Certification of grapevine planting material: International experience and national approaches

Certification of grapevine planting material in Russia constitutes a voluntary procedure essential for confirming varietal purity, verifying phytosanitary condition, and ensuring compliance with GOST standards for biometric indicators of the planting material. The utilization of certified material serves to enhance buyer confidence and fortify the producer’s market standing. Obtaining certification for grapevine planting material frequently serves as a mandatory condition for accessing state support programs. The historical development of grapevine sapling certification is closely linked to the creation of national and international standards and the implementation of disease control measures, particularly for viral pathogens. This article examines international grapevine planting material certification programs, including their principles, regulatory foundations, and phytosanitary requirements. A comparative analysis of approaches adopted in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia, and the Russian Federation was conducted. In Russia, the key documents regulating the certification of grapevine saplings include: (i) GOST 31783-2012 “Grapevine planting material (saplings). Specifications” (Ministry of Agriculture in the Russian Federation, 2012); (ii) Government Resolution No. 2425 (2021); (iii) Federal Law No. 468-FZ (2019); (iv) Order of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Russian Federation No. 502 (May 16, 2023). Current focus lies in harmonizing international standards, recognizing the role of international organizations (EPPO, FAO, IPPC, ICVG), and unifying phytosanitary protocols. Furthermore, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), acting through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), plays a key global role in coordinating these processes. Fundamental certification approaches involve the enhancement of regulatory frameworks, the control of grapevine pests and diseases, the application of innovative assessment methods, and the mandatory conduct of laboratory testing and inspections of planting material production sites. For contemporary industrial viticulture, securing virus-free planting material is of paramount importance. Modern research indicates that grapevine viral infections exhibit wide geographical distribution and vary significantly in prevalence and intensity across regions. The certification of planting material prevents the propagation of infected plants and the interregional dissemination of pathogens, thereby contributing to increased productivity in commercial vineyards.

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