AIC welcomes renewed licensed inspection of pre-basic and basic seed crops in England and Wales
The AIC has welcomed the renewal of the EU’s temporary experiment on the inspection of pre-basic and basic crops by licenced inspectors, and the recognition of its importance in the UK by Defra. This temporary experiment, implemented through Commission Implementing Decision EU 2020/1106, became domestic law in England, Wales and Scotland on 1 January 2021 and lasts until 31 July 2027.
AIC lobbied Defra throughout 2020 on the importance of the previous experiment to the industry, which allowed licensed inspectors to inspect a proportion of seed crops, rather than requiring an official inspector, and of carrying over any renewed experiment into UK legislation after EU Exit. After it expired in 2019, the seed industry had to bear the significantly higher cost of official inspections in 2020.
The experiment allows licensed crop inspectors, as an alternative to officials, to inspect and approve crops entered to produce pre-basic and basic seed of all species except potatoes. Lower crop entry fees will apply.
Catherine Barrett, Head of Arable Marketing and Seed at AIC said, “This is an excellent result, with Defra recognising the professionalism of the UK seed industry and working to support it. This will be very useful for domestic seed production and use. SASA have confirmed that seed produced in England and Wales under the experiment can be marketed in Scotland.”
According to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), if monitoring during the seven-year period shows that the quality of pre-basic and basic seed and subsequent generations of certified seed has been maintained, this may result in the seed marketing legislation being changed permanently.
Chris Guest, AIC Sector Chair of Seed said, “I am really pleased that following successful lobbying by AIC, APHA have announced this renewed temporary experiment. The UK seed sector is a global leader in the delivery of high quality seed to the marketplace, this experiment was well received last time and we look forward to following the outcomes of this latest experiment which will ease the financial and administrative burden on the industry.”
ENDS
About AIC
AIC is the UK trade association representing the agricultural supply chain sectors of Animal Feed, Arable Marketing, Crop Protection & Agronomy, Fertiliser and Seed, since its inception in 2003.
In all, AIC represents Members responsible for some £17.8 billion of farm trade. A significant part of its work is political lobbying and influencing, as well as supporting Members with technical information.
AIC Services, which is the professional services arm of AIC manages a range of services, including Assurance Schemes and professional registers recognised by the UK Government as essential tools to underpin feed & food safety alongside fertiliser security.
These schemes and professional registers include:
- Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC)
- Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
- Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
- European Seed Treatment Assurance (ESTA)
- Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS)
- Feed Adviser Register (FAR)
- Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
- Forage Assurance Scheme (FAA)
- AIC Services Palm Oil Credit Scheme (APOCS)
Press Contact
Oli Hill, Communications Manager, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]