The New Zealand Seeds Authority's new Seed Certification Information System (SCIS) will now be postponed until early July this year. It was previously expected to be in operation by mid-April.
This delay enables the addition of functionality requirements identified by AsureQuality which are critical to their ability to verify certification eligibility for seed crops entered in SCIS. These requirements must be addressed before the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) authorises the NZSA to operate SCIS. There have also been challenges with the migration of data from the existing system into SCIS which have required additional time and resource to remediate.
The projected go-live date of early July is dependent on a number of project contingencies, related to the issues described above, being delivered over the next two months. NZSA will provide further communication at the end of May to update industry on the project status. Failure to go-live in July will result in the project being delayed until the 2024/2025 season.
A go-live of SCIS in early July means that all crop entries for species with closing dates at or before go-live must be completed using the current application form and existing application process.
These species include:
• Kale
• Beet (Spring and autumn sown)
• Rape
• Swede
• Turnip
• Fodder Radish (autumn sown)
• White clover (change of variety)
• Strawberry Clover
• Red Clover (autumn sown, change of variety)
• Cocksfoot
• Serradella
• Pea (sown prior to 1st July)
For all other crop species with closing dates in September, November, and December (cannabis and maize) this year, the NZSA requests growers to hold their entries until after the SCIS goes live so that they can complete their entries in SCIS. It is the intention that approved crop entry applications received by AsureQuality prior to go-live will be migrated from SeedCert into SCIS in a process managed by NZSA and AsureQuality.
NZSA will be holding workshops in each district over July and early August to help growers administer their crop entries in SCIS. Training is already underway with seed company field representatives to provide additional one-on-one assistance should it be needed.
The specific dates and locations for the SCIS training workshops will be circulated to industry once venues and trainers have been confirmed.
If you have any concerns or question regarding management of seed certification activities this year please do not hesitate to contact George Gerard, NZSA manager. Ph 0274 474 807 or email ggerard@pggwrightsonseeds.co.nz