Policy 2.1 - Seed Orchards and Production Facilities

Effective Date: 01-Mar-97
Updated: 14-Jul-98
Responsible Branch: Tree Improvement Program

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy covers the process and standards for registering tree seed and vegetative materials derived from seed orchards and production facilities, and the licensing of those agencies which manage orchards and facilities. This policy also covers the transfer of genetic material to non-Ministry agencies.

This policy applies to all agencies that wish to register seed or vegetative lots, derived from seed orchard and production facilities, with the Ministry. This policy does not apply to collections from natural stands or plantations, unless the collection is established or amplified in a production facility.

Purpose

This policy is designed to ensure that genetic material derived from seed orchards and production facilities is appropriately produced and used for operational reforestation.

Definition: Production Facility

In this policy a "production facility" is defined as any facility which produces vegetative material to be used for propagation and reforestation.

Policy

It is the duty of the Ministry to register seed and vegetative lots, and review and accept applications for registration of seedlot and vegetative lots (Tree Cone, Seed and Vegetative Material Regulation, s. 3). The Chief Forester, or persons authorized by the Chief Forester, may licence processors and dealers of seed and vegetative material (Tree Cone, Seed and Vegetative Material Regulation, s. 4 and 5).

It is the policy of this Ministry that:

• all agencies which manage seed orchards and production facilities in B.C. which produce seed and/or vegetative material for registration be licenced with the Ministry
• all registered seed and vegetative lots produced by licensed agencies meet acceptable technical standards. These standards may include adaptability, genetic worth, genetic diversity, field performance, and others deemed necessary to protect and enhance the health and productivity of the forest resources.

It is also the policy of the Ministry that genetic material is transferred to non-Ministry agencies only through material transfer agreements (Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s. 170(2)(a)).

Licensing

Licensing application procedures suitable for agencies managing seed orchard and vegetative material production facilities will be developed.

Agencies managing seed orchards and production facilities may be licensed. A Licence Review Committee will review applications for licensing, inspect seed orchards or production facilities, and assess the ability of the owner to meet the conditions of the licence and the technical standards for seed or vegetative lot registration. This committee will make recommendations to the Chief Forester, or persons authorized by the Chief Forester, for licence suitability.

The licence will be renewable every five years. It may be canceled for significant failure to conform to the conditions of the licence, or for submitting information which is incorrect or purposely misleading.

Evaluations and Audits

A technical audit of each orchard may be conducted to assess compliance with the licence and technical registration standards. A non-Ministry member of the Technical Advisory Committee may assist with the audit of Ministry seed orchards and production facilities. Technical standards will be developed for this audit.

Registration

Requirements and procedures for registering seed and vegetative lots derived from seed orchards and production facilities will be established. Those lots which are produced by licenced agencies and meet the applicable technical standards will be certified for registration.

Those lots which do not meet one or more of the technical standards may be conditionally certified for registration.

Seed and vegetative material derived from orchards or production facilities outside of B.C. may be registered. Protocols for such will be established in consideration of the technical standards, the federal Seeds Act and Plant Protection Act and their regulations, and the rules and directives of the OECD Scheme for the Control of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade (Paris, 1974).

The registration requirements and procedures, including the technical standards and standards for conditional registration, will be published in a document entitled "Guide to Registering Seed and Vegetative Lots Derived from Seed Orchards and Production Facilities."

Technical Standards

Technical standards for seed and vegetative lot registration will be developed. These standards will address adaptation, genetic worth (an estimate of genetic gain for a specific trait), genetic diversity, and in the case of vegetative material derived from new technologies, field performance.

Adaptation

Technical standards for determining the geographic transfer limits for seed and vegetative material derived from seed orchards and production facilities will be developed.

Genetic Worth

Using protocols for determining genetic worth, as developed by Research Branch, technical standards for monitoring pollen contamination (where applicable), collecting data, and calculating genetic worth for seed and vegetative lots submitted for registration will be developed.

Seed orchard and production facility owners must make available upon request the data which were collected in accordance with the applicable standards and the methodology used to calculate the genetic worth for seed and vegetative lots submitted for registration.

Genetic Diversity

Technical standards for the genetic diversity required of seed or vegetative lots will be established.

Field Performance

Technical standards for vegetative material derived through new technologies will be developed to ensure field performance is consistent with, or better than, seedlings of comparable genetic background.

Conditional Registration

Standards for the conditional registration and limited deployment of lots which do not meet one or more of the above technical standards will be developed.

Transfer of Genetic Material between Agencies

Material transfer agreements will be established with non-Ministry parties prior to releasing any genetic material (including seed, seedlings, and cuttings) to be used for research purposes.

Conventions for assessing requests by non-Ministry parties and material transfer agreements will be established prior to releasing any genetic material (including seed, seedlings, and cuttings) to be used for production purposes, or for sale or transfer to third parties (Forest Act, s. 151 (2)(j), Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s. 170(2)(a)).

Responsibilities

Chief Forester (these duties may be delegated to another person or other persons)

• licensing seed orchards and production facilities
• constituting Licence Review Committees
• conducting technical audits
• canceling licences
• resolving disputes

Leader, Tree Improvement Program

• developing licensing application procedures
• establishing requirements and procedures for lot registration, including conditional registration
• certifying or rejecting lots submitted for registration or conditional registration
• establishing conventions for assessing requests and transfer agreements for genetic material to be used for production, or for sale or transfer to third parties

Leader, Tree Improvement Program and Director, Research Branch (jointly)

• developing technical standards for audits and lot registration

Director, Research Branch

• providing timely estimates of breeding values of parents of clones for determining genetic worth
• developing material transfer agreements for genetic material to be used for research purposes

References

• Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s.70(4)(c), 170(2)(a) & 210(2)(c)
• Forest Act, Part 12, s.151(2)(j)> & (k)
• Tree Cone, Seed and Vegetative Material Regulation
• Silviculture Practices Regulation, s.8
• Ministry Policy Manual, Resource Management, 2.2, Cone and Seed
• Seeds Act (Federal)
• Plant Protection Act (Federal)
• OECD Scheme for the Control of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade (Paris, 1974).
• Tree Improvement Council of B.C.

indicate most recent changes to this page