Reference number  
DRS 275 -6: 201 7 
© RBS yyyy 
© RSB 2017  
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
275-6 
 
First edition  
2017-mm-dd 
 
Seeds — Requirements  for certification  
Part 6:  
Vegetable  seeds  
  DRS 275 -6: 2017  
©RSB 201 7 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 2016  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specifie d, 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 b e addressed to  
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
Tel. +250 252 586103/582945  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 275 -6: 201 7 
iii                 ©RSB 2017  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  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
6 Laboratory requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  4 
7 Certificates  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
8 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  6 
9 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  6 
10 Methods of sampling and testing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  7 
Annex  A (normartive)  Scope of application of the standard  ................................ ................................ ........  8 
Annex  B (normative) Seed crop declarat ion form  ................................ ................................ ..........................  9 
B.1 Field declaration data ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  9 
B.2 Seed Producer data  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  9 
Annex  C (normative)  Specific seed born diseases  ................................ ................................ ......................  11 
Annex  D (informative) Field inspection report  ................................ ................................ ..............................  12 
Annex  E (informative)   Seed laboratory test report  ................................ ................................ .....................  13 
Annex  F (informative)  S eed test certificate  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 14 
 DRS 275 -6: 2017  
©RSB 201 7 All rights reserved                  iv 
 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda 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 is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adop ted by Technical committ ees are ratified by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
PDS 275 -5 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: Sweetpotatoes  
 Part 6: Vegetable 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.  
Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB)  
BALTON Rwanda  
National Seed Association of Rwanda  
Win Win Seed Company  
Agri seeds Ltd  
MINAGRI  
Rwanda Standards Board ( RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 275 -6: 2017  
1                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Seeds — Requirements  for certification  — Part 6: Vegetable seed  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies the requirements for certification for sweet 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 t his 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 f or 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 , 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 sweetpotato  seeds and any other sweetpotato  crop that is required to 
prevent mechanical contamination  
3.4 
seed producer  
person or entity registered to produce seed   
©RSB 201 7 All rights reserved                  2 
 
 3.5 
isolation  
minimum distance  between a field of sweetpotato  seeds and any other sweetpotato  crop that is required to 
prevent mechanical contamination  
3.6 
inspector  
official belonging to a quality control department responsible for performing field control and sampling of seeds  
3.7 
label  
tag or other device that is attached to seeds or that accompanies any lot of bulk seed and which describes the 
kind of seed and any other required information  
3.8 
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  
3.9 
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 characteristics 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 th e 
requirements for distinctness, uniformity, stability, and has value for cultivation and use  DRS 275 -6: 2017  
3                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 3.12 
roguing  
removal of off-types and diseased plants or any other unwanted plant from a seed crop if they may reduce th e 
quality of the harvested seed  
3.13 
seed certification  
quality assurance system whereby seed is subjected to official control and inspection  
3.14 
seed lot  
defined quantity /number  of sweetpotato  seed bearing the same reference number and for which the origin, 
production history and identity is kno wn 
3.15 
stability  
condition of  a variety distinguishing characteristics to remain unchanged after repeated growing cycles  
4 Requirements for seed crop 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 agency  
5.1.2 The inspector shall inspect the crop in accordance with OECD seed schemes . 
5.1.3 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.  
5.2 Specific field requirements  
Field for the production of vegetable seeds shall comply with minimum requirement s as specified in  table 1   
©RSB 201 7 All rights reserved                  4 
 
 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 0.5 
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)  Basic  1 1000  0.1 0.1 
Certified  1 500 0.2 0.5 
Note 1 . Seed born diseases are specified in annex C 
Note 2.  For enclosed fields (in green houses) the isolation  can be reduced  
6 Laboratory requirements  
Vegetable seeds shall comply with requirements set in table 2  
Table  2 — Laboratory requirements vegetable seeds  
Species  Categor
y  Pure 
seed, %, 
min Inert 
mater 
%, max  Other 
crop 
seeds, 
number 
per kg, 
max  Weed seeds 
number per 
kg, max  Other 
distinguisha
ble varieties 
number per 
kg, max  Ger
mi
nat
ion
, %, 
mi
n Mois
ture, 
%, 
max  
Tomato (Lycopersicum 
esculentum Mill)  Basic  98 1 5 0 0 70 
10 
Certified  98 2 10 0 0 65 
Capsicum (Sweet 
pepper) & Chilli Basic  98 2 5 5 0 65 
8 DRS 275 -6: 2017  
5                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 (Capsicum annum L.)  Certified  98 2 10 10  0 60 
Brinjal (Solanum 
melongena L.)  Basic  98 2 0 0 0 75 8 
Certified  98 2 0 0  0 70 
Watermelon (Citrullus 
lanatus Thumb)  Basic  98 2 0 0 5 70 7 
Certified  98 2 0 0 10 60 
Cucumber (Cucumis 
sativus L.)  Basic  98 2 5 0 0 65 7 
Certified  98 2 10 0  0 60 
Radish (Raphanus 
sativus L)  Certified  98 2 10 20   70 6 
Carrot (Dacus carota 
L) Certified  95 5 10 20 10 60 8 
Onion (Allium cepa L)  Certified  98 2 10 10   70 8 
Cauliflower & Broccoli  Certified  98 2 10 10   65 7 
Cabbage (Brassica 
oleracea var capitata 
L.) Certified  98 2 10 10   70 7 
Spinach & Spinach 
beet (Spinacia 
oleracea L & Beta 
vulgaris (L) var 
falvesence DC)  Certified  96 4 10 10   60 9 
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa 
L) Certified  98 2 0 10 20 70 8 
Asparagus (Asparagus 
officinalis L.)  Certified  96 4 10 10   70 8 
Bottle Gourd 
(Lagernaria siceraria 
Molina)  Certified  98 2 0 0   60 7 
Bitter Gourd 
(Momordica charantia 
L.) Certified  98 2 0 0 10 60 7 
PARSLEY 
(Petroselinum crispum 
(Mill.) Nym.)  Certified  97 3 10 10  65 8 
7 Certificates  
7.1 Imported vegetables seeds lot shall have required certificates including  certificate of origin, 
phytos anitary certificate and test certificate   
©RSB 201 7 All rights reserved                  6 
 
 7.2  For locally produced test, 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 in dicate at least the result of the purity and germination test and date of the 
test. 
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.  
g) declared net or gross weight or declared number of seeds.  
h) Chemical used for seed dressing where applicable , and  
i) The words ”retested“ w here at least germination has been re -tested  (month and year) may be indicated.  DRS 275 -6: 2017  
7                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 10 Methods of sampling and testing  
Vegetables seeds shall be sampled and tested in accordance with ISTA Rules   
©RSB 201 7 All rights reserved                  8 
 
 Annex  A 
(normartive)  
 
Scope of application of the standard  
The standard apply 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.  Radish (Raphanus sativus L)  
7.  Carrot (Dacus carota L)  
8.  Onion (Allium cepa L)  
9.  Cauliflower & Broccoli  
10.  Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L.)  
11.  Spinach & Spinach beet (Spinacia oleracea L & Beta vulgaris (L) var falvesence DC)  
12.  Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L)  
13.  Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)  
14.  Bottle Gourd (Lagernaria siceraria Molina)  DRS 275 -6: 2017  
9                 ©RSB 2017  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  
A.3 Geodata  #Name?  
#Name?    
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 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: 2017  
11                 ©RSB 2017  All rights reserved  
 
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Specific seed born diseases  
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 & Bisb y) 
Eggplant  (Solanum 
melongena  L.),  Phomopsis blight ( Phomopsis vexans  (Sacc. & Syd.) Harter ) 
Watermelon (Citrullus 
lanatus Thumb )  
Cucumber (Cucumis 
sativus L.)   
Pumpkin ( Cucurbita 
pepo ,)  
Amaranthus   
Snap peas   
Sukumaweek  (kales) 
(Brassica oleraceae var 
sabellica   
  
©RSB 201 7 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: 2017  
13                 ©RSB 2017  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 201 7 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: 2016  
ICS nn.nnn  
 
 
©RSB 2017  All right s reserved