Phytosanitary Certificate (IPPC ISPM-12)
Issued by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country. Certifies the seed lot is free from regulated pests and meets the importing country's phytosanitary requirements.
TRADE DOCUMENTATION CENTER
Seed Trade Documentation Center
Everything you need to move seed across borders — phytosanitary certificates, import permits, export documentation, certification schemes and country-specific rules. SeedMatchGroup handles the entire documentation chain privately on your behalf.
Reference summary only. Requirements change frequently — for live, country- and crop-specific guidance, request a sourcing consultation. SeedMatchGroup acts as a sourcing and trade-documentation facilitator.
Phytosanitary Documentation
Plant-health certificates required for international seed shipments.
Re-Export Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued when seed has been imported and is re-exported to a third country without further processing. References the original certificate.
Pre-Export Inspection Report
Field inspection, lab testing (PCR / ELISA / grow-out) and lot sampling records used to support phytosanitary issuance.
Treatment Certificate
Documents seed treatments (thiram, metalaxyl, hot-water, etc.) applied to meet importer phytosanitary or quality requirements.
Import Documentation
Documents the importing country requires before, during and after entry.
Import Permit
Required by most countries before shipment. Specifies crop, quantity, origin and phytosanitary conditions. Issued by the importing country's NPPO or Ministry of Agriculture.
Variety Registration / Catalogue Listing
EU, Turkey, India, Brazil and others require varieties to be listed on a national catalogue or VCU register before commercial import.
GMO / Non-GMO Declaration
Mandatory in EU, Saudi Arabia, India and others. Includes supplier statement and where required, PCR test results.
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
Detailed by lot, variety, weight, value (USD), incoterm and HS code (typically 1209.xx).
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Transport document issued by the carrier. Original required for sea freight; e-AWB common for air.
Certificate of Origin
Issued by Chamber of Commerce of exporting country. May be EUR.1 / Form A / generic depending on trade agreement.
ISTA Orange Certificate
International seed-lot quality certificate (germination, purity, moisture) — accepted globally for trade.
OECD Seed Scheme Label
Required for many forage, vegetable and cereal seed lots traded internationally. Confirms varietal identity and class (Pre-Basic / Basic / Certified).
Export Documentation
Documents the exporter must prepare before shipment can leave origin.
Export Declaration
Filed with customs of the exporting country. Confirms HS code, value, destination, exporter and consignee.
NPPO Inspection Request
Application to the local plant-protection authority to inspect the lot and issue the phytosanitary certificate.
Lot Identity & Traceability File
Production location, parent-seed origin, processing batch, treatment records and lab COA — required for traceability and any future claims.
Material Safety / Treatment Sheet
MSDS-style sheet for any chemical seed treatments. Required by IATA for air freight of treated seed.
Country-Specific Annex
Additional declarations on the phytosanitary certificate (e.g. "seed produced in an area free from Clavibacter michiganensis") demanded by some importers.
HS Codes — Seed Trade
Most common Harmonized System codes used for international seed shipments.
1209.91
Vegetable seeds (tomato, pepper, cucumber, melon, lettuce, onion, brassicas, etc.)
1209.30
Herbaceous flower and ornamental seeds
1209.21
Lucerne / alfalfa seed
1209.22
Clover seed
1209.23
Fescue seed
1209.25
Ryegrass seed
1209.29
Other forage and pasture seed
1209.99
Other seeds, fruit and spores for sowing (incl. tree, medicinal, specialty)
1006.10
Rice seed (paddy/rough)
1005.10
Maize seed
1001.11 / 1001.91
Wheat seed (durum / other)
Country-Specific Requirements
Snapshot of importer rules in the markets we source into most frequently.
European Union
Variety must be on EU Common Catalogue or national list. EU Plant Passport for intra-EU movement. ISTA Orange Certificate widely accepted. GMO declaration mandatory. Standard phytosanitary on entry from third countries.
United States (USDA APHIS)
Small Lots of Seed permit (PPQ 587) or commercial import permit required. Federal Noxious Weed declaration. Phytosanitary certificate from origin NPPO. Some crops require PCIT pre-clearance.
Brazil (MAPA)
Variety must be registered in RNC. Importer must be RENASEM-registered. Phytosanitary plus extra declarations for tospovirus, Clavibacter and others.
India (PQ Order 2003)
Import permit from DPPQS required before shipment. Additional declarations for ToBRFV, Pepino Mosaic, CGMMV depending on crop. GMO-free declaration mandatory.
Saudi Arabia & GCC
Import permit from Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture (MEWA). GMO-free declaration. Halal-compatible treatment statements where applicable. Arabic-translated invoice common.
Nigeria & West Africa
NAQS phytosanitary inspection on arrival. National Seed Council registration for commercial varieties. Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) often required for value > USD 10k.
Kenya & East Africa
KEPHIS import permit and post-entry inspection. Variety listing under KEPHIS National Variety List for commercial sale. ToBRFV and Maize Lethal Necrosis declarations common.
China (GACC)
Import permit from MARA. Quarantine declarations for crop-specific pests. Pre-shipment registration of exporter / processing facility increasingly required.
Turkey (TAGEM / BÜGEM)
Variety registration in National Variety List before commercial import. Additional declarations for ToBRFV, TYLCV. Phytosanitary inspection on entry.
Mexico (SENASICA)
Import permit (NOM-FF) per crop. Phytosanitary certificate with additional declarations. CIBIOGEM authorisation for any GM trait.
International Standards & Schemes
The frameworks that govern global seed trade.
ISTA — International Seed Testing Association
Orange International Seed Lot Certificates for germination, purity, moisture and health testing. Accredited labs in 80+ countries.
ISF — International Seed Federation
Industry framework for seed trade, IP, phytosanitary harmonisation and dispute resolution (ISF Rules and Usages for Trade in Seeds).
OECD Seed Schemes
Varietal certification schemes for grasses, legumes, cereals, maize, vegetables, oilseeds and others — supports international recognition of seed class and identity.
IPPC / ISPM-12
International Plant Protection Convention standard governing phytosanitary certificates worldwide.
UPOV — Plant Variety Protection
Variety rights and breeder royalty framework. Relevant for proprietary lines and breeder agreements.
Pest declarations change constantly. ToBRFV, Pepino Mosaic, CGMMV, Clavibacter, TYLCV and others trigger new additional declarations across major importers every season. SeedMatchGroup tracks these per market and prepares the correct supplier declarations as part of every sourcing project.
Need the right documentation pack for your shipment?
Tell us the crop, origin and destination — we will prepare the full documentation checklist and coordinate phytosanitary, certification and customs with the producer privately.
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