January 2012

Bolivia Brazil CanadaBurkina F

Ireland

AustraliaArgentinaAlbania Austria Belgium

Bulgaria

Chile China Croatia Cyprus Czech Rep.

Denmark Egypt Estonia Finland France

Germany Greece Hungary

IsraelIran

India Iceland

Italy Japan

Kenya Korea Kyrgyzstan Latvia

Luxembourg Mexico Morocco

New Zealand Poland

Russian Fed. Serbia

Slovenia Spain Switzerland

Turkey Ukraine United King.

United States Uruguay Zimbabwe

Lithuania

Madagascar Moldova

Netherlands Norway Portugal

Romania Rwanda Slovakia

South Africa Sweden

Tunisia Uganda

63 countries participate in one or moreof the OECD Codes and Schemes

www.oecd.org/tad/code

OECD Codes and Schemes

C O N T E N T S The OECD’s core values 2 OECD in Brief 5 Trade and Agriculture Directorate 6 Agricultural Codes and Schemes 7 Enhanced engagement 9 Countries participating in the Codes & Schemes in 2012 11 The OECD Schemes and Africa 12 The OECD Codes and Schemes and Asia 13 OECD Seed Schemes 14 OECD Tractor Codes 20 OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme 27 OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme 32 Codes and Schemes Events in 2012 36 Further information 37

2

The OECD’s core values

Objective: Our analyses and recommendations are independent and evidence-based.

Open: We encourage debate and a shared understanding of critical global issues.

Bold: We dare to challenge conventional wisdom starting with our own.

Pioneering: We identify and address emerging and long term challenges.

Ethical: Our credibility is built on trust, integrity and transparency.

3

Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level

25 May 2011- (Left/right front raw to back row):Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister, Norway; George Papandreou, Prime Minister, Greece; Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister, Estonia; Kim Hwang-sik, Prime

Minister, Korea; Werner Faymann, Federal Chancellor, Austria; Sebastian Piñera, President, Chile; Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State, United States; Angel Gurría, Secretary General, OECD; Bernd Pfaffenbach, State

Secretary, Germany; Naoto Kan, Prime Minister, Japan; José-Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission; Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of the caretaker government, Belgium; François Fillon, Prime

Minister, France; Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister, Hungary; S. Sigfússon, Minister of Finance, Iceland; Elvira Nabiullina, Minister of Economic Development, Russian Federation; raig Emerson, Minister of Trade,

Australia; Mitja Gaspari, Minister of Development & EU Affairs, Slovenia; Ivan Miklos, Deputy Premier Ministre and Finance Minister, Slovak Republic; W. Pawlak, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economy,

Pooland; Avigdor Liberman, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel; Elena Salgado, Second Vice President & Minister of Economy and Finance, Spain; Eamon Gilmore, Tanaiste & Minister for

Foreign Affairs & Trade, Ireland; Maxime Verhagen, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands; Karel Schwarzenberg, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czech

Republic; Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Finance, South Africa; Tomas Anker Christensen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark; Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Foreign Trade & Development, Finland; Mari Pangestu,

Minister of Trade, Indonesia; Giulio Tremonti, Minister of Economy & Finance, Italy; Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency; Ibrahim Canacki, Undersecretary of the Treasury, Turkey;

YU Jianhua, Assistant Minister of Commerce, Rep.de Chine ; Ted Menzies, Minister of Finance, Canada ; Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Switzerland; Tim Groser, Minister

for Trade & Climate Change Negotiations, New Zealand; Jeannot Krecke, Ministre of Economy and Trade, Luxembourg; Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico; Ewa Björling, Minister of Trade, Sweden; Valdemar Carneiro Leao Neto, Undersecretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the

Foreign Ministry, Brazil; Cravinho, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Portugal; Dominic Martin, Permanent Representative to the OECD, United Kingdom; Kåre Bryn, Secretary General, EFTA; Jaime Caruana, General Manager, BIS; Mircea Geoana, President of the Romanian Senate, Romania; El

Mustafa Sahel, Ambassador, Morocco; Héctor Timerman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Argentina; Charles Heeter, BIAC Chairman; Gilles Bauche, Advisor, IMF; Steven Pursey, Head Representative, ILO; Rebecca

Grynspan, UN Under-Secretary General, UNDP; Mahmoud Mohieldin, Managing Director, World Bank; Sai El Hachini, Counsellor Information and External Relations, World Trade Organisation; Richard Trumka,

President, AFLCIO, TUAC; Khaled Emara, Vice Minister for Economic Affairs, Egypt; Lina Terra, Minister Counsellor, Lithuania; José Antonio Arrospide del Busto, Ambassador of Peru to France. OECD Conference

Centre, Paris, France.

Source: Jean-Pierre Pouteau/OECD

4

As a special feature for the 50th Anniversary of OECD, the OECD

Yearbook presents country snapshots for 40 countries, with data and

commentary from selected OECD publications reviewing progress over

five decades in such areas as economic growth, employment, well-being and

innovation.

The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to

share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.

5

OECD IN BRIEF

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an inter-governmental organisation founded in 1961, provides a multilateral forum to discuss, develop and reform economic and social policies. Today it has 34 member countries1

The OECD’s mission is to promote policies for sustainable economic growth and employment, a rising standard of living, and trade liberalisation. It is at the forefront of efforts to help governments understand and respond to new developments and concerns so that economic and social developments are not achieved at the expense of environmental degradation.

The OECD brings together its Member countries to discuss and develop domestic and international policies. It analyses issues, identifies good policy practices and recommends actions in a unique forum in which countries can compare their experiences, seek answers to common problems, and work to co-ordinate policies. It shares expertise and exchanges views with more than 100 countries worldwide and engages in dialogue with business, labour, and civil society organisations on topics of mutual interest. The OECD is the largest and most reliable source of comparable statistical data and information on economic, environmental and social developments in its Member countries.

The OECD’s work is overseen by several bodies. At the highest level is the OECD Council, made up of Ambassadors from all Member countries. The Council’s main role is to review and approve the OECD budget and Programme of Work. The specific policy and technical work is directed by specialist Committees, supported by Working Parties and ad hoc meetings, which bring together technical expertise from Member countries. The daily work of the OECD is coordinated and supported by its Secretariat in Paris, with 2 500 staff and a budget of over € 342 million.

1 OECD member countries in 2011: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. The European Commission also participates in the work of the Organisation.

6

TRADE AND AGRICULTURE DIRECTORATE

Ken Ash, Director

Trade and Agriculture Directorate The Directorate for Trade and Agriculture (TAD) is the part of the OECD Secretariat that undertakes the work on behalf of the Trade, Agriculture and Fisheries Committees. The key objective of OECD work on trade is to support a strong, rules-based multilateral trading system that will maintain the momentum for further trade liberalisation, while contributing to rising standards of living and sustainable development. OECD also analyses food, agriculture and fisheries issues and provides advice to governments on practical and innovative options for policy reform and trade liberalisation, as well as facilitating the negotiation of international rules on official export credits. An important part of the mandate of the OECD is to provide analytical support to agricultural trade liberalisation, as well as estimating the effects of further trade liberalisation. Working closely with Member countries, the Directorate collects information and data, and develops modelling capacity to analyse the policy issues identified by the Committees. The Committee for Trade, the Committee for Agriculture and the Committee for Fisheries are responsible for implementing the trade, agriculture and fisheries biennial programme of work, once it has been approved by the OECD Council. The Directorate is structured around seven divisions that work together to deliver the work programme: Agro-food Trade and Markets, Development Division, Fisheries Policies, Agricultural Policies and Environment, Policies and Trade in Agriculture, Trade Policy Linkages and Services and Export Credits. Two other units are attached to the Directorate: Agricultural Codes and Schemes, and the Co-operative Research Programme. The staff of the Directorate is drawn from Member countries. In 2011 there were 120 full-time staff, and increasingly, the Directorate also welcomes staff on short-term appointments, consultants and trainees.

7

AGRICULTURAL CODES AND SCHEMES

Michael Ryan, Head of Unit

Codes and Schemes

The OECD Agricultural Codes and Schemes facilitate international trade through the simplification and harmonisation of documentary, inspection and testing procedures. For Seeds and Forests, the Schemes encourage the production and use of seeds or plants of consistently high quality for which trueness to name or source is guaranteed. For Tractors, the Codes enable an importing country to accept with confidence the results of tests carried out in another country, and in the case of Fruit and Vegetables, the Scheme promotes uniform classification and quality control procedures.

The Codes & Schemes were created in the late 1950s/early 1960s and the number of participating countries has been constantly rising. The Codes and Schemes are open to any OECD or non-OECD country that is a member of the United Nations or of the World Trade Organisation. In addition to the 34 OECD countries which are all members of at least one of the Codes & Schemes, participation currently encompasses 29 non-OECD Economies, including some of the major players in world trade (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, etc.). There are also close co-operation with the UN family, especially the FAO and the UNECE, as well as specific non-governmental and industrial organisations.

The overarching objectives of the Codes & Schemes are to simplify existing international trade procedures; increase transparency, reduce technical barriers to trade; contribute to international harmonization of standards, environmental protection; and, to increase market confidence through enforcement of quality control and inspection procedures, as well as the traceability of the traded products.

8

The objectives are achieved through ongoing dialogue with the designated authorities of Member Countries, Observers and, stakeholders including farmers, industry and trade.

International certification differs from national certification, as domestic regulatory systems may vary to a large extent. A voluntary international system is a tool which heterogeneous countries can use for specific product characteristics, without having to change their domestic framework. The benefits from product certification and guarantees are shared between all stakeholders; consumers, producers, industry, exporters and importers. For some of the Codes & Schemes, there are prerequisites for joining (e.g. National Seed Law). In all cases, the following general steps must be taken: 1) an official request to join is sent to the OECD Secretary-General, accompanied by the relevant documentation. 2) This is followed by an evaluation process, usually involving a short mission to the applicant country. 3) The evaluation report is circulated to the authorities of the participating countries and discussed at their annual meeting. 4) The final step is an internal OECD process resulting in a Council Decision. The whole procedure takes about one year. The overall budget is around one million euros, with Seeds accounting for about 40%, Tractors 30%, Fruit and Vegetables 20% and Forests 10%. The annual fee for each of the Codes and Schemes is based on a lump sum payment plus a variable percentage payment based on a formula related to the size of the participating country’s economy (Gross Domestic Product).

OECD Headquarters Photographer: Luc Boegly

9

Enhanced Engagement

Enhanced Engagement is a fundamental proposal by the OECD countries to forge a more structured and coherent partnership, based on mutual interest, with five major economies,

namely:

Brazil

China

India

Indonesia

South Africa

In joining OECD countries in this initiative, the countries participating in Enhanced Engagement programmes are adding their considerable weight to the global effort to build

a stronger, cleaner and fairer global economy.

Participating countries contribute to the OECD's work in a sustained and comprehensive manner. A central element of the programme is the promotion of direct and active

participation of these countries in the work of substantive bodies of the Organisation. Each country participates in OECD work through a programme containing a mix of several

elements, notably:

participation in OECD committees,

regular economic surveys,

adherence to OECD instruments,

integration into OECD statistical reporting and information systems,

policy specific peer reviews.

The actual mix and the sequencing of the elements is determined by mutual interest.

While Enhanced Engagement programmes are distinct from accession to the OECD, they have the potential in the longer term to lead to membership of the Organisation, should the

participating countries decide to explore that possibility.

10

63 Countries

Participate in one or more

of the OECD Codes and Schemes

in 2012

11

Seeds Tractors Fruit and Vegs Forest Albania

Argentina

Australia

Austria Belgium Bolivia

Brazil

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Canada

Chile

China

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Egypt

Estonia

Finland France Germany Greece Hungary

Iceland

India

Iran, Islamic Rep. of

Ireland Israel

Italy Japan

Kenya

Korea

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg Madagascar

Mexico

Moldova

Morocco

Netherlands New Zealand

Norway

Poland Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

Rwanda

Serbia Slovak Republic Slovenia

South Africa

Spain Sweden Switzerland Tunisia

Turkey Uganda

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Zimbabwe

12

The OECD Codes and Schemes and Africa

The OECD Codes and Schemes programmes contribute to reducing technical barriers to trade that particularly affect trade between developing and developed countries. By joining programmes such as the OECD Codes and Schemes, emerging and developing countries can reap the benefits of globalization and penetrate global markets. They will be able to export to foreign markets, at a regional level but also with partners on other continents.

Already ten countries on the African continent actively participate in the OECD Codes and Schemes.

Date of accession to the Schemes

Seeds Fruit and

Vegetables Forest

Burkina Faso 2008 Egypt 1998 Kenya 1973 2009 Madagascar 1998 Morocco 1989 2004 Rwanda 1994 South Africa 1961 1994 Tunisia 1978 Uganda 2005 Zimbabwe 1992

13

The OECD Codes and Schemes and Asia

In 2011, the following Asian countries are Members of OECD Tractor Codes and Seed Schemes:

Date of accession to the Codes and Schemes

Seeds Tractor Codes

China 1988 India 2008 1988 Iran 1995 Japan 1967 1966 Korea 1995 Kyrgyzstan 2005

14

OECD SEED SCHEMES

What are the OECD Seed Schemes?

The OECD Seed Schemes provide an international framework for the certification of agricultural seed moving in international trade. The Schemes were established in 1958 driven by a combination of factors including a fast-growing seed trade, regulatory harmonisation in Europe, the development of off-season production, the seed breeding and production potential of large exporting countries in America (North and South) and Europe, and the support of private industry. Membership of the Schemes is voluntary and participation varies. There are seven agricultural Seed Schemes.

Participating countries

With the recent accession of Ukraine, 58 countries from Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle-East, Asia and Oceania currently participate in the OECD Seed Schemes.

Objectives

The objectives of the Schemes are to encourage the use of “quality-guaranteed” seed in participating countries. The Schemes authorise the use of labels and certificates for seed produced and processed for international trade according to agreed principles ensuring varietal identity and purity.

The Schemes facilitate the import and export of seed, by the removal of technical barriers to trade through internationally recognised labels (“passports” for trade). They also lay down guidelines for seed multiplication abroad, as well as for the delegation of some control activities to the private sector (“authorisation”). The quantity of seed certified through the OECD Schemes has grown rapidly in recent years and now exceeds 400.000 tonnes.

How do the Seed Schemes operate?

The success of international certification depends upon close co-operation between maintainers, seed producers, traders and the designated authority (appointed by the government) in each participating country. Frequent meetings allow for a multi-stakeholder dialogue to exchange information, discuss case studies, prepare new rules and update the Schemes. The UN, a vast range of non-governmental organisations (International Seed Federation - ISF) and seed industry networks participate actively in the Schemes.

15

Benefits of the Schemes • To facilitate international trade by using globally-recognised OECD labels

and certificates (e.g. OECD labels are required to export seed to the European union).

• To build a framework to develop seed production with other countries or companies.

• To participate in the elaboration of international rules for seed certification.

• To develop collaboration between the public and private sectors.

• To benefit from regular exchanges of information with other national certification agencies and Observer organisations.

Annual List of Varieties • The Annual List of Varieties eligible for OECD certification includes varieties which are officially recognized as distinct, uniform and stable, and possess an acceptable value in, at least, one country.

• The List contains most of the internationally traded seed varieties whose number has grown steadily over the last thirty years. Currently, the number of listed varieties amounts to over 43 000, corresponding to 200 species.

• The List is available online and updated an a monthly basis.

Outlook As seed “consumers” become more demanding, there are greater needs for more uniform seed standards, while at the same time public financial resources for regulation and quality control are limited.

Co-operation among countries and stakeholders in the framework of the Schemes is a response to the concern for a market-responsive regulatory approach. Every country is confronted with a different legal framework, institutional barriers and trade relations; yet, the different approaches must remain consistent among countries entering international markets as importers or exporters of seed.

Seed companies are responsible for establishing and maintaining the distinctness, uniformity and stability of their varieties, not only domestically, but also across borders. However, there is a need for minimum criteria (“rules of the game”) to be commonly defined, endorsed and enforced when multiplying seed in large quantities for the trade. The OECD Schemes provide this legal framework at international level.

For more information see: www.oecd.org/tad/seed

16

The OECD Seed Schemes are a set of procedures, methods and techniques which enables monitoring

of the quality of seed during the multiplication process and which

ensure that both the varietal identity and the varietal purity of varieties is

maintained and safe-guarded.

The OECD List of Varieties Eligible for Certification is an official list of varieties which have

been accepted by National Designated Authorities as eligible for certification

in accordance with the Rules of the OECD Seed Schemes.

Accessible online

(updated on a monthly basis) www.oecd.org/tad/seed

17

List

of C

ount

ries

part

icip

atin

g in

one

or m

ore

OEC

D S

eed

Sche

mes

in 2

011

Sc

hem

es fo

r the

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l Cer

tific

atio

n or

the

Con

trol

of S

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Gra

sses

an

d Le

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and

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hum

Subt

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ver

and

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tabl

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Alb

ania

/ A

lban

ie

A

rgen

tina

/ Arg

entin

e

Aus

tral

ia /

Aus

tral

ie

A

ustr

ia /

Aut

riche

Bel

gium

/ B

elgi

que

B

oliv

ia /

Bol

ivie

Bra

zil /

Bré

sil

B

ulga

ria /

Bul

garie

Can

ada

C

hile

/ C

hili

C

roat

ia /

Cro

atie

Cyp

rus

/ Chy

pre

C

zech

Rep

ublic

/ R

épub

lique

tchè

que

D

enm

ark

/ Dan

emar

k

Egyp

t / E

gypt

e

Esto

nia

/ Est

onie

Finl

and

/ Fin

land

e

Fran

ce

G

erm

any

/ Alle

mag

ne

G

reec

e / G

rèce

Hun

gary

/ H

ongr

ie

Ic

elan

d / I

slan

de

18

List

of C

ount

ries

part

icip

atin

g in

one

or m

ore

OEC

D S

eed

Sche

mes

in 2

011

Sc

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and

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and

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tabl

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Indi

a / I

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n(Is

lam

ic R

ep.)

/ Rép

. Isl

am. d

'Iran

Irela

nd /

Irlan

de

Is

rael

/ Is

raël

Italy

/ Ita

lie

Ja

pan

/ Jap

on

K

enya

Kyr

gyzs

tan

/ Kirg

hizi

stan

Latv

ia /

Letto

nie

Li

thua

nie

/ Litu

anie

Luxe

mbo

urg

M

exic

o / M

exiq

ue

M

oldo

va /

Mol

davi

e

Mor

occo

/ M

aroc

Net

herla

nds

/ Pay

s-B

as

N

ew Z

eala

nd /

Nou

velle

-Zél

ande

Nor

way

/ N

orvè

ge

Po

land

/ Po

logn

e

Port

ugal

Rom

ania

/ R

oum

anie

Rus

sian

Fed

. / F

édér

atio

n de

Rus

sie

Se

rbia

/ Se

rbie

Slov

ak R

ep. /

Rép

ubliq

ue s

lova

que

Sl

oven

ia /

Slov

énie

Sout

h A

fric

a / A

friq

ue d

u Su

d

Spai

n / E

spag

ne

19

List

of C

ount

ries

part

icip

atin

g in

one

or m

ore

OEC

D S

eed

Sche

mes

in 2

011

Sc

hem

es fo

r the

Var

ieta

l Cer

tific

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n or

the

Con

trol

of S

eed

Gra

sses

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B

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and

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and

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Vege

tabl

es

Swed

en /

Suèd

e

Switz

erla

nd /

Suis

se

Tu

nisi

a / T

unis

ie

Tu

rkey

/ Tu

rqui

e

Uga

nda

/ Oug

anda

Ukr

aine

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

/ R

oyau

me-

Uni

Uni

ted

Stat

es /

Etat

s-U

nis

U

rugu

ay

Zi

mba

bwe

20

OECD TRACTOR CODES

What are the OECD Tractor Codes?

The OECD Standard Codes for the official testing of agricultural and forestry tractors are a set of rules and procedures for tractor testing with the aim to facilitate trade by updating international rules to certify tractors and their protective structures. Implementation of the Codes ensures that protective structures and performance criteria are carried out on a comparative basis, thus increase transparency, simplify international trade procedures, and open markets.

Participating Countries

Currently, 26 countries implement the Codes; of which, 22 are OECD Members and 4 non-OECD Economies (China, India Serbia and Russia). Observers include CEMA, CEN, IFAP, ISO and UNIDO.

How do the Tractor Codes operate?

National testing stations in each participating country carry out the tests on tractors to be commercialized according to common procedures. Test results are submitted to OECD for approval and the verification of individual tests are subcontracted to a Co-ordinating Centre. Approved tests are published and used by tractor manufacturers, sellers and buyers. Summaries of performance tests are available on-line.

What is OECD’s role? OECD facilitates co-ordination at the international level, with frequent meetings. These meetings enable dialogue amongst stakeholders, exchange of information, discussion of case studies, preparation of new rules and amendments to the Codes. Since the Codes were established in 1959, over 3 000 tractors have been tested for performance characteristics, and over 10 800 tractors have been tested for noise measurement at the driving position, and driver protection, in the case of tractor roll-over. In addition to regular meetings of the Codes, Test Engineer Conferences are held every two years, each time in a different country. The primary purpose of these conferences is the observation, review and discussion of testing practices by test engineers.

Users of the Codes Countries use the Codes for various purposes including national testing, tenders, import regulations, etc. In addition, farmers and other stakeholders benefit from them as an important source of comparable information on safety and technical reliability.

Outlook The OECD Tractor Testing Codes are in constant evolution with the growth in demand for greater harmonization across countries as new tractor models continue to proliferate. They have become an important international reference in the certification of tractors and their protective structures, underpinning existing international agreements, and contributing actively to the harmonization of regional and global standards. There is regular updating of the Codes so as to identify significant improvements in technical performance, safety and environmental protection.

For more information see: www.oecd.org/tad/tractor

21

22

23

The aim of the Strategic Plan for the OECD Tractor Codes is to strengthen the Codes by

improving their relevance, efficiency and effectiveness.

The Strategic Plan will enable to

improve the Rules of the Codes and their implementation and to identify

new strategic areas of work to be incorporated into the broader work

programme.

The OECD Tractor Codes contain a set of rules and testing procedures on

performance and safety.

The brochure can be found on the Tractor Codes website at following address: http://www.oecd.org/tad/tractor

24

Hea

d of

Uni

t, C

hair

and

Org

aniz

ers p

ausi

ng d

urin

g th

e 16

th T

est E

ngin

eers

’ Con

fere

nce

host

ed b

y G

erm

any

25

Technical Demonstration on Code 4 during the 16th Engineers Conference

(Strength of protective structures for standard tractors (static test on seat belt anchorage))

26

Malaysia participated as Observer in the 16th Engineers Conference

27

OECD FRUIT AND VEGETABLES SCHEME

Objectives of the OECD Scheme on Fruit and Vegetables

The main objective of the OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme is to facilitate international trade through the harmonization of implementation and interpretation of marketing standards. A further objective is to facilitate mutual recognition of inspections by participating countries. The Scheme is well known for its explanatory brochures on standards, but is also involved in defining inspection procedures that are recognized in many countries, and in sponsoring training courses. The Scheme also organises peer reviews with the goal of helping the reviewed country improve its quality inspection system.

Participating Countries

Currently, 25 countries participate in the OECD Scheme, including several major exporting countries, for all or some of the products covered.

How does the OECD Scheme operate?

The OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme provide a complete and internationally harmonised export quality inspection system for member countries. The mutual recognition of inspections is strengthened through implementation of peer reviews on national quality inspection systems, organisation of meetings for the heads of national inspection services and workshops for the inspectors. Frequent meetings also allow for a comprehensive dialogue amongst stakeholders in reviewing and elaborating the OECD standards' interpretation, as well as defining inspection procedures.

Outlook

Inter-governmental quality standardisation for fruit and vegetables remains essential for reducing technical barriers to international trade, as well as increasing transparency to consumers. The interpretation of standards is indispensable to applying them in practice and here the Scheme and its explanatory brochures on standards and inspection guidelines will continue to play a pivotal role.

The peer review activity on national fruit and vegetables inspection systems is well received among member countries and has become a core activity of the Scheme. It helps countries to improve policy making, adopt best practices, and comply with established international standards and principles.

As many African and Asian countries are specialized in fruit and vegetables production, they would benefit from implementing the Scheme to build up their export capacities.

For more information see: www.oecd.org/tad/fv

28

2012 is the 50th Anniversary of the OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme

On this occasion, the 2012 Plenary Meeting will be hosted by France

in December in South France.

29

International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables - Brochures published in 2011

These brochures are published within the framework of the Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruit and Vegetables established by OECD in 1962. They comprise explanatory notes and

illustrations to facilitate the common interpretation of the standard in force.

The brochures also include a USB key with the electronic version of the publication. They can be purchased from the OECD bookstore, online at www.oecdbookshop.org

30

OECD Peer Reviews

A Peer Review is a systematic examination and assessment of the performance of national

fruit and vegetables quality inspection systems by experts from other countries under the umbrella of OECD.

The ultimate goal of the peer review is to help to improve policy making, adopt best practices and comply with established international standards and principles. The

examination is conducted on a voluntary basis.

31

Meeting of Heads of National Inspection Services

Meetings of Heads of National Inspection Services play a unique role

within the framework of the OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme. The

OECD invites the Heads of the national fruit and vegetables inspection services, in order to discuss the major problems, developments and challenges in the fruit

and vegetables sector and the quality inspection system.

The OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme organised the 15th OECD Meeting of the Heads of National Inspection Services in

Budapest, 8-10 March 2011, on the invitation of the Hungarian Ministry of

Rural Development.

This publication summarizes the outcome of the 14th OECD Meeting of Heads of National

Inspection Services (held in Finland in June 2009), including all presentations

made during this event.

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OECD FOREST SEED AND PLANT SCHEME

Objectives of the OECD Scheme for Forest Reproductive Material

The OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme is a certification tool to facilitate international trade in forest seeds and plants. The Scheme aims to encourage the production and use of forest reproductive materials that have been collected, processed, raised, labelled and distributed in a manner that ensures their trueness to name. The Scheme reflects the wish for governments to have these materials correctly identified, with a view to minimising uncertainty in achieving successful afforestation.

Participating Countries

Currently, 25 countries participate in the Scheme, including several tropical countries that are developing their seed trade for reforestation.

How does the Scheme work?

Different OECD labels are used according to the two categories for forest reproductive materials. The labelled product is then recognised internationally as a guarantee of quality and as a certificate of origin. Forest seed sources and stands are approved by participating countries as the basic material for harvesting the reproductive material, i.e., seeds; regions of provenance are delineated and carefully documented. A total of 275 species of trees are currently eligible for certification under the Scheme.

Latest developments Many countries, especially from the tropical part of Africa, South America and Asia, have expressed interest in the OECD Scheme when developing a domestic system for the quality control of forest seeds & plants. Some of them have already joined. Taking into account the increased interest, the Scheme’s intention is to adapt the OECD certification system of forest reproductive materials to conditions in tropical countries in the near future.

The demand for improved forest reproductive material is increasing. The Forest Scheme’s intention is to include advanced categories and new types of basic materials, such as clones and mixture of clones into the Scheme’s rules. It would help to fully cover the international trade of forest reproductive material.

Outlook There is growing awareness of the potential benefits of the OECD Scheme in the context of harmonising regulations and facilitating international trade in forest reproductive materials, including in tropical areas.

For more information see: www.oecd.org/tad/forest

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This document contains the Rules of the OECD Forest Seed

and Plant Scheme

The Strategic plan has three goals:

Update and develop technical aspects of the Forest Scheme; Strengthen the organization

and implementation of the Scheme; Improve, extend and develop communication

with all stakeholders.

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OECD Codes and Schemes Events to be held at OECD and abroad in 2012

Some pictures of OECD Photographer: Luc Boegly

OECD Seed Schemes The Extended Advisory Group (EAG) Meeting will be held on 26-27 January. It will be preceded by the TWG Meeting on 25 January and miscellaneous Ad hoc Working group meetings on 24 January 2012. The 2012 Annual Meeting and Technical Working Group Meetings of the OECD Seed Schemes will be hosted in Helsinki by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland and Finnish Food Safety Authority on 9-13 July 2012. It will be preceded by miscellaneous technical meetings. OECD Tractor Codes The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Standard Codes for Agricultural and Forestry Tractors will be held on 23-24 February 2012 at the OECD Conference Centre. OECD Fruit and Vegetables Scheme The 2012 Plenary Meeting is due to be held early December in South France. It will be preceded by some Produce Working Group Meetings. OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme The next Technical Working Group Meeting (TWG) will take place on 24 and 25 April. The Annual Meeting of the Forest Scheme will be held at the OECD Headquarters on 3 October (afternoon) and 4 October (morning). It will be preceded by the TWG on 2 and 3 October (morning) 2012.

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Further information

The following OECD web pages can be consulted for additional information on the four programmes, (latest publications, news and events, rules and list of participating countries).

Agriculture (general): www.oecd.org/tad

OECD Directorate for Trade and Agriculture 2, rue André – Pascal75775 Paris, Cedex 16France

Codes and Schemes (general): www.oecd.org/tad/code

Seeds: www.oecd.org/tad/seed

Tractors: www.oecd.org/tad/tractor

Fruit and Vegetables: www.oecd.org/tad/fv

Forests: www.oecd.org/tad/forest

Contact:

Michael RyanHead, Codes & SchemesE-mail: Michael.ryan@oecd.orgFax : +33 1 44 30 61 17

January 2012

Bolivia Brazil CanadaBurkina F

Ireland

AustraliaArgentinaAlbania Austria Belgium

Bulgaria

Chile China Croatia Cyprus Czech Rep.

Denmark Egypt Estonia Finland France

Germany Greece Hungary

IsraelIran

India Iceland

Italy Japan

Kenya Korea Kyrgyzstan Latvia

Luxembourg Mexico Morocco

New Zealand Poland

Russian Fed. Serbia

Slovenia Spain Switzerland

Turkey Ukraine United King.

United States Uruguay Zimbabwe

Lithuania

Madagascar Moldova

Netherlands Norway Portugal

Romania Rwanda Slovakia

South Africa Sweden

Tunisia Uganda

63 countries participate in one or moreof the OECD Codes and Schemes

www.oecd.org/tad/code

OECD Codes and Schemes