Reference number  
DRS 275 -6: 20 22 
 
  © RSB 20 22 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
275-6 
 
Second  editio n 
2022 -xx-xx 
 
Seeds — Requirements  for certification  
Part 6:  
Vegetable  seeds  
  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  ii 
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
Standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2017  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 252 586103/582945  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 275 -6: 20 22 
iii                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Requirements for seed crop declaration  ................................ ................................ ...................  3 
5 Field requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  3 
5.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
5.2 Specific field requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  4 
6 Laboratory requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
7 Certificates  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 6 
8 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
9 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  6 
10 Methods of sampling and testing  ................................ ................................ ...............................  7 
Annex  A (normative)  Scope of application of the standard  ................................ ................................ . 8 
Annex  B (normative) Seed crop declaration form  ................................ ................................ .................  9 
B.1 Field declaration data ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  9 
B.2 Seed Producer data  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  9 
Annex  C (normative)  Specific seed born diseases for vegetable seeds subject ed to field 
inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 11 
Annex  D (informative) Field inspection report  ................................ ................................ .....................  12 
Annex  E (informative)   Seed laboratory test report  ................................ ................................ ............  13 
Annex  F (informative)  Seed test certificate  ................................ ................................ .........................  14 
 DRS 275 -6: 2022  
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  iv 
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees i s to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
RS 275 -6 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 032, Seeds and  planting materials  
RS 275 consists of the following parts, under the general title Seeds — Requirements for certification : 
⎯ Part 1: Common bean  
⎯ Part 2: Rice  
⎯ Part 3: Wheat  
⎯ Part 4: Peas  
⎯ Part 5: Sweet  potatoes  
⎯ Part 6: Vegetable Seeds  
⎯ Part 7: Casssava Seeds  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Seeds and planting materials  
(RSB/TC 032) in the preparation of this standard.  
Tri seeds Ltd  
BALTON Rwanda  
Ministry of Agricultural and Animal Resources ( MINAGRI )  
National Seed Association of Rwanda  
Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB)  
Win Win Seed Company  
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
1                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 Seeds — Requirements  for certification  — Part 6: Vegetable seeds  
1 Scope  
This Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements for certification for vegetables seeds. It applies to local 
produced and imported seeds as per  the list in annex A . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard,  in addition to  the term s and definitions given in ISTA  rules , the following shall 
apply.  
3.1 
vegetable seed  
grains intended for vegetable  or horticultural production but not for ornamental uses  
3.2 
previous cropping  
minimum number of growing seasons that elapse 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   
3.3 
isolation  
minimum distance  between a field of vegetable  seeds and any other vegetable seed of the same species that 
is required to prevent contamination  
3.4 
seed producer  
person or entity registered to produce seed   
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  2 
 
 3.5 
inspector  
official belonging to a quality control department responsible for performing fiel d control and sampling of seeds  
3.6 
label  
tag or other device that is attached to seeds or that accompanies any lot of bulk seed and which describes the 
kind of see d and any other required information  
3.7 
previous cropping  
minimum number of growing seasons 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  
3.8 
seed certification agency  
recognized agency responsible for the certification of seed  
3.10 
off-type 
plant of the same species which does not exhibit the recognised and accepted habit and characteris tics of the 
variety being grown  
3.11 
variety registration  
recording  of a new variety in a national variety catalogue  when it has been tested and satisfied the requirements 
for distinctness, uniformity, stability, and has value for cultivation and use  
3.12 
roguing  
removal of off-types and diseased plan ts or any other unwanted plant from a seed crop if they may reduce th e 
quality of the harvested seed  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
3                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 3.13 
seed certification  
quality assurance system whereby seed is subjected to official control and inspection  
3.14 
seed lot  
defined quantity /number  of vege table  seed bearing the same reference number and for which the origin, 
production history and identity is known  
3.15 
stability  
condition of  a variety distinguishing characteristics to remain unchanged after repeated growing cycles  
4 Requirements for seed cro p declaration  
Seed producer of pre -basic, basic and certified seeds shall apply for certification of a seed crop not later than 
two (2) weeks after plantin g by filling the form in Annex B . 
5 Field requirements  
5.1 General requirements  
5.1.1 Crop for l ocally produced seed shall be inspected by national certification Authority  
5.1.2 A minimum of three inspections shall be made, the first after plant establishment,  the second during 
flowering stage and the third at matur ity stage prior harvesting.  
5.1.3 The cultural condition of the field and the stage of development of the crop shall be such as to permit 
varietal identity and varietal purity and health status to be  adequately checked.  
   
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 5.2 Specific field requirements  
Field for the production of vegetable seeds shall comply with minimum requirements  as specified in  Table 1. 
Table  1 — Field requirements for vegetable seeds  
Species  Category  Previous 
cropping 
(number of 
season)  Isolation
, m, 
min*1 Off types, %, 
max Plant affected by 
seed born disease 
%, max *2 
Tomato (Lycopersicum 
esculentum Mill)  Basic  2 50 0.1 0.1 
Certified  2 25 0.2 0.5 
Capsicum (Sweet pepper) & 
Chilli (Capsicum annum L.)  Basic  2 500 0.1 0.1 
Certified  2 250 0.2 0.5 
Eggplant (Solanum melongena 
L.) Basic  2 300 0.1 0.1 
Certified  2 150 0.2 0.2 
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus 
Thumb)  Basic  1 1000  0.1 0.1 
Certified  1 500 0.2 0.2 
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)  Basic  1 1000  0.1 0.1 
Certified  1 500 0.2 0.2 
Pumpkin  Basic  2  
0.1 0.1 
Certified  2  
0.2 0.5 
Amaranthus  Basic  1 200 0.1  
Certified  1 100 0.2  
Snap Peas  Basic  1 50 0.1 0.1 
Certified  1 25 0.2 0.2 
Night shade (Isogo)  Basic  1 50 0.1 0.1 
Certified  1 25 0.2 0.5 
African Spider plant (Isogi)  Basic  1 50 0.1 0.1 
 Certified  1 25 0.2 0.5 
Spinach (Scientific names)  Basic  1 50 0.1 0.1 
 Certified  1 25 0.2 0.5 
NOTE 1  For enclosed fields (in green houses) the isolation can be reduced  
NOTE 2  Seed born diseases are specified in annex C  
NOTE 3  No virus diseases have been reported on amaranthus  
 
  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
5                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 6 Laboratory  requirements  
Vegetable seeds (imported and locally produced) shall comply with requirements set in Table 2 
 
Table  2 — Laboratory requirements vegetable seeds  
S/N Species  Category  Pure 
seed, %, 
min Inert 
mater %, 
max Other crop 
seeds, 
number 
per kg, 
max Weed seeds 
number per 
kg, max  Germina
tion, %, 
min Moistur
e, %, 
max 
i.  Tomato ( Lycopersicum 
esculentum Mill)  Basic  98 1 5 0 70 10 
Certified  98 2 10 0 65 
ii.  Capsicum (Sweet pepper) & 
Chilli (Capsicum annum L.)  Basic  98 2 5 5 65 8 
Certified  98 2 10 10 60 
iii.  Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)  Basic  98 2 0 0 75 8 
Certified  98 2 0 0 70 
iv.  Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus 
Thumb)  Basic  98 2 0 0 70 7 
Certified  98 2 0 0 60 
v.  Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)  Basic  98 2 5 0 65 7 
Certified  98 2 10 0 60 
vi.  Pumpkin  Basic  98 1 2 0 70 7 
Certified  98 2 5 0 60 7 
vii.  Amaranthus  Basic  98 1 5 0 70 10 
Certified  98 2 10 0 60 10 
viii.  Snap peas  Basic  98 1 2 0 90 11 
Certified  98 2 5 0 80 11 
ix.  Night shade (Isogo)  Basic  98 1 2 0 90 11 
x.   Certified  98 2 5 0 80 11 
xi.  African Spider plant (Isogi)  Basic  98 1 2 0 90 11 
xii.   Certified  98 2 5 0 80 11 
xiii.  Spinach (Scientific names)  Basic  98 2 2 0 80 11 
xiv.  Radish (Raphanus sativus L)  Certified  98 2 10 20 70 6 
xv.  Carrot (Dacus carota L)  Certified  95 5 10 20 60 8 
xvi.  Onion (Allium cepa L)  Certified  98 2 10 10 70 8 
xvii.  Cauliflower & Broccoli  Certified  98 2 10 10 65 7 
xviii.  Cabbage (Brassica oleracea 
var capitata L.)  Certified  98 2 10 10 70 7 
xix.  Spinach & Spinach beet 
(Spinacia oleracea L & Beta 
vulgaris (L) var falvesence DC)  Certified  96 4 10 10 60 9 
xx.  Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L)  Certified  98 2 0 10 70 8 
xxi.  Asparagus (Asparagus 
officinalis L.)  Certified  96 4 10 10 70 8 
xxii.  Bottle Gourd ( Lagernaria 
siceraria Molina)  Certified  98 2 0 0 60 7 
xxiii.  Bitter Gourd (Momordica 
charantia L.)  Certified  98 2 0 0 60 7 
xxiv.  PARSLEY (Petroselinum 
crispum (Mill.) Nym.)  Certified  97 3 10 10 65 8  
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  6 
 
 Note  All imported seeds are considered to be of certified category except otherwise indicated in the importing documents  
 
7 Certificates  
7.1 Imported vegetables seeds lot shall have required certificates including  certificate of origin, 
phytosanitary  certificate and test certificate  
7.2 For locally produced seed , the test certificate shall be issued upon compliance with field  and laboratory  
requirements  
7.3 Test certificate  shall be valid for a period of six  months . 
7.4 After the expiring of the validity of the certificate the seeds shall be re-sampled and retested for 
germination. If the test result complies with the minimum standard s, 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 
certificate.  
7.5 The test certificate shall indicate at least the result of the p urity and germination test and test ing date . 
8 Packaging  
8.1 Vegetable seeds shall be packaged in containers that preserve the quality of the seeds  
8.2 Seed may be repackaged provided that new label retains the original label information.  
8.3 Repackaging shall be authorised by the competent authority  
9 Labelling  
Vegetable seeds shall be labelled with the following information :  
a) species indicated at least in its botanical name , 
b) variety , 
c) category , 
d) month and year of the last official testing  for the purposes of certification , 
e) reference number of lot,  
f) country of production,  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
7                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 g) declared net or gross wei ght or declared number of seeds,  
h) chemical used for seed dressing where applicable , and  
i) The words” retested “ where at least germination has been re -tested . 
10 Methods of sampling and testing  
Vegetables seeds shall be sampled and tested in accordance with ISTA  Rules .  
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  8 
 
 Annex  A 
(normative ) 
 
Scope of application of the standard  
The standard applies  to the following species : 
S/N Species  
1.  Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill)  
2.  Capsicum (Sweet pepper) & Chilli (Capsicum annum L.)  
3.  Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)  
4.  Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb)  
5.  Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)  
6.  Pumpkin  
7.  Amaranthus  
8.  Snap peas  
9.  Radish (Raphanus sativus L)  
10.  Carrot (Dacus carota L)  
11.  Onion (Allium cepa L)  
12.  Cauliflower & Broccoli  
13.  Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L.)  
14.  Spinach & Spinach beet (Spinacia oleracea L & Beta vulgaris (L) var falvesence DC)  
15.  Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L)  
16.  Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)  
17.  Bottle Gourd (Lagernaria siceraria Molina)  
18.  Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)  
19.  PARSLEY (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym.)  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
9                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
Seed crop de claration form  
B.1 Field declaration data  
FD For official use  
 
B.2 Seed Producer data  
Reg no    Name   
Crop details  
Species  
Variety name  
 
Land type e.g. own, rented, contract  
Seed Category (planted)  
Area(ha)                              with one decimal  
Lot no (planted)  
Official Lot no (planted)  
Planting date  
B.3 Geodata  #Name?  
#Name?    
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  10 
 
 Cell  Sector  
GPS 
coordinates for field (6 decimals)  
Longitude            Latitude  
 
Date                                   Name                                                                                  Signature  
 
 #Name?  #Name?  District  #Name?  Province  #Name?  
Date of receiving declaration  
Date of registration  
Registration signature  
For official use  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
11                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Specific seed born diseases  for vegetable seeds subjected to field 
inspection  
Table A.1 Specific seed born diseases  for vegetable seeds subjected to field inspection  
Species  Specific seed born disease  
Tomato ( Lycopersicum 
esculentum  Mill) Early blight ( Alternaria solani  Sorauer), Leaf spot ( Stemphylium solani  Weber.) and 
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)  
Capsicum ( Sweet pepper ) & 
Chilli ( Capsicum annum  L.) Leaf blight: (Alternaria solani Sorauer.); Anthracnose (Ripe rot, Die back); Colletrotrichum 
capsici  (Syd.) (Butler & Bisby)  
Eggplant  (Solanum 
melongena  L.),  Phomopsis blight ( Phomopsis vexans  (Sacc. & Syd.) Harter ) 
Watermelon (Citrullus 
lanatus Thumb ) cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), papaya ring spot virus - watermelon strain (PRSV -W), 
squash mosaic virus (SQMV), watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV -2), and zucchini yellows 
mosaic virus (ZYMV).  
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus 
L.) Gummy stem blight, Anthracnose,  Cucu mber mosaic, Papaya ring spot virus, Zucchini 
yellow mosaic, Cucumber green mottle mosaic, Squash Mosaic Virus, Cucumber vein 
yellowing  
Pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo ,) Cucumber mosaic, Papaya ring spot virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic  virus , Watermelon 
mosaic virus,  
Snap peas  Enation mosaic, Mosaic, Stunt  
  
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  12 
 
 Annex  D 
(informative ) 
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/ac re) ……………………… .........  Cropping season ……….  Crop species ………… …............  
Seed class ………………… ……….……………  Variety …………… …… Previous cropping………………  
 
Variable  Observations/results  Comments/remarks  
Isolation, m    
Off types    
Noxious weeds    
Seed born  disease     
   
   
   
   
Other crops    
General conditions of the crop (for 
example, drought, crop husbandry, etc.)    
Decision  
Decision on the approval  Justification  
The seed crop is approved for 
certification   
The seed crop is not approved for 
certification   
 
Seed grower     Inspector  signature     National seed certification authority  
Date  &signature      Date  & signature     Date  & signature  DRS 275 -6: 2022  
13                 ©RSB 2022 All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  E 
(informative )  
 
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  
see
d 
% Inert 
matt
er, 
% Other 
crop 
seeds  
numb
er per 
kg Weed 
seeds  
num
ber 
per 
kg Other 
varietie
s 
numb
er per 
kg Number 
of days  Normal 
seedling
s, 
% Hard  
seeds , 
% Fresh  
seeds , 
% Abnormal  
seedlings , 
% Dead  
seeds , 
% 
            
Kind of inert matter:  
Other crop seeds:  
Weed seed:  
Other determinations:  
Place  
Date  Signature   
©RSB 20 22 All rights reserved                  14 
 
 Annex  F 
(informative ) 
 
Seed test certificate  
This c ertificate i s issued for a seed lot which  has satisfie d all the requirements of the certification scheme . 
National Seed Certification Authority  
Signature   ………………………………………………………………….  
Place and Date  ………………………………………………………………….   Previously issued certificate number..............  
Certificate No. ………….  Standard: .................  
SEED GROWER  INFORMATION  
Name:  Address:  Country of origin : 
 
SEED LOT INFORMATION  
Seed Lot Reference 
Number  Species and 
variety  Class  Weight of lot  Number of 
containers  
     
SAMPLING AND TESTING INFORMATION  
Date of sampling  Sampled  by Date sample received  Date test(s) concluded  
    
Name of testing laboratory:  Test number:  
ANALYSIS RESULTS  
Purity  Germination  Moisture 
content,  
% Pure  
seed
% Inert 
matter  
% Other 
crop 
seeds  % Weed 
seeds  
Per kg  Normal  
seedlings  Abnormal  
seedlings  
 Fresh  
seeds  Hard   
seeds  Dead  
seeds  
          
Kind of inert matter:  
Kind of o ther crop seeds:  
Kind of weed seed s: 
Other determinations:  Statement of packaging and re -labelling: (if 
applicable)  
 DRS 275 -6: 2022  
ICS 67.060  
 
©RSB 2022 All right s reserved