Washington Administrative Code › Title 16 - Agriculture, Department of (See also Titles 24, 60, and 142) › SEEDS AND PLANTING STOCK CERTIFICATION › Chapter 16-302 - General rules for seed certification › Part 1 - PERMANENT MIXING/LOADING SITE › Section 16-302-025 - Seed standards for genetic purity certification

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
All certified seed must conform to the standards of purity
					 and identity or variety in compliance with chapter 15.49 RCW and rules adopted
					 thereunder. The general certification standards together with the specific crop
					 certification standards established in this chapter are the basic requirements
					 for genetic purity seed certification:
(1) Only proprietary varieties and OECD
				  varieties not of United States origin to be tagged under the OECD scheme are
				  eligible for genetic purity certification.
(2) Only the specific crop certification
				  standards established in rule which pertain to genetic purity such as land
				  requirements and isolation, shall apply for genetic purity certification.
				  Fields must not contain other varieties or off-type plants in excess of
				  established standards. The grower is responsible for controlling noxious weeds
				  to prevent seed formation.
(3)
				  Excessive prohibited and/or objectionable weeds, poor stands, lack of vigor, or
				  other conditions, which make inspection by the certifying agency inaccurate,
				  may be cause for rejection of a field.
(4) Field inspection. A field inspection is
				  made by the certifying agency each year at the time the seed crop is in bloom,
				  or at other times as may be most advantageous to determine genetic purity. A
				  complete record must be maintained on the condition of the field (weeds, crop
				  mixtures, etc.) and all information reported to the authorized agent and/or
				  grower. Upon completion of all requirements for field inspection, a final field
				  inspection report is issued by the certifying agency that the seed produced
				  passed genetic purity requirements.
(5) Seed standards. The certifying agency
				  shall test all lots to determine the purity and germination quality. Seed to be
				  certified must not contain seeds of other varieties or off-types in excess of
				  standards established in rule. The quality of each lot of seed represented to
				  be certified must be that which is normally acceptable in the marketing of high
				  quality seed. Failure to maintain acceptable quality shall be considered cause
				  for revoking permission to participate in seed certification by genetic
				  purity.
(6) Processing or
				  conditioning requirements. Only those conditioning plants approved by the
				  department Seed Program are permitted to process seed for certification.
				  Complete records must be kept of all processing or conditioning. Blending of
				  seed lots of the same variety from fields passing field inspections may be
				  permitted with prior approval and if in accordance with requirements for
				  blending. Sampling and all other operations involving certified seed must be
				  under supervision of the certifying agency. The sample must be obtained in
				  accordance with official sampling procedures. The entire lot must be cleaned
				  and in condition for sale at the time of sampling. This sample must be
				  submitted to the seed laboratory for testing to evaluate quality. Lots of
				  questionable quality may be rejected and not eligible for
				  certification.
(7) Certification
				  tags for seed meeting the genetic purity standards must be clearly marked,
				  "genetic purity certified."
(8)
				  Fees for genetic purity certification are as established for each seed crop in
				  chapter 16-303 WAC and the authorized agent or grower is responsible for all
				  fees.
Statutory Authority:
						RCW
						15.49.005,
						15.49.081,
						15.49.310,
						15.49.370(3) and
						chapter
						17.24 RCW. 00-24-077,
						§ 16-302-025, filed 12/4/00, effective
						1/4/01.