JICA Training Course 2022
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in accordance with the objectives of the UPOV Convention, invites trainees from countries that are in the process of developing their plant variety protection systems that stipulated in the convention and promotes the dissemination of plant variety protection systems.
With the request of JICA, in the Plant Variety Protection System and Seed Quality Management System Online Training Course for the Supply of High-Quality Seeds, we were in charge of each lecture from September 5 to September 29. In response to requests from trainees in the previous year, videos ("Selection of Control Varieties," "Seed Infectious Disease Inspection," etc.) were prepared and provided to trainees in advance to facilitate their understanding. As a result, trainees gave high marks to the content of the lectures and lecture materials.
EAPVP Forum
The East Asia Plant Variety Protection Forum (hereinafter referred to as the EAPVP Forum) is also working on the UPOV Convention in the East Asia region. The EAPVP Forum consists of 13 countries, including 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, China, and Korea, and aims to have all member countries accede to the UPOV Convention (as of April 2022, five countries (Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore) have acceded to the UPOV Convention).
The basic course of the "EAPVP Forum DUS Testing Technology Training Online Course" was held online on November 1 and 2, and the specialized course on November 16 and 17. This training course was designed to promote the development of an internationally compliant plant variety protection system in East Asian countries that are not UPOV member countries. This year, 22 participants from 6 countries, mainly from East Asian countries that are not UPOV members, took part in the basic course, while 26 participants from 7 countries took part in the specialized course. The trainees actively asked questions about the implementation of the DUS test and the details of the variety protection system, showing the willingness of each country to introduce a variety protection system.
ISTA inspection for accredited laboratory
To maintain ISTA accreditation, laboratories must undergo an audit by ISTA once three years. We have been audited on June 22 and 23 and got 8th round of accreditation. This audit was conducted online because of the waiting period for quarantine due to the COVID-19.
The auditors evaluated our quality management system of the technical and administrative sections. In the technical audit, they checked whether the procedures of seed testing and recording conform with ISTA Rules. They also checked that the records of documentation, training and purchasing are managed in accordance with ISTA Accreditation Standards.
At the closing meeting of the audit, the auditors commented that NCSS has high proficiency in seed testing and thus we will keep maintaining and improving our quality and skills.
