CASC (Central Administration
for Seed Testing and Certification)
8, gamaa street
Cairo - EGYPT
Phone: + 202 35 73 89 37
info@casc-eg.com
International Organizations
CASC is a member of the international Seed Testing Association (ISTA), which regulates rules of seed testing and working methods, preferably in seed laboratories, in conformity with international standards.
Quality Assurance is one of the most important matters ISTA is concerned with, e.g. in the form of the re-accreditation of the CASC Central Seed Testing Laboratory following the ISO Guide 25, a specific interpretation of the ISO 9000 certification scheme. This re-accreditation has been obtained in 2001.
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OSCD) is an
intergovernmental forum composed of market economy member countries.
Some of its activities are open to non-member countries, which is the
case of seed trade regulations and more precisely the OECD Seed Schemes
.These are worldwide recongnized for the varietal certification of seed
moving in international trade. Egypt has joined (5) schemes, namely for
cereals, maize, sorghum, vegetables, oil crops and fodder crops.
Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plant (UPOV)
CASC is endeavoring to have membership of Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Egypt is expected to have this membership by the end of 2001.
Membership in UPOV will encourage investment in activities related to creation , introduction , multiplication and cultivation of superior varieties in view of the fact that membership of UPOV is associated with protection of the breeder's rights.
West Asia North Africa Seed Network (WANA)
The aim of the West Asia North Africa Seed Network (WANA) is to support the development of strong seed sector in member countries. The main goal is to integrate national seed systems and to promote seed trade within West Asia North Africa region through harmonization of policy and regulatory environment. Egypt has been a member since the foundation of WANA Seed Network in 1992.
