APHIS Posts Regulatory Framework for Seed Health (ReFreSH)

In early 2022, APHIS shared he Regulatory Framework for Seed Health (ReFreSH) Accreditation Standard and Participation Manual and asked for stakeholder consultation. We received 188 unique comments from ten stakeholders, including the seed industry and other national plant protection organizations (NPPO).

The comments were largely in support of the effort and also outlined various challenges in seed trade. APHIS considered all comments and incorporated changes where applicable.

We have updated the ReFreSH Accreditation Standard to include additional definitions, descriptions of non-conformances, corrective action requests and implementation, and clarified the regulated pest reporting and response section.

We have also updated the ReFreSH Participant Manual to clarify terminology, and added a fillable template that includes a summary view of mitigations proposed for each critical control points by a participating entity. The template will assist NPPOs as they develop their Seed Health Management Plans.

In today’s global market, U.S. producers need access to diverse varieties of healthy seed from around the world, and sufficient safeguards to protect their industries against the introduction and distribution of damaging seed-borne diseases. ReFreSH will help manage the phytosanitary challenges and risks of introducing and distributing seed-borne diseases.