Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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USAID supports Georgia in certification of seedlings

Under the agricultural support program, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will assist the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in improving the certification procedures for seedlings.

At the workshop, the representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Agricultural Scientific Research Center, National Food Agency, Agriculture and Rural Development Agency and Agriculture Laboratory discussed the steps taken by Georgian Government to certify seedlings and improve legislation, at the meeting, the participants discussed future plans as well.

The USAID  program to support the harmonization of the  legislative base and retraining of specialists includes financial support for nurseries.
“Georgia's agriculture is moving to a qualitatively new level. At present, the vast majority of nurseries do not meet the relevant standards; At the same time, we see the possibility  of exporting seedlings from Georgia to other countries, including EU market; Therefore, we think, that today we held a very important meeting, all agencies received directives on how to produce antiviral and high quality plant material and how to get international recognition in their produce"- stated the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, George Khanishvili.

The process of voluntary certification of planting materials in Georgia has been underway since 2017 and is being implemented by the Agricultural Research Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Firstly, the nursery should obtain a qualified nursery status, then it will be possible to get engaged in the certification process.

The Assessment Commission considers internationally recognized standards while assessing the qualification of a  nursery. After qualification is assessed, the nursery will be able to get engaged in the certification process.

On the basis of the statement made at the Agricultural Scientific-Research Center, the certificate of varietal quality of planting material will be issued, based on field inspections and laboratory analyzes carried out by the specialist of the center.

The law regulates the process of certification of planting materials, through defining common principles of state regulation in the seed and planting  material protection field, providing quality seed and planting material on the market, regulating the registration of varieties of crops, production of seed and planting material, also regulating processing, certification, storage, sale, traceability, local and imported seed and planting material related issues.