Lebanon positive about acceptance NAL quality certificates
27 December 2011
In December Mr. Charles Zarzour, chief Import, Export and Plant Quarantine Service, of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture visited the Netherlands. This visit was arranged on invitation of Naktuinbouw, an invitation supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture.
His visit was indicated by the new Lebanese import requirements for vegetable seeds. These requirements have become effective on 1 December 2011 and require that a batch of seeds is provided with an ISTA orange International certificate. Mr Zarzour wanted to broaden his knowledge about the NAL system and submit the NAL quality certificates as alternative option for the ISTA certificates. Plantum had raised this point after a request thereto from the NAL companies.
The director of Naktuinbouw, Mr Van Ruiten, and the sector manager propagating material of the ministry, Mr Valstar, informed Mr Zarzour about the organisation of inspections in Holland and arranged a visit to the Variety Center of Naktuinbouw. Mr Zarzour was also informed about the NAL accreditation system and the other activities of Naktuinbouw. To give him an idea of the NAL system in operation, he visited the Naktuinbouw laboratories and two NAL accredited companies: Rijk Zwaan and Monsanto Holland (Bergschenhoek).
Mr Zarzour stated to be impressed of the solidity of the Dutch inspection system and the quality of the companies and expressed his confidence in the system. On indication of the importers in Lebanon legislation of NAL quality certificates as an alternative option for ISTA certificates had already been taken into account. Mr Zarzour indicated that his visit to the Netherlands supports the decision for that purpose in positive sense.
The expectation of Plantum, the ministry of EL& I and Naktuinbouw is that the visit will lead to formal acceptance of NAL quality certificates. An important development because of the position of the Lebanon in the Middle East and transit of vegetable seeds via that country to surrounding countries. The Lebanese ministry will evaluate the effect of the new import legislation in three or four years.
A visit to the Naktuinbouw Variety Center
