, marketing and distribution of adequate quantity of seeds. One can argue that formalisation of trade in seeds, including rice seeds, will improve seed demand-supply scenario in both the countries. This formalisation, however, require a number of other issues to be effectively addressed on both sides of the border. The foremost among these is harmonisation of seed laws, regulation and certification procedures; others being issues relating agreement on varietal testing, approval, and release of a variety as seed production.

 

This paper seeks to analyse and understand factors that support or hinder harmonisation of seed certification processes between India and Bangladesh. The analysis, however, is confined to variety rice seed. The paper is structured into seven sections. Section two provides theoretical background to seed certification. Section three analyses similarities and dissimilarities in seed standards and certifications in the two countries. Section four highlights experiences of other countries/regions with regard to harmonisation of seed certification. Section five highlights progress made by Bangladesh and India towards harmonisation of seed certification. Section six explores the scope for regionalisation of World Trade Organisation-Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary (WTO-SPS), and Section seven provided conclusion and way forward.

Discussion paper can be found at: http://www.cuts-citee.org/RISTE/pdf/Harmonisation_of_Seed_Certification_Processes_in_Bangladesh_and_India.pdf

 

Regards,

RISTE Team