DEAS  1039  : 2020  
ICS nn.nnn.nn  
 
© EAC 2020                                                                                                                               First Edition 2020   
 EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
Common beans  — Requirements for certification  
 DEAS  1039  : 2020   
ii © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 Copyright notice  
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Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.  
Violators may be prosecuted . DEAS  1039 : 2020  
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Seed classes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  4 
5 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
5.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......Error! Bookmark not defined.  
5.2 Eligible varieties  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 5 
5.3 Application for certification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  5 
5.4 Field requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
6 Field requirements (borrow from previous) standards  ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
7 Field inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 6 
8 Seed sampling and laboratory requirements  ................................ ................................ .....................  7 
9 Certificates  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  7 
10 Packaging and labell ing................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
11 Post -control tests  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 9 
Annex  A (normative)  Field inspection report  ................................ ................................ ...............................  10 
Annex  B (normative)  Seed laboratory test report  ................................ ................................ ........................  12 
Annex C (normative)  Seed for certificate  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 13 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  14 
 DEAS  1039  : 2020   
iv © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing requirements 
governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standar dization, trade barriers that are encountered when goods and services are exchanged 
within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committee  (EASC)  mandated to develop and 
issue East African Standards  (EAS) . The Committee is composed of representatives of the National 
Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the public and private sector 
organizations  in the community .  
East African Standards are developed through  Technical Co mmittees that are representative of key 
stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties. 
Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the National Standards Bodies in the 
Partner States. The comments received are discussed and incorporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the Principles and procedures for development of East African Standards. XXXXXX.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pac e with technological advances. Users of the East 
African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest versions of the standards 
they are implementing .  
The committee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC /TC 012, Seed and propagation 
materials . 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject of patent 
rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  DEAS 1039 : 2020  
 
© EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  1 
 Common b ean seeds  — Requirements for certification  
1 Scope   
This Draft East Africa Standard specifies the certification requirements for pre -basic, basic and  certified seed 
of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). It includes requirements for eligible varieties, field  requirem ents, 
field inspections, seed sampling, laboratory requirements, certificates, packaging and labelling,  and post -
control tests . 
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content cons titutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
International Seed Testing Association ISTA Rules  
OECD, Seed Schemes; Guidelines for Control Plot Tests and Field Inspection of Seed Crops  
OECD, Schemes for Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in the International Trade  
UPOV TG/12/9, Guidelines for conducting DUS tests for Common bean (Phaseolus  vulgaris L.)  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:  
— ISO Online browsing platform: availa ble at http://www.iso.org/obp  
3.1  
seed test certificate  
legal document issued by the national seed certification authority, which states that a seed lot has met the 
requirements set in this standard  
3.2  
distinctness  
variety is deemed to be distinct if it is clearly distinguishable in at least one character from any other variety 
whose existence is a matter of common knowledge at the time of filing the application for registration  
3.3  
field 
defined and identifiable a rea of land or facility that is used to produce a seed crop under the Seed Certification  
Scheme   
2 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 3.4  
field inspection  
inspection of a field and/or seed crop, by an inspector to check if the minimum requirements for seed 
certification have been satisfied  
3.5  
field number  
number assigned to the field by the national seed certification authority, when the application form for 
certification i s submitted  
3.6  
germination  
emergence and development of a seedling to a stage where the aspect of its essential struct ures indicates 
whether or not it is able to develop further into a satisfactory plant under favourable conditions in the field  
3.7  
seed grower  
person or entity registered to grow a crop intended to produce seed   
3.8  
inert matter  
seed units and all other matter and structures not defined as pure seed or other seeds  
3.9  
isolation  
minimum distance or time between two crops of common bean that is required to prevent contamination either 
mechanically or by cross pollination  
3.10  
inspector  
authorized official  or accredited entity responsible for carrying out seed certification activities  
3.11  
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules  
rules for seed testing published by the International Seed Testing Association  
3.12  
label  
tag or other device that i s attached to or written, stamped, or printed on any container of seed or that 
accompanies any lot of bulk seed and which describes the kind of seed and any other information required by 
relevant regulation.  
3.13  
previous cropping  
period (seasons or years ) that elapses between the production of a crop of the same species in a field and the 
production of a crop entered in the certification  scheme in the same field  
3.14  
maintainer  
person or organisation responsible for the production or maintenance of a bre d variety included in a national 
list of varieties/variety catalogue eligible for certification, and ensure that the variety remains tru e to type 
throughout its full life -span and in the case of hybrid varieties, that the formula for hybridisation is follo wed 
3.15  
National Seed Certification Authority (NSCA)  
national authority responsible for conducting seed certification processes   
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  3 
 3.16  
noxious weed  
weed species, the seed of which is difficult to separate during processing or has undesirable effects on th e 
crop produced, for example by possible genetic contamination  
3.17  
off-type 
plant of the same species which does not exhibit the recognised and accepted habit and characteristics of the  
variety being grown  
3.18  
other seeds  
seeds of any plant species oth er than that of the crop sample that is being tested. They consist of weed seeds  
and other crop seeds  
3.19  
parental material  
population or lines used by a breeder to maintain a variety  
3.20  
person  
natural person or legal entity  
3.21  
post -control plot  
small plot where a representative sample of a seed lot is grown to determine the identity and purity of the 
variety and to check if the seed certification system is operating satisfactorily  
3.22  
pure seed  
species stated by an applicant, or found to predomin ate in a test, and includes all botanical varieties and 
cultivars of that species, including intact seeds and pieces of seed units lar ger than one -half their original size  
3.23  
variety registration  
recording of a new variety in a national variety catalogu e/national variety list  when it has been tested and 
satisfied the requirements for distinctness, uniformity, stability, and has value for cultivation and use  
3.24  
rogueing  
removal of off -types and diseased plants or any other unwanted plant from a seed cr op if they may reduce the 
quality of the harvested crop  
3.25  
seed certification  
process by which the quality and identity of a seed lot is assured  
3.26  
seed lot  
defined quantity of seed bearing the same reference number and for which the origin, producti on history and 
identity is known  
3.27  
stability  
condition of a variety distinguishing characteristics to remain unchanged after repeated growing cycles   
4 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 3.28  
uniformity  
relevant characteristics subject to the variations that may be expected from the parti cular features of its 
propagation  
3.29  
variety  
assemblage of cultivated plants that is clearly distinguished from other varieties by any characters 
(morphological, physiological, cytological, chemical, or others) and which retains its distinguishing 
chara cteristics when reproduced by the normal means for the crop and variety  
3.30  
variety catalogue/national list varieties  
list of varieties that have been registered by a national authority and can be produced and marketed as 
certified seed  
3.31  
carryover s eed 
seed produced in previous season and stored for one or more cropping seasons  
3.32  
pre-basic seed  
seed that is derived from breeder seed and is used to produce basic seed through one cycle of multiplication  
3.33  
breeder seed  
nucleus seed from the bree der and is used to produce pre -basic seed  
3.34  
seed  
planting materials used for generative propagation of plants  
3.35  
basic seed  
seed that has been produced from breeder or pre -basic seed and is used for the production of certified seed  
3.36  
certified s eed 
seed that is produced from basic seed through one or two generations of multiplication  
3.36.1   
certified seed 1st generation  
first generation of seed derived from basic seed  
3.36.2   
certified seed 2nd generation  
seed derived from 1st generation certifi ed seed   
3.37  
seed class   
Seed class -system that shows the generations involved during seed multiplication   
4 Seed classes  
For the purpose of this standard, the following classes of seed shall apply:  
a) pre-basic seed;   
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  5 
 b) basic seed; and  
c) certified seed:  
d) 1st gen eration (C1); and  
e) 2nd generation (C2).  
5 Requirements  
5.2 Eligible varieties  
5.2.1  Varieties eligible for seed certification shall be those that have been examined, tested and registered 
in the national list of varieties/ national variety catalogue.  
5.2.2  The national seed certification authority shall keep the official descriptor of the varieties in hard and 
electronic copies.  
 
5.3 Application for certification  
5.3.1  The minimum information for an application for certification of a seed crop shall include t he following:  
a) name, address and contact details of the seed grower;  
b) crop and variety to be sown;  
c) physical location;  
d) area and reference number of the field, and its cropping history for the past two cropping seasons;  
e) class of seed to be produced; and  
f) regist ration number of the seed grower.  
5.3.2  Information and records related to the previous cropping history, origin of seed planted, and field 
inspections shall be kept and used for certification to ensure full traceability of quality, genetic identity and 
purity of the seed harvested.  
5.4 Field  requirements   
5.4.1 The inspection of seed crops shall be done in accordance with Organization for Economic Co -
operation and Development  (OECD ) seed schemes ; Guidelines for Control Plot Tests and Field Inspection of 
Seed Crops  if the field is found to be in conformity with the requirements stated in Table 1 . 
Table 1 — Field requirements for seed crops of common bean  
S/N Variable  Pre-basic seed  Basic seed  Certified seed  
i.  Previous cropping requirements, min . 1 1 1 
ii.  Isolation, m, min . 10 10 5 
iii.  Maximum off-types , per 100  m2, max .  0  
1  
2  
6 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 iv.  Bean Anthracnose ( Colletrotrichum 
lindemuthianum ), %, max .  0.02 0.02 0.02 
v.  Bean common mosaic virus , %, max . 0 0 0.1 
vi.  Bacterial canker , %, max .  0 0 0.05 
vii.  Halo blight ( Pseudomonas syringae 
pv. phaseolicola ), %, max . 0 0 0.05 
viii.  Angular bean leaf spot 
(Peudocercospora griseola ), %, max .  0.02 0.02 0.05 
ix.  Common bacterial blight 
(Xanthomonas Phaseoli ), %, max . 0 0 0.05 
 
5.4.2 The seed lot shall be sampled and tested in an ISTA accredi ted or an officially authorized laboratory. 
The sampling and testing of seed lots shall be done in accordance with ISTA rules.  
5.4.3  A seed lot that conforms to the requirements set out in Table 2 shall be given a seed test certificate 
and a unique referen ce number to confirm  its status under the certification scheme. One part of the seed 
sample shall be retained for sowing in a post -control plot in the next season, or earlier if that can be achieved.  
6 Field requirements   
6.1 Pre basic and basic seed shall  be produced under the responsibility of the breeder or maintainer . 
6.2 Certified seed shall be produced for up to a maximum of 2 generations .  
6.3 The national certification authority shall inspect and certify the production of pre -basic, basic and  
certified seed crops  
6.4 A field producing a seed crop of common bean shall be approved for certification if it complies with the 
requirements in Table 1.  
6.5 Fields may be rejected for certification because of unsatisfactory condition caused by noxious weeds, 
poor growth, poor stands, excessive disease presence, insect damage and any other condition that prevents 
accurate inspection or creates doubt as to the identity of the variety.  
7 Field inspection  
7.1 The national seed certification authority shall prepare the inspection s’ schedule for the inspectors, 
based on all necessary information on the application form, to ensure that the timing of inspections allows the  
requirements in Table 1 to be properly assessed.  
7.2 The inspector shall inspect the field in acco rdance with OECD seed schemes and shall check for 
isolation requirements, off types, the presence of noxious weeds and diseases.  
7.3 A minimum of three inspections shall be done for each seed production field to check if the field 
requirements  specified in  Table 1 are met.  
7.4 At the time of the first inspection, the inspector shall confirm with the grower the previous cropping of 
the field, checking on isolation and the proof of origin/authentication of the variety planted by using the labels.  
7.5 Dependin g on the degree of contamination, the inspector may give instructions for off -types and 
diseased  plants to be rogued .  
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  7 
 7.6 The field inspection report shall indicate the field status and comments for any corrective actions  
required such as re -inspection to confirm the field requirements. All field inspection reports shall be provided  
to the grower and the seed enterprise after each inspection in a timely manner. The field inspection report in  
this document specifies a reference method for the determination o f the iodine value (commonly known in the 
industry as IV) of animal and vegetable fats and oils, hereinafter referred to as fats. Annex A shall be signed 
by both the inspector and the grower or the grower’s representative.  
8 Seed sampling and laboratory re quirements  
8.1 The harvested seed from the field approved for certification shall be kept as an identified unit until  
processing. After processing, a sample shall be submitted to laboratory for testing where a conformed sample  
shall be given a certificate with a unique lot number for the purpose of tracking and sampling.  
8.2 The maximum size of a seed lot for certification purposes is 30 000 kg; lots larger than this shall be  
divided and given separate lot numbers.  
8.3 A seed sampler shall draw a representa tive submitted sample from each lot according to the ISTA rules  
8.4 The submitted sample shall be divided into three sub -samples, one for testing in the laboratory, one to 
be stored for reference purposes in case re -testing is necessary, and one for the po st-control tests. The 
samples shall be marked with the same identification as the seed lot, securely sealed and shall be stored in 
cool and dry conditions to prevent contamination and loss of germination.  
8.5 Laboratories authorized by the national seed ce rtification authority to conduct seed testing for 
certification shall follow the methodology established in the ISTA rules for common bean seed.  
8.6 The seed lots shall comply with the laboratory requirements specified in Table 2.  
Table 2 — Laboratory requ irements for seeds lots of common bean  
S/N Variable  Pre-basic seed  Basic seed  Certified seed  
i.  Pure seed, %, min.  99 99 99 
ii.  Inert matter, %, max.  0.95 0.95 0.95 
iii.  Other crop seeds, %, max . 0.05 0.05 0.05 
iv.  Germination, %, min . 90 85 80 
v.  Moisture conten t, %, max.  14 14 14 
vi.  Weed seeds, per kg, max . 0 0 0 
NOTE  Moisture content is expressed as a percentage of the fresh weight of the original sample  
 
8.7 The laboratory test report shall be issued in accordance with Annex B.  
9 Certificates  
9.1 The seed te st certificate for a seed lot shall be signed and issued by the national seed certification 
authority and shall include all information presented in Annex C. This certificate shall be valid for a period of 
six months.  
9.2 Carryover seed shall be re -sampled  and retested for germination. If the test result complies with the 
minimum requirements, a new test certificate shall be issued for the seed lot, which cancels the previously 
issued certificate, and shall include the certificate number of the cancelled ce rtificate.   
8 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 9.3 Issuing of certificates shall be in accordance to ISTA rules .  
10 Packaging and labelling  
10.1 All classes of seed that have been certified shall be packaged in new containers which shall be marked 
with the company name and crop species and shall have the official label of the national seed certification 
authority.  
10.2 The labels for each class are identified by the following colours:  
a) pre-basic seed: Violet band on white ; 
b) basic seed: White ; 
c) certified 1 Seed : Blue ; and  
d) certified 2 Seed : Red . 
10.3 If seeds are treated with any chemical or product harmful for human or animal consumption, the 
container shall carry a label stating the chemical or product used and warning of the health risks.  
10.4 The labels shall be prominent, indelible, and legib le and fixed to the containers by an authorized person 
in such a way that they cannot b destroyed or easily removed. The following information shall be included on 
the official labels:  
10.5 The labels shall be prominent and fixed to the containers by an au thorized person in such a way that 
they cannot be destroyed or easily removed. The labelling shall be indelible, and legibly marked on the 
containers with the following information : 
a) front label:  
i. name of the crop, ―Common bean seed‖;  
ii. species ( scientific name); 
iii. variety denomination;  
iv. seed lot number;  
v. test certificate number;  
vi. date of test;  
vii. net weight; and  
viii. seed treatment declaration (if applicable);  
b) back label:  
i. logo of the national certification authority;  
ii. name and address of certifying authority;  
iii. seed class;  
iv. date of test  and country of production; and   
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  9 
 v. statement of re -packing and re -labelling (if applicable).  
10.6 All containers/bags shall be closed either by hand or machine stitching and shall be sealed in such a 
way that if they are opened illegally, that viola tion can be detected.  
10.7 Repackaging and relabelling  are authorized in the following cases:  
a) the national seed certification authority may authorize the re -packaging and re -labelling of a particular 
seed lot that is produced in another country, but shall retain the original label information of the 
producing country; and  
b) blending of a seed lot with other lots of the same variety and class (generation) is allowable if all seed 
lots of the blend have met the field and laboratory requirements for certificatio n prior to blending. A 
new lot number shall be issued. Details of the blended lots and their proportions shall be kept by the 
certifying authority for traceability.  
11 Post -control tests  
The Post control tests shall be carried out in accordance with OECD S chemes for Varietal Certification or the  
Control of Seed Moving in the International Trade.   
10 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Field inspection report  
Reference number...........  
Date of the report.............  
Seed grower information  
Name ……………………………………. Address..…………… …………………………  
Telephone: ……………………………… E -mail.............…………………………………  
Registration number……………………. Number of inspection....................................  
Field location  
Province/Region............................................ District .................. .............Sector  
Latitude......................................................... Longitude ……………….. Field number  
Field size (Ha/acre) ………………………..... Cropping season ………. Crop species  
Seed class ………………………….……… Variety ………………… Previous cropping  
Variable  Observations/results  Comments/remarks  
Isolation, m    
Off types    
Noxious weeds    
Deliberative disease     
   
   
   
   
Other crops    
General conditions of the crop (for example, drought, 
crop husbandry, etc.)    
 
Decision  
Decision on the appro val Justification  
The seed crop is approved for  
certification   
The seed crop is not approved for  
certification    
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  11 
 Seed grower ……………. Inspector signature ……….. National seed certification authority  
Date &signature ………… Date & signature …………… Date & signature   
12 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 Anne x B 
(normative ) 
 
Seed laboratory test report  
Name of seed grower  
Species, variety, class, weight of lot  
Testing and issuing laboratory  
Sampled by  
Test number  
Country of origin  
Label serial number  
Seed lot reference number : 
Number of 
containers  Date of sampling  Date sample  
received  Date test  (s) concluded  Test number  
     
ANALYSIS RESULTS  
Purity  Germination  Moisture ,content,  
% Pure  
seed , 
% Inert 
matter,%  Other  
crop 
seeds , 
% Weed  
seeds,  
per kg  Number  
of days  Normal  
seedlings,  
% Hard  
seeds,  
% Fresh  
seeds,  
% Abnormal  
seedlings , 
% Dead  
seeds,  
% 
           
Kind of inert matter:  
Other crop seeds:  
Weed seed:  
Other determinations  
Place Date  Signature  
  
© EAC 2020  – All righ ts reserved  13 
 Annex C  
(normative)  
 
Seed for certificate  
This certificate is issued for a seed lot which has satisfied all the requirements of the certification scheme  
Previously issued certificate number..............  Certificate No. ………….  Standard: .................  
APPLICANT INFORMATION  
Seed lot reference  numbe r Species and  Variety  Class  Weight of lot  Number of  
containers  
     
Name of testing laboratory:  Test number:  
ANALYSIS RESULTS  
Purity  Germination  Moisture  
content,  % Pure 
seed , 
% Inert 
matter , 
% Other  
crop 
seed , 
% Weed  
seeds  
per kg  Normal  
seedlings  Abnormal  
seedlings  Fresh  
seeds  Hard  
seeds  Dead  
seeds  
          
Kind of inert matter:  
Kind of other crop seeds:  
Kind of weed seeds:  
Other determinations  Statement of packaging and re -labelling: (if  
applicable)  
 
 
National Seed Certification Authority  
Signature ………………………………………………………………… ……..  
Place and date ………………………………………………………………….   
14 © EAC 2020  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
KS 690: 2010  
 WD/TC/018/00 6: 2020    
 
© EAC 2020 – All rights reserved