Long Awaited International Seed Standard is Good News for U.S. Seed Industry

On April 6, a final International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) for Seed was agreed to during the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in Korea.
ASTA has been advocating for a seed ISPM for nearly 20 years.

The need for a standard has become more apparent, as many National Plant Protection Offices (NPPOs) have been publishing new, usually more restrictive, non-science based, phytosanitary import requirements for seeds. The ISPM for Seed provides guidance to NPPOs on the criteria for harmonizing import requirements and export/re-export procedures, taking into account the unique needs of commercial seed as well as seed used for research, breeding and multiplication.

Read ASTA’s press release for more information.