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1920s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1920.jpg)
1924: First International Seed Congress in London – FIS (Fédération Internationale du Commerce des Semences) and ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) established
1928: FIS Congress in Bologna – first draft of the Rules for the International Trade in Herbage Seed presented
1929: FIS Congress in Paris – Rules for International Trade in Herbage Seed come into force
1930s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1930s@2x.jpg)
1930: First edition of the FIS Rules for International Arbitration Procedure adopted; FIS Congress in Budapest
1931: First International Rules for Seed Testing adopted by ISTA who also established the ISTA Certificates Scheme
1938: International Association of Plant Breeders for the Protection of Plant Varieties (ASSINSEL – Association Internationale des Sélectionneurs pour la Protection des Obtentions Végétales) is formed with the aim of establishing an efficient system for the protection of new plant varieties
1940s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1940s@2x.jpg)
Activity in the seed sector slows during World War II
1950s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1950s@2x.jpg)
1950: FIS Congress, Paris marks the re-start of activity in the post-war period – Rules and Usages for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes revised
1951: International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted
1955: FIS extends its activities beyond forage and turf to form the Cereal Section
1956: ASSINSEL Congress in Semmering, Austria – motion passed calling for a diplomatic conference to consider the protection of plant varieties
1957: First International Conference for the Protection of Plant Varieties in Paris
1960s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1960s@2x.jpg)
1961: First Act of the UPOV Convention adopted
1963: Genetic code deciphered
1964: Forest and Tree Seed Group established (which later became the Tree and Shrub Seed Group)
1968: FDIS Congress, New York (see image)
1970s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1970s@2x.jpg)
1970: 8th edition of the FIS Rules and Usages adopted – Canadian and US associations declare their commitment to the Rules
1973: Development of hybrid rice in China
1977: Merger of the FIS and ASSINSEL Secretariats as plant breeders and seed producers start to become a single entity
1978: Joint FIS/ASSINSEL Congress in Hamburg (see image)
1980s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1980s@2x.jpg)
1980: First polymorphic RFLP marker described
1983: First stable transformations of plants by genetic engineering published
1987: First unsuccessful attempt to merge FIS and ASSINSEL
1990s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1990s@2x.jpg)
1991: New Act of the UPOV Convention adopted
1992: Convention on Biological Diversity published – a pivotal document on national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
1993: First international seed health initiatives by FIS members
1994: 12th edition of the Rules and Usages adopted
1995: World Trade Organization’s TRIPs (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement requiring the protection of plant varieties comes into force
1995: Motions for the accreditation of seed companies for seed testing and certification adopted by FIS
1999: Accreditation of seed companies for field inspection in implementation of the OECD seed schemes
2000s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2000s@2x.jpg)
2000: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety adopted
2001: International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGFRA) adopted
2002: FIS and ASSINEL merge to become the International Seed Federation (ISF)
2003: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety comes into force
2004: ITPGRFA comes into force
2005: Full accreditation of seed companies for seed certification under the OECD seed schemes and for issue of ISTA orange certificate
2010s
![](https://worldseed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2010s@2x.jpg)
Nagoya Protocol (2010) adopted in Nagoya, Japan