SGS received accreditation for seed quarantine facility in Brazil

SGS has received accreditation from Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply for it's brand new, state-of-the-art, seed quarantine facility. Located in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo it supports the import of seeds for breeding and R&D trials for all major crops in Brazil.

SGS now offers independent and accurate phytosanitary analysis of seeds imported for research and development programs into Brazil. This service is tailored for breeding companies to support and speed up seed batch release. With extensive capabilities, andthe latest equipment, this facility enables fast and efficient turnaround times for clients and facilitates their access to the marketplace.

The accreditation includes all major crops such as:

•    Corn (Zea mays)
•    Wheat (Tricuium aestivum)
•    Rice (Oryza sativa)
•    Soybean (Glycine spp.)
•    Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
•    Sugar cane (Saxxharum spp)
•    Cotton (Glossypium spp.)
•    Sunflower (Helianthus annuss)
•    Sorghum (Sorghum spp)
•    Watermelon (Citrullus lantus)
•    Peanut (Aracjhis hypogoea)
•    Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
•    Melon (Cucumis melo)
•    Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)

Seed research and development and regulatory programmes are highly dependent on the importation of seed and propagation materials from different regions of the world. The challenge for the industry is to ensure that this transit is completed safely, and without introducing destructive pests and diseases. Failure to do so can have devastating natural and commercial consequences. SGS’s new facility is designed to eliminate this risk by detecting, identifying, containing and eliminating pests such as insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, weeds and other organisms.

"The accreditation of our seed quarantine facility is a landmark for agriculture in Brazil. It is also a credit to the hard work and determination of all those involved in making this project a success," said Olivier Coppey, Executive Vice President of Agriculture, Food and Life, SGS. "This new facility will enable seed companies to import seeds safely, comply with Brazilian phytosanitary regulations, and contribute to the continuous development of Brazil’s Agriculture industry."