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The Seed Marketing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Type Ni-Statutory-Rule

Publication 2016-06-23

Last updated 2020-12-31

State In force

Jurisdiction Northern Ireland

Department Government Printer for Northern Ireland

Source legislation.gov.uk

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Made: 23rd June 2016

Coming into operation: 14th July 2016

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Union.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of that Act and it appears to the Department that it is expedient for references to the instruments specified in regulation 3(2) to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs makes the following regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of, as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972 and sections 1(1) and (2A) and 2 of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 .

In accordance with section 1(1) of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has consulted with representatives of such interests as appear to it to be concerned.

PART 1 — Introduction

Title, application and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Seed Marketing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016; they apply in Northern Ireland and come into operation on 14th July 2016.

Meaning of “marketing”

2

(1) In these Regulations “marketing” means the sale, holding with a view to sale, offer for sale or any disposal, supply or transfer aimed in each case at commercial exploitation of seed to third parties, whether or not for consideration and “market” and “marketing” shall be construed accordingly.

(2) But marketing does not include trade that is not aimed at commercial exploitation, such as—

(a) the supply of seed to official testing and inspection bodies; or

(b) the supply of seed to a person who provides processing or packaging services but who does not acquire title to the seed.

Interpretation of other terms

3

(1) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a) “the Act” means the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965;

(b) the “Common Catalogue” is the catalogue provided for in Council Directive 2002/53/EC on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species and in Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed;

(b1) “country granted equivalence” means a country that has been granted equivalence under Council Decision 2003/17/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries;

(b2) “Crown Dependency” means any of the Channel islands or the Isle of Man;

(d) the “NI Variety List” means the list of agricultural crop varieties prepared and published in accordance with the Seeds (Variety Lists) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020;

(e) “the Tribunal” means the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal established by the Plant Varieties Act 1997 ;

(f) “wild oat” means plants of the species Avena fatua, Avena sterilis and Avena ludoviciana.

(2) In these Regulations all references to—

(a) Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed ;

(b) Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed ;

(d) Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants ;

(e) Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed ;

(f) Commission Directive 2008/62/EC providing for certain derogations for acceptance of agricultural landraces and varieties which are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and threatened by genetic erosion and for marketing of seed and seed potatoes of those landraces and varieties ;

(g) Commission Directive 2009/145/EC providing for certain derogations, for acceptance of vegetable landraces and varieties which have been traditionally grown in particular localities and regions and are threatened by genetic erosion and of vegetable varieties with no intrinsic value for commercial crop production but developed for growing under particular conditions and for marketing of seed of those landraces and varieties ;

(h) Commission Directive 2010/60/EU providing for certain derogations for marketing of fodder plant seed mixtures intended for use in the preservation of the natural environment ; and

(i) Council Decision 2003/17/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries ;

are references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

PART 2 — Categories of seed

Seed to which these Regulations apply

4

(1) These Regulations apply in relation to seed of the plants in the first column of the table in Schedule 1 intended to be used for agricultural or horticultural production, but do not apply in relation to seed intended to be used for ornamental plants.

(2) They do not apply—

(a) in relation to cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed and oil and fibre plant seed intended for export outside the European Union; or

(b) in relation to fodder seed intended for export outside the United Kingdom.

Categories of seed

5

Seed is divided into the following categories, commonly known by the abbreviations given—

(a) breeder's seed (“BR”);

(b) pre-basic seed (“PB”);

(d) certified seed (“CS”);

(e) certified seed, first generation (“C1”);

(f) certified seed, second generation (“C2”);

(g) certified seed, third generation (“C3”);

(h) commercial seed (“CM”);

(i) standard seed (vegetables only) (“ST”);

(j) seed of a higher voluntary standard (“HVS”).

Breeder's seed

6

Breeder's seed is seed produced by or under the responsibility of the breeder and intended for the production of pre-basic or basic seed.

Maintainers for pre-basic and basic seed

7

Pre-basic seed and basic seed may only be produced with the written authorisation of the person listed as the maintainer of that seed in the NI Variety List or an equivalent list in a country referred to in the Annex to Council Decision 2005/834/EC on the equivalence of checks on practices for the maintenance of varieties carried out in certain third countries.

PART 3 — Marketing seed

Marketing seed

8

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), seed to which these Regulations apply may only be marketed as seed if it is—

(a) certified under regulation 10 and 11 as being one of the categories in regulation 5;

(b) packaged and sealed in accordance with regulation 16; and

(2) Subject to regulation 27, seed to which this paragraph applies may only be marketed as seed if it is—

(a) fodder seed which has been certified in another part of the United Kingdom;

(b) seed which has been imported from a European Single Market State and—

(i) is of a variety listed in the National List or the Common Catalogue except the vegetable seed of the species listed in Council Directive 2002/55/EC produced in Switzerland;

(ii) is officially certified, in compliance with the requirements set out in EU law, including those measures referred to in regulation 3(2)(a) to (e) and (i); and

(iii) has been imported into Northern Ireland before the end of the period of two years beginning with the day after the day on which exit day falls.

(c) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed and oil and fibre plant seed which has been imported from a country with equivalence, and is—

(i) seed of the species specified in Annex I to the decision and has been produced in the third countries listed in that Annex and officially certified by the authorities listed in that Annex; and

(ii) satisfies the conditions laid down in point B of Annex II to that Decision.

(3) No person shall market any seed to which these Regulations apply unless they are licensed to do so in accordance with regulation 20.

Exceptions

9

(1) The requirement for certification does not apply in relation to breeder's seed.

(2) Schedule 4 makes provision for the marketing of seed not fully complying with regulation 8.

Overriding requirements: the building blocks necessary for certification

10

To be certified under these Regulations as one of the categories in regulation 5 seed must—

(a) be a variety—

(i) entered in the NI Variety List; or

(ii) entered in the Common catalogue at any time before the end of the period of two years beginning with the day after the day on which exit day falls;

(b) be grown from a seed eligible to produce that category in accordance with Schedule 2;

(c) come from a crop inspected under these Regulations and certified as complying with the requirements of Schedule 2; and

(d) be tested in accordance with these Regulations.

Detailed requirements for certification

11

(1) In order to be certified a sample of the seed from which the crop is going to be produced must be entered with the Department in sufficient time for the Department to grow a control plot.

(2) The Department may accept the entry of a sample of the seed after this time, but in this case the crop grown to produce the seed must be inspected by an official crop inspector in accordance with regulation 12.

(3) The crop used to produce the seed must be inspected by a crop inspector in accordance with the provisions relating to that crop in Schedule 2, and the crop inspector must certify that—

(a) the crop meets the standard for that crop specified in Schedule 2; or

(b) the crop meets a lower standard but still meets one of the standards in Schedule 2,

and lodge a report to that effect with the Department.

(4) The crop inspector may indicate that remedial action or further inspection is necessary before the crop is certified as meeting the required standard.

(5) Once the crop has been harvested and processed, a sample of the seed must be drawn by a licensed seed sampler (using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist) in accordance with the provisions relating to that crop in Schedule 2 (for the avoidance of doubt the seed lot sizes and sample weights are specified in each of the Directives in the Schedule dealing with the seed).

(6) The seed must be tested in a seed testing station (either licensed or operated by the Department), which must test the seed (using current international sampling and testing methods in so far as they exist) to ensure that the certification standards in Schedule 2 are complied with, and issue a seed test report stating the results and lodge the report with the Department.

(7) An application for certification of seed for which a seed test report has been lodged under paragraph (6), must be made to the Department—

(a) within 30 days of the seed test report being lodged or within such time as the Department may otherwise allow; and

(b) be accompanied by such information and documents as the Department may require.

Crop inspections

12

A crop inspection for certification must be carried out by a licensed crop inspector; except for the inspection of—

(a) a crop intended for the production of pre-basic or basic seed; or

(b) a crop producing seed when the entry of seed under regulation 11 was too late to allow the Department to grow a control plot,

when the inspection must be carried out by an official crop inspector appointed by the Department for the purpose of such an inspection.

Standard of seed at the time of marketing

13

At the time of marketing the seed must as a minimum comply with the standards in Schedule 2 relating to that type of seed.

Re-grading of seed at the time of marketing

14

For the avoidance of doubt, if a crop or seed has been certified as belonging to one category, but complies with the minimum requirements of another category for that seed, it may be re-graded as any category for which it satisfies the requirements.

Control plots and tests

15

(1) The Department must carry out any necessary tests on the entered seed, and in particular must grow the seed in a control plot.

(2) If the tests or the control plot meets the requirements for varietal identity and varietal purity no further action is taken.

(3) Otherwise the Department must obtain more information from crops grown from that seed and, if the Department decides that the crop is not satisfactory, notify the applicant that the crop may not be certified, or must be downgraded to a lower category.

Packaging and sealing

16

(1) All seed, other than loose sales (for which see Part 5 of Schedule 3), must be supplied in a properly sealed package by a person licensed to do so under regulation 20.

(2) The packaged seed must be in homogenous lots.

(3) A package must be sealed by or under the supervision of a licensed seed sampler.

(4) It must either have a non-re-usable sealing system or be sealed in such a manner that opening the package—

(a) damages the sealing system; or

(b) leaves evidence of tampering on either the label or the package.

(5) If a package is opened other than by the final consumer it must be re-labelled and re-sealed by or under the supervision of a licensed seed sampler, and the fact of resealing, the most recent date of resealing and the authority responsible for it must be stated on the label.

(6) This regulation does not apply in relation to the marketing of small packages of seed as defined in Schedule 3.

Labelling

17

(1) All seed must be labelled in accordance with Schedule 3 by a person licensed to do so under regulation 20.

(2) Subject to the provisions of the Act and of these Regulations, no person may reproduce, remove, alter, deface, conceal or misuse in any way any label produced for the purpose of these Regulations.

Mixtures of seed

18

A mixture of seed may only be marketed if the mixture is permitted under the following table.

Records

19

(1) any person who—

(a) markets seed;

(b) packs, seals, labels, re-packs, re-seals or re-labels seed for marketing;

(d) cleans, treats or in any other way processes seed intended for marketing,

must make sufficient records (either written or electronic) to create an audit trail so that the identity and provenance of any seed marketed or otherwise dealt with in the course of the operation can be established.

(2) Records must be kept for at least 3 years and produced on demand to an officer of the Department (in the case of electronic records a printout must be provided).

PART 4 — Licensing

Operations requiring a licence from the Department

20

(1) Any person carrying out any of the following operations must be licensed to do so by the Department—

(a) marketing seed;

(b) packing, sealing or labelling seed;

(d) preparing mixtures of seed for marketing; or

(e) cleaning, treating or in any other way processing seed intended for marketing.

(2) But the requirement for a licence does not apply in relation to the marketing of—

(a) small packages of seed as defined in Schedule 3;

(b) unpacketed seed; or

(3) The Department may license any person to carry out any of the operations in paragraph (1), if it is satisfied the person—

(a) is competent to carry out such operations;

(b) has adequate premises or equipment for the purposes of carrying out those operations; and

Licensing crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations

21

(1) The Department may license crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations to act under these Regulations.

(2) Before licensing a crop inspector or seed sampler the Department must be satisfied that the person is competent to act as such, and has passed an examination specified by the Department.

(3) Before licensing a seed testing station the Department must be satisfied that the station has adequate premises, qualified personnel and equipment to test for the purposes of these Regulations.

(4) A licensed crop inspector, seed inspector or seed testing station may charge reasonable fees for carrying out functions under these Regulations but may not derive any private gain in connection with the carrying out of such functions.

Licences for temporary experiments

22

(1) The Department may by licence exempt any person or class of person from compliance with any provision of these Regulations for the purpose of a temporary experiment—

(a) organised under—

(i) Article 19 of Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed;

(ii) Article 13a of Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed;

(iii) Article 16 of Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants;

(iv) Article 33 of Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed; or

(b) in the case of fodder seed, seeking improved alternatives to provisions of these Regulations organised in accordance with regulations made under section 2(4) of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965.

(2) The duration of an experiment shall not exceed 7 years.

General provisions relating to licences

23

(1) A licence, under regulations 20, 21 or 22 must be in writing, and may be subject to such conditions as the Department considers appropriate.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Department may vary, suspend or revoke a licence by notice in writing at any time.

(3) Where the Department proposes to vary, suspend or revoke a licence it shall—

(a) give the person concerned notice in writing stating what the Department is proposing to do and the reasons for it;

(b) inform the person concerned of his right to make representations to the Department and of the manner in which, and the time (not being less than 21 days from the giving of the notice) within such representations may be made; and

(4) The Department shall consider any representations made before giving the person concerned notification of its decision together with the reasons for that decision and, where appropriate the date from which the decision has effect.

(5) A notification under paragraph (4) shall inform the person concerned of—

(a) his right to appeal to the Tribunal against the Department's decision; and

(b) the time within such an appeal may be brought.

PART 5 — Administration and revocations

Withdrawing certification

24

(1) The Department may withdraw certification from any seed if satisfied that—

(a) the seed, or the seed from which the crop producing the seed was grown, was incorrectly sampled;

(b) the crop from which the seed was harvested did not meet the conditions in Schedule 2; or

(i) did not meet the conditions in Schedule 2 when it was tested; or

(ii) no longer meets those conditions.

(2) The Department may draw a sample (using current international sampling methods insofar as they exist), for the purpose of paragraph (1)(c)(ii).

(3) If certification is withdrawn the Department must notify the certification applicant.

(4) Within 7 days of being notified the certification applicant must notify any person to whom they have sold or supplied the seed.

(5) Any person, other than the certification applicant who has purchased seed, for which official certification has been withdrawn must notify any person to whom any of the seed has been sold or supplied as soon as practicable after receiving notice of the withdrawal.

Sampling for enforcement purposes

25

(1) A sample of seed taken for the purposes of enforcing these Regulations must be taken by an authorised officer of the Department, who must divide it into three parts.

(2) One part must be given to the owner of the seed (or a representative of the owner) and the other two parts must be sent to an official testing station, one for testing and the other for retention pending production to a court in accordance with section 9(7) of the Act.

Forms of certificates used for enforcement

26

(1) For the purposes of section 9(3) of the Act, a certificate of how a sample was taken for the purpose of enforcing these Regulations must—

(a) make reference to these Regulations and must certify that the sample was taken and treated in accordance with regulation 25;

(b) specify—

(i) the name and address of the person taking the sample;

(ii) the premises at which the sample was taken;

(iii) the species, variety and category of seed sampled;

(iv) the date the sample was taken;

(v) the reference number of the seed lot; and

(vi) the quantity sampled.

(2) For the purposes of section 7(3) of the Act, a certificate of the result of a test at an official seed testing station of a sample taken by an authorised officer for the purposes of that Act must—

(a) make reference to these Regulations;

(b) identify the seed tested; and

Imported seed

27

(1) In the case of—

(a) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed and oil and fibre plant seed, which has been imported into Northern Ireland from outside the European Union; and

(b) fodder seed, which has been imported into Northern Ireland from outside the United Kingdom,

the seed must be labelled with a label approved by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for the varietal certification on the control of seed moving in international trade.

(1A) But seed imported from a European Single Market State before the end of 2 years beginning with the day after the day on which exit day falls, may be labelled with an official label issued in accordance with the relevant requirements in the Directive relating to that seed.

(2) If the seed is to be further multiplied the person intending to multiply it must first submit a sample to the Department for verification.

(3) Any person marketing seed that has been imported and exceeds 2 kilograms must supply the Department, in writing and within one month of the first marketing of the seed, with the following particulars relating to the seed—

(a) the species;

(b) the variety;

(d) the country of production and the official inspection authority;

(e) the country of dispatch;

(f) the importer; and

(g) the quantity of seed.

(4) Cereal seed to which these regulations apply, which have been imported may only be marketed in Northern Ireland if accompanied by a document stating—

(a) that the seed has been produced from a crop which has been found to be free of plants of wild oat at the time of an official examination and that in addition a 1 kilogram sample of seed (drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist), has been found to be free from seed of wild oat at the time of an official examination; or

(b) that a 3 kilogram sample of the seed (drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist) has been found to be free from seed of wild oat at an official examination.

(5) In relation to seed to which paragraph (4) applies—

(a) the Department may draw a sample (using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist), for the purpose of revealing the presence of wild oat;

(b) where a sample drawn pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) is found to contain wild oat the seed lot or part thereof represented by that sample must not be marketed in Northern Ireland.

Appeals

28

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person aggrieved by a decision of the Department to—

(a) vary, suspend, revoke or refuse to grant a licence of a crop inspector, seed sampler, seed testing station or a person requiring a licence under regulation 20;

(b) refuse to certify seed; or

may, within 30 days of being notified of that decision, appeal against it to the Tribunal.

(2) There shall be no right of appeal to the Tribunal where the Department has—

(a) refused to grant or vary a licence; or

(b) varied, suspended or revoked a licence,

for the sole reason that the applicant or licence holder has failed to pass an examination which was required to be undertaken and passed as a condition of the licence.

(3) The Department may extend the time for bringing an appeal, but no appeal shall in any event be brought more than one year after a person is notified of that decision.

Civil liability of sellers of seeds

29

(1) Particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of seed in pursuance of these Regulations, whether given expressly or by implication, arising from the description under which the seed is sold, shall constitute a warranty for the purpose of section 4 of the Act.

(2) Section 4(2) of the Act shall apply to any particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of the seed, being particulars given or implied as in paragraph (1), in so far as they relate to the limits of variation for percentage germination, percentage analytical purity or content of seed of other species prescribed, in respect of such matters.

(3) Section 4(3) of the Act shall apply to any particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of the seed, being particulars given or implied as in paragraph (1), in so far as they relate to the percentage germination, percentage analytical purity or content of seed of other species.

(4) A purchaser who intends to obtain a test of seed for the purposes of section 4(3) of the Act must, not more than 10 days after delivery of the seed, give the seller notice of that intention and thereupon the seller may indicate a day, not being more than 21 days after delivery of the seed to the purchaser, and a reasonable time on that day, for a sample to be taken in the presence of the seller or the seller's representative.

(5) On the day and time appointed by the seller in accordance with paragraph (4) or, if the seller fails to appoint a day and time, the purchaser or the purchaser's representative may, on a day not more than 28 days after delivery of the seed, take a sample.

(6) A sample, drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist, must be taken and divided, by the purchaser or his representative into two parts of which one shall be sent to an official testing station for the purposes of being tested and the other part delivered to the seller or the seller's representative.

(7) Where a sample is divided into two parts, in accordance with paragraph (6) each part of the divided sample shall be of at least the minimum weight required for certification under Schedule 2.

Arrangements for official measures

30

(1) The Department may make arrangements for the purpose of enabling any person to act under the Department's responsibility in carrying out official measures.

(2) An arrangement under this regulation may include such conditions as the Department is of the opinion are necessary or desirable for the purposes referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) The Department must not make an arrangement under this regulation unless it is satisfied that provision is made for the purpose of preventing the person with whom the arrangement is made, and any other person, from—

(a) deriving any private gain from any official measures carried out under the arrangement; and

(b) carrying out any official measures under the arrangement except under the supervision of the Department.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) the Department may approve for the person with whom an arrangement is made under this regulation, to make a further arrangement for any purpose in connection with the carrying out of the official measures arranged with the Department.

(5) The Department must not approve the making of a further arrangement by any person with whom it makes an arrangement under this regulation unless the further arrangement—

(a) includes a condition prohibiting the making of any subsequent arrangement for any purpose in connection with the carrying out of any official measures in respect of which the Department made the arrangement;

(b) includes a provision that the Department may vary, suspend or revoke the further arrangement; and

(6) The Department may vary, suspend or revoke an arrangement, or the conditions of an arrangement made under this regulation by giving notice in writing to the person with whom the arrangement is made.

Fees

31

The Department may charge a reasonable fee for anything done under these Regulations.

Confidentiality

32

If the breeder so requests, the description of genealogical components of seed must not be disclosed by the Department.

Licensing in another part of the United Kingdom

33

A crop inspector, seed sampler or seed testing station licensed to act as such in another part of the United Kingdom may act as such under these Regulations.

Transitional provisions

34

(1) A crop inspector, seed sampler or seed testing station licensed at the time these Regulations come into force under the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 continues to be licensed as such under these Regulations.

(2) A person requiring to be licensed under regulation 20 of these Regulations who was registered at the time these Regulations come into force to carry out such operations under the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 is now licensed to act as such under these Regulations subject to such conditions as may be notified by the Department, and continues to be licensed unless the licence is subsequently suspended or revoked by the Department under these Regulations.

Amendments and revocations

35

(1) The Seeds (Fees) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 are amended as follows—

(a) in regulation 2(1) (fees) for “Regulations referred” to “Schedules opposite” substitute “ Seed Marketing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 the fees set out in Column (3) of Schedules 1 to 6 opposite ”;

(b) for the heading of Schedule 1, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF CEREAL SEEDS ”;

(d) for the heading of Schedule 2, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF FODDER PLANT SEEDS ”;

(e) paragraph E of Schedule 2 is omitted;

(f) for the heading of Schedule 3, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF OIL AND FIBRE PLANT SEEDS ”;

(g) for the heading of Schedule 4, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF BEET SEEDS ”;

(h) for the heading of Schedule 5, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF VEGETABLE SEEDS ”;

(i) for the heading of Schedule 6, substitute “ MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF LICENSING ”; and

(j) sub-paragraph A(ii) of Schedule 6 is omitted.

(2) The following are revoked—

(a) the Cereal Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ;

(b) the Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ;

(d) the Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ;

(e) the Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ;

(f) the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ;

(g) the Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 ;

(h) the Fodder Plant Seeds (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 ;

(i) the Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 ; and

(j) the Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 .

SCHEDULE 1 — Seed to which these Regulations apply

Plants to which the Regulations apply	Common name (for guidance only)
Beet	Beet
Beta vulgarisL.	sugar beet, fodder beet (including mangel)
Cereals	Cereals
Avena nudaL.	small naked oat, hulless oat
Avena sativaL. (includes A.byzantina K. Koch)	oats and red oat
Hordeum vulgare L.	barley
Secale cerealeL.	rye
Triticum aestivumL.	wheat
Triticum durum Desf.	durum wheat
Triticum spelta L.	spelt wheat
x TriticosecaleWittm. ex A. Camus – hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Triticum and a species of the genus Secale	triticale
Zea maysL. (partim)	maize (except popcorn and sweetcorn)
Fodder Plants	Fodder Plants
Fine grasses:
Agrostis caninaL.	velvet bent
Agrostis capillarisL.	brown top
Agrostis giganteaRoth	red top
Agrostis stoloniferaL.	creeping bent grass
Festuca filiformisPourr.	fine leaved sheep’s fescue
Festuca ovinaL.	sheep’s fescue
Festuca rubraL.	red fescue, Chewings fescue
Festuca trachyphylla(Hack.) Krajina	hard fescue
Poa annua L.	annual meadowgrass
Poa nemoralisL.	wood meadowgrass
Poa pratensisL.	smooth-stalked meadowgrass
Poa trivialis L.	rough-stalked meadowgrass
xFestuloliumAsch. & Graebn. – hybrids resulting from the crossing of a species of the genus Festuca with a species of the genus Lolium	festulolium
Fodder grasses:
Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv.ex J. Presl & C. Presl	tall oatgrass
Bromus catharticusVahl.	rescue grass
Bromus sitchensisTrin.	Alaska brome-grass
Dactylis glomerataL.	cocksfoot
Festuca arundinaceaSchreber	tall fescue
Festuca pratensisHuds.	meadow fescue
Lolium multiflorumLam.	Italian ryegrass including Westerwold ryegrass
Lolium perenneL.	perennial ryegrass
Lolium x boucheanum Kunth	hybrid ryegrass
Phleum nodosumL.	small timothy
Phleum pratenseL.	timothy
Small seeded legumes:
Lotus corniculatusL.	birdsfoot trefoil
Medicago lupulinaL.	trefoil, black medick
Medicago sativaL.	lucerne
Medicago x variaT. Martyn	sand lucerne
Onobrychis viciifoliaScop.	sainfoin
Trifolium hybridumL.	alsike clover
Trifolium pratenseL.	red clover
Trifolium repensL.	white clover
Large seeded legumes
Lupinus albusL.	white lupin
Lupinus angustifoliusL.	narrow leaved lupin (previously known as blue lupin)
Lupinus luteusL.	yellow lupin
Pisum sativumL. (partim)	field pea
Vicia fabaL. (partim)	field bean
Vicia pannonicaCrantz	Hungarian vetch
Vicia sativaL.	common vetch
Vicia villosaRoth	hairy vetch
Crucifers
Brassica napusL. var. napobrassica (L.) Rchb.	swede
Brassica oleraceaL. convar. acephala(DC). Alef. var medullosaThell. + var. viridisL.	fodder kale
Raphanus sativusL. var. oleiformisPers.	fodder radish
Oil and Fibre plants	Oil and Fibre plants
Brassica juncea(L.) Czern.	brown mustard
Brassica napus(L.) (partim)	swede rape (including plants commonly known as fodder rape and oilseed rape)
Brassica nigra(L.) W.D.J. Koch	black mustard
Brassica rapaL. var. silvestris(Lam.) Briggs	turnip rape
Cannabis sativaL.	hemp
Glycine max(L.) Merr.	soya bean
Helianthus annuusL.	sunflower
Linum usitatissimumL.	flax, linseed
Sinapis albaL.	white mustard
Vegetables	Vegetables
Allium cepaL. (Cepa Group)	onion, Echalion
Allium porrumL.	leek
Apium graveolensL.	celery, celeriac
Asparagus officinalisL.	asparagus
Beta vulgarisL.	beetroot including Cheltenham beet, spinach beet and chard
Brassica oleraceaL.	Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, curly kale, kohlrabi, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, sprouting broccoli or calabrese, white cabbage
Brassica rapaL.	Chinese cabbage, turnip
Cichorium endiviaL.	endive (curled-leaved, plain-leaved)
Cichorium intybusL.	large-leaved (Italian) chicory
Cucumis meloL.	melon
Cucumis sativusL.	cucumber, gherkin
Cucurbita maximaDuchesne	gourd
Cucurbita pepoL.	marrow or courgette
Daucus carotaL.	carrot, fodder carrot
Lactuca sativaL.	lettuce
Petroselinum crispum(Mill) Nyman ex A.W. Hill	parsley
Phaseolus coccineusL.	runner bean
Phaseolus vulgarisL.	French bean (dwarf, climbing)
Pisum sativumL. (partim)	wrinkled pea, round pea, sugar pea
Raphanus sativusL.	radish, black radish
Solanum lycopersicum L.	tomato
Spinacia oleraceaL.	spinach
Vicia fabaL. (partim)	broad bean
Zea maysL. (partim)	sweet corn, popcorn

SCHEDULE 2 — Certification requirements

PART 1 — Beet

Interpretation of Part 1

1

In this Part—

(a) “monogerm seed” means seed that is genetically monogerm; and

(b) “precision seed” means seed designed for use in precision drills to produce single seedlings.

Permitted types of beet seed

2

Beet seed must be—

(a) pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed; or

Meaning of “pre-basic” seed

3

Pre-basic seed is seed—

(a) produced from a generation prior to pre-basic seed by or under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) more pre-basic seed;

(ii) basic seed; or

(iii) with the breeder's written authority, certified seed.

Meaning of “basic seed”

4

Basic seed is seed—

(a) produced under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) intended for the production of certified seed.

Meaning of “certified seed”

5

Certified seed is seed that is of direct descent from basic seed and is intended for the production of beet.

Crop and seed requirements

6

(1) Crop inspections by official or licensed crop inspectors must be carried out in accordance with Article 2(3)(A)(a) to (d) of, and Annex I(A) to, Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed, and the crop must satisfy the conditions in that Annex.

(2) The seed produced by the crop must be sampled in accordance with Article 9(2) of, and Annex II to, that Directive, and must satisfy the conditions in Annex I(B) to that Directive.

(3) It must be labelled in accordance with Schedule 3.

(4) The maximum moisture content must not exceed 15% by weight.

(5) Diseases and harmful organisms that reduce the usefulness of the seed must be at the lowest possible level.

(6) For the purposes of this paragraph, Council Directive 2002/54/EC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(3)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ licensed by the Department ”;

(b) in Annex I—

(i) in point A—

(aa) in paragraph 3, for “certification authority” there were substituted “ Department ”;

(bb) in the last paragraph, for the words from “the common” to “that Directive”, there were substituted “ United Kingdom National List ”;

(ii) in point B, in paragraph 3(c)—

(aa) the reference to “member States” were a reference to “The Department”;

(bb) the reference to “Community” were omitted.

PART 2 — Cereals

Permitted types of cereal seed

7

(1) Cereal seed must be—

(a) pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed;

(d) certified seed, first generation;

(e) certified seed, second generation; or

(f) seed of a higher voluntary standard.

(2) The seed may be a mixture of cereal species of different varieties provided that each variety in the mixture is certified and is effective against the propagation of harmful organisms.

Meaning of “pre-basic seed” (including hybrids)

8

Pre-basic seed (including hybrids) is seed—

(a) produced from a generation prior to pre-basic seed or from pre-basic seed by or under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) more pre-basic seed;

(ii) basic seed; or

(iii) with the breeder's written authority, certified seed of categories CS, C1 or C2 (hybrid varieties may not be produced to C1 or C2).

Meaning of “basic seed”

9

Basic seed is seed complying with the following conditions.

Meaning of “certified seed”

10

Certified seed is seed—

(a) of rye and maize and hybrids of barley, oats, wheat, durum wheat, spelt wheat and self-pollinating triticale;

(b) that has been produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from seed of a generation prior to basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”

11

Certified seed, first generation is seed—

(a) of oats, barley, triticale, wheat, durum wheat or spelt wheat other than hybrids in each case;

(b) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(c) intended either for the production of seed of the category “certified seed, second generation” or for purposes other than the production of cereal seed.

Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”

12

Certified seed, second generation is seed—

(a) of oats, barley, triticale, wheat, durum wheat or spelt wheat other than hybrids in each case;

(b) produced directly from basic seed, from certified seed, first generation or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

Crop and seed requirements

13

(1) Crop inspections by official or licensed crop inspectors must be carried out in accordance with Article 2(3)(A)(a) to (d) of, and Annex I to, Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed, and the crop from which the seed has been produced must—

(a) satisfy the conditions in that Annex; and

(b) be found to be free from plants of wild oat.

(2) The seed produced by the crop must be sampled in accordance with Article 7 of, and Annex III to, that Directive (with the omission of paragraphs 1a(f) and 1b) and must—

(a) satisfy the conditions in Annex II to that Directive; and

(b) be free of seeds of wild oat in a 3 kilogram sample.

(2A) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), Council Directive 66/402/EEC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(3)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ licensed by the Department ”;

(b) in Article 7—

(i) the reference to “member States” were a reference to “The Department”;

(ii) in paragraph 1a(a), for “seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ Department ”.

(3) The moisture content must not exceed 17% by weight.

(4) The crop and the seed produced by the crop must be practically free from any pests which reduce the usefulness and quality of the seed.

(5) The crop and the seed produced by the crop must comply with the requirements concerning Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests and RNQPs provided for in implementing acts adopted pursuant to the EU Plant Health Regulation, and measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation.

Higher voluntary standards for cereals

14

(1) Barley, oats, wheat (including durum wheat and spelt wheat) or naked oats classified as basic seed, or certified seed of categories C1 or C2, may be marketed as being of a higher voluntary standard, which is a standard higher than that required under paragraph 13, if it meets the higher standards specified in this paragraph and paragraphs 15, 16 and 17.

(2) The seed must meet the minimum standards laid down in paragraph 13.

(3) The seed must have at least 99.99% (by number) species purity.

(4) Other than a hybrid, the minimum varietal purity of seed is—

(a) 99.95% for basic seed;

(b) 99.9% for C1 seed;

(5) In the case of C1 and C2 the seed must have 99% by weight analytical purity.

Additional requirements for barley, wheat, durum wheat and spelt wheat

15

In the case of barley, wheat, durum wheat and spelt wheat the maximum percentage by number of loose smut infection in seed is—

(a) 0.1% for basic seed;

(b) 0.2% for C1 and C2 seed.

16

The number of seeds from other plant species in a sample of 1 kilogram must not exceed the following.

Ergot and sclerotia

17

In a sample of 1 kilogram—

(a) in the case of basic seed there must be no ergot or sclerotia;

(b) in the case of certified seed (C1 and C2) there must be no more than one piece of ergot or sclerotia.

PART 3 — Fodder plants

Permitted types of fodder seed

18

(1) Fodder seed must be—

(a) pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed;

(d) certified seed, first generation;

(e) certified seed, second generation;

(f) commercial seed; or

(g) seed of a higher voluntary standard.

(2) The seed may be a mixture of fodder species of different varieties provided that each variety in the mixture is certified.

Meaning of “pre-basic seed”

19

Pre-basic seed is seed—

(a) produced from a generation prior to pre-basic seed by or under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) more pre-basic seed;

(ii) basic seed; or

(iii) with the breeder's written authority, certified seed CS, C1 or C2.

Meaning of “basic seed”

20

(1) Basic seed is seed of—

(a) bred varieties; or

(b) local varieties.

(2) Seed of bred varieties is seed—

(a) produced under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety;

(b) intended for the production of certified seed.

(3) Seed of local varieties is seed—

(a) produced under official control from material officially accepted as being of the local variety on one or more holdings situated within a clearly demarcated region of origin;

(b) intended for the production of certified seed.

Meaning of “certified seed”

21

Certified seed is seed (other than of field beans, field peas, lucerne (Medicago sativa), lupins and vetches)—

(a) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended for purposes other than the production of seed.

Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”

22

Certified seed, first generation in relation to field beans, field peas, lucerne (Medicago sativa), lupins and vetches is seed—

(a) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended for—

(i) the production of certified seed, second generation (in the case of field beans and field peas only); or

(ii) purposes other than the production of seed (in all cases).

Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”

23

Certified seed, second generation in relation to field beans, field peas, lucerne (Medicago sativa), lupins and vetches is seed—

(a) produced directly from basic seed, from certified seed, first generation (C1) or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended for purposes other than the production of seed of fodder plants.

Meaning of “commercial seed”

24

Commercial seed is seed of annual meadowgrass, Hungarian vetch of sainfoin that is identifiable as belonging to a species.

Crop and seed requirements

25

(1) Crop inspections by official or licensed crop inspectors must be carried out in accordance with Article 2(3)(A)(a) to (d) of, and Annex I to, Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed, and the crop must satisfy the conditions in that Annex.

(1A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), Council Directive 66/401/EEC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(3)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ licensed by the Department ”;

(b) in Annex I, in paragraph 4, in the second sub-paragraph, the words from “Upon” to the end were omitted.

(1A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), Council Directive 66/401/EEC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(3)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “licensed by the Department”;

(b) in Annex 1, in Part 4, in the second sub-paragraph, the words from “Upon” to “appropriate means” were omitted.

(2) The seed produced by the crop must be sampled in accordance with Article 7 of, and Annex III to, that Directive, and must satisfy the conditions in Annex II to that Directive.

(3) The crop and the seed produced by the crop must be practically free from any pests which reduce the usefulness and quality of the seed.

(4) The crop and seed produced by the crop must comply with the requirements concerning Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests and RNQPs provided for in implementing acts adopted pursuant to the EU Plant Health Regulation, as well as measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation.

Higher voluntary standards for fodder seed

26

In the case of cocksfoot, festulolium, hybrid ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, lucerne, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, red clover, red fescue, sainfoin, small timothy, timothy, smooth stalked meadow grass, tall fescue and white clover, certified seed (CS) may be marketed as certified seed of a higher voluntary standard, where the sample of seed taken under paragraph 25(2) satisfies the standards specified in the following Table.

PART 4 — Oil and fibre

Permitted types of oil and fibre seed

27

Oil and fibre seed must be—

(a) pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed;

(d) certified seed, first generation;

(e) certified seed, second generation;

(f) certified seed, third generation; or

(g) commercial seed.

Meaning of “pre-basic seed”

28

(1) Pre-basic seed is seed of a generation prior to basic seed—

(a) that has been produced by or under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) is intended to be used for the production of more pre-basic seed, basic seed or, with the breeder's written authority—

(i) in the case of black mustard, brown mustard, dioecious hemp, sunflower, swede rape, turnip rape or white mustard, CS seed;

(ii) in the case of monoecious hemp or soya bean, C1 or C2 seed;

(iii) in the case of flax or linseed, C1 C2 or C3 seed.

(2) But in relation to a component of a hybrid variety, “pre-basic seed” means seed of a generation prior to basic seed that is intended to be used for the production of—

(a) more pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed; or

Meaning of “basic seed” for non-hybrid varieties

29

In the case of a non-hybrid variety, basic seed is seed—

(a) produced under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety;

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) certified seed;

(ii) certified seed, first generation;

(iii) certified seed, second generation; or

(iv) certified seed, third generation.

Meaning of “basic seed” for inbred lines

30

In the case of an inbred line, basic seed is seed of an inbred line of a hybrid that satisfies the conditions for basic seed.

Meaning of “basic seed” for simple hybrids

31

In the case of a simple hybrid, basic seed is seed intended for the production of hybrids.

Meaning of “certified seed”

32

Certified seed is seed of black, brown and white mustard, dioecious hemp, sunflower, swede rape or turnip rape—

(a) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from seed of a generation prior to basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended for purposes other than the production of seed of oil or fibre plants.

Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”

33

Certified seed, first generation is seed of monoecious hemp, flax, linseed or soya—

(a) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) certified seed, second generation;

(ii) where appropriate, certified seed, third generation; or

(iii) for purposes other than the production of seed of oil or fibre plants.

Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”

34

(1) Certified seed, second generation is seed of flax, linseed, soya or monoecious hemp.

(2) In the case of flax, linseed and soya it is seed—

(a) produced directly from basic seed, from certified seed, first generation or, if the breeder so requests, from pre-basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed; and

(b) intended for—

(i) purposes other than the production of seed; or

(ii) where appropriate, the production of certified seed, third generation.

(3) In the case of monoecious hemp it is seed—

(a) produced directly from certified seed, first generation established and officially controlled with a view to the production of certified seed, second generation; and

(b) intended for the production of hemp to be harvested in flower.

Meaning of “certified seed, third generation”

35

Certified seed, third generation is seed from flax or linseed—

(a) of direct descent from basic seed, from certified seed, first or second generation or, if the breeder so requests, from seed of a generation prior to basic seed; and

(b) intended for purposes other than the production of seed.

Meaning of “commercial seed”

36

Commercial seed (black mustard seed only) is seed that is identifiable as belonging to a species.

Crop and seed requirements

37

(1) Crop inspections by official or licensed crop inspectors must be carried out in accordance with Article 2(5)(A)(a) to (d) of, and Annex I to, Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants, and the crop must satisfy the conditions in that Annex.

(1A) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), Council Directive 2002/57/EC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(5)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ licensed by the Department ”;

(b) in Annex 2, in Part 1, in paragraph 5C the last sub-paragraph were omitted.

(2) The seed produced by the crop must be sampled in accordance with Annex III to that Directive and must satisfy the conditions in Annex II to that Directive.

(3) The crop and the seed produced by the crop must be practically free from any pests which reduce the usefulness and quality of the seed.

(4) The crop and seed produced by the crop must comply with the requirements concerning Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests and RNQPs provided for in implementing acts adopted pursuant to the EU Plant Health Regulation, as well as measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation.

Requirements for a varietal association

38

(1) Seed marketed as a varietal association must comply with this paragraph.

(2) The varietal association must be an association of certified CS seed of a specified pollinator-dependent hybrid variety with certified CS seed of one or more specified pollinator varieties both of which have been accepted on to the NI Variety List ....

(3) The seed of the female and male components of a varietal association must have been dressed using seed dressings of different colours.

(4) The seed must be mechanically combined in the proportions jointly determined by the persons responsible for the maintenance of these components.

(5) The proportions must be notified to the Department by the person responsible for the maintenance of the pollinator-dependent hybrid and pollinators with the varietal association.

(6) In this paragraph—

(a) “pollinator-dependent hybrid” means the male-sterile component within the varietal association (female component); and

(b) “pollinator” means a component shedding pollen within a varietal association.

PART 5 — Vegetables

Permitted types of vegetable seed

39

(1) Vegetable seed must be—

(a) pre-basic seed;

(b) basic seed;

(d) standard seed.

(2) The seed may be a mixture of different varieties of the same vegetable species provided that each variety in the mixture is standard seed.

Meaning of “pre-basic seed”

40

Pre-basic seed is seed—

(a) produced from a generation prior to pre-basic seed by or under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety; and

(b) intended for the production of—

(i) more pre-basic seed;

(ii) basic seed; or

(iii) with the breeder's written authority, certified seed.

Meaning of “basic seed”

41

(1) Basic seed is seed—

(a) produced under the responsibility of the breeder according to well-defined practices for the maintenance of the variety;

(b) intended for the production of certified seed.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt this includes seed intended as a component of a hybrid variety of vegetable.

Meaning of “certified seed”

42

Certified seed is seed—

(a) produced directly from basic seed or, if the breeder so requests, from seed of a generation prior to basic seed that satisfies the conditions for basic seed;

(b) intended mainly for the production of vegetables.

Meaning of “standard seed”

43

Standard seed is seed that is intended mainly for the production of vegetables and has been approved by the Department as having sufficient varietal purity and varietal identity.

Crop and seed requirements

44

(1) Crop inspections by official or licensed crop inspectors must be carried out in accordance with Article 2(4)(A)(a) to (d) of, and Annex I to, Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed, and the crop must satisfy the conditions in that Annex.

(2) The seed produced by the crop must be sampled in accordance with Article 25 (with the omission of paragraphs 1a(F) and 1b) of, and Annex III to, that Directive and must satisfy the conditions in Annex II to that Directive.

(2A) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), Council Directive 2002/55/EC is to be read as if—

(a) in Article 2(4)(A)(a)(iii), for “officially licensed by the seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ licensed by the Department ”;

(b) in Article 25—

(i) references to “member States” were references to “the Department”;

(ii) in paragraph 1a(a), for “seed certification authority of the member State concerned”, there were substituted “ Department ”.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of standard seed.

(4) The crop and seed produced by the crop must be practically free from any pests which reduce the usefulness and quality of the seed.

(4A) The crop and seed produced by the crop must comply with the requirements concerning Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests and RNQPs provided for in implementing acts adopted pursuant to the EU Plant Health Regulation, as well as measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation.

(5) After marketing, vegetable seed is subject to control by the Department for varietal identity and varietal purity.

SCHEDULE 3 — Labelling and loose sales

PART 1 — Introduction

Types of label

1

(1) There are two types of label for seed, official labels and supplier's labels.

(2) A supplier's label must be used on a package of breeder's seed, and may be used on a small package of seed specified in Part 4 of this Schedule and on a package of standard vegetable seed of any size.

(3) An official label must be used on any other package of seed.

Time of labelling

2

A package must be labelled at the time of sealing.

Genetically modified varieties

3

If a variety has been genetically modified, this must be stated on the label.

Chemical treatment of seed

4

If seed has been subjected to any chemical treatment, this fact and the nature of the treatment or the proprietary name of the chemical used must be stated either—

(a) on the label; or

(b) on a separate supplier's label affixed to the package.

PART 2 — Official labels

Official labels: general requirements

5

(1) An official label is a label supplied by, or on behalf of, the Department.

(2) It must be on the outside of the package.

(3) It must not have been previously used.

(4) It must be adhesive, or secured by a sealing device approved by the Department.

(5) It must—

(a) in the case of cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed or oil and fibre plant seed, be in one of the official languages of the European Union; or

(b) in the case of fodder seed, English.

(6) It must be at least 110mm x 67mm.

(7) It must have an officially assigned serial number.

(8) It must be fixed to the package by an authorised officer of the Department, a licensed seed sampler or any person being supervised by such a person.

(9) By way of derogation from the above, in the case of cereal seed, fodder seed and oil and fibre seed, classified in each case as CS, C1, C2 or C3, the whole bag may be used as the label, provided that this is done with the approval of the Department and the bag is the same colour as is required for the label.

Official labels for pre-basic seed

6

(1) The following must appear on an official label on pre-basic seed—

(a) the name and country or country initials of the certification authority;

(b) in the case of—

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed or oil and fibre plant seed, the name or initials of the European Single Market State;

(ii) seed certified in Northern Ireland “UK(NI)”;

(d) the country of production;

(e) the month and year of sealing expressed as “sealed ...[month and year]”;

(f) the species (this must be the botanical name, which may be given in abridged form and without the authors' names, except that, in the case of beet or vegetable seed, the common name may be used);

(g) the variety;

(h) the description “pre-basic” or “PB”;

(i) the declared net or gross weight or number of seeds (or, in the case of beet, the declared number of clusters or pure seeds);

(j) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight (or, in the case of beet, the ratio between the weight of pure seed and the total weight);

(k) the number of generations preceding the category “certified seed (CS)” or “certified first generation (C1) seed”.

(2) The label must be white with a diagonal violet stripe.

Official labels for basic seed and certified seed

7

(1) The following must appear on an official label on certified seed—

(a) in the case of—

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed and oil and fibre plant seed, the words “EU rules and standards”;

(ii) fodder seed, the words “UK rules and standards”;

(b) the name and country or country initials of the certification authority;

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed or oil and fibre plant seed, the name or initials of the European Single Market State;

(ii) seed certified in Northern Ireland “UK(NI)”;

(d) the reference number of the seed lot;

(e) either—

(i) the month and year of sealing expressed as “sealed ...[month and year]”; or

(ii) the month and year of the last official sampling for the purposes of certification expressed as “sampled ...[month and year]”;

(f) the species (this must be the botanical name, either in full or in abridged form except that, in the case of beet or vegetable seed, the common name may be used);

(g) the variety;

(h) the category;

(i) the country of production;

(j) the declared net or gross weight or number of seeds (or, in the case of beet, the declared number of clusters or pure seeds);

(k) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight (or, in the case of beet, the ratio between the weight of pure seed and the total weight);

(l) where the germination has been retested the word “retested” followed by the month and year of re-testing.

(2) the label must be coloured—

(a) white for basic seed;

(b) blue for certified seed and certified seed, first generation;

Official labels for commercial seed not certified as to variety

8

(1) The following must appear on an official label on commercial seed not certified as to variety—

(a) in the case of—

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed and oil and fibre plant seed, the words “EU rules and standards”;

(ii) fodder seed, the words “UK rules and standards”;

(b) the name and country or country initials of the certification authority;

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed or oil and fibre plant seed, the name or initials of the European Single Market State;

(ii) seed certified in Northern Ireland “UK(NI)”;

(d) the reference number of the seed lot;

(e) either—

(i) the month and year of sealing expressed as “sealed ...[month and year]”; or

(ii) the month and year of the last official sampling for the purposes of certification expressed as “sampled ...[month and year]”;

(f) the species (this must be the botanical name, either in full or in abridged form except that, in the case of beet or vegetable seed, the common name may be used);

(g) the words “commercial seed not certified as to variety”;

(h) the country of production;

(i) the declared net or gross weight or number of seeds;

(j) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight;

(k) where the germination has been retested the word “retested” followed by the month and year of re-testing.

(2) The label must be coloured brown.

Labelling mixtures

9

(1) The following must appear on an official label on a mixture of seed—

(a) the name and country or country initials of the authority responsible for sealing the package;

(b) in the case of—

(i) cereal seed, vegetable seed, beet seed or oil and fibre plant seed, the name or initials of the European Single Market State;

(ii) fodder seed “UK(NI)”;

(d) the month and year of sealing expressed as “sealed ...[month and year]”;

(e) the species, category, variety, country of production and proportion by weight of each of the components;

(f) the declared net or gross weight or declared number of seeds;

(g) where the weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of the pure seed and the total weight;

(h) where the germination of all of the components of the mixture has been retested, the word “retested” followed by the month and year of re-testing;

(i) in the case of cereals the words “mixture of” followed by the species and varieties and a qualifying statement that the mixture is effective against the propagation of a harmful organism;

(j) in the case of fodder plants the word “mixture of seeds for” followed by an indication of the intended use.

(2) But for fodder mixtures registered with the Department, provided the label shows the registered name of the mixture, the percentage by weight of each of the components may be omitted provided that—

(a) this information is supplied to the customer on request; and

(b) customers are informed that they can request these details.

(3) The label must be coloured green.

PART 3 — Additional requirements for official labels for specific species

Additional requirements for beet seed

10

An official label for beet seed must specify—

(a) “monogerm” or “precision” as appropriate;

(b) “fodder beet” or “sugar beet” as appropriate.

Additional requirements for cereal seed

11

(1) An official label for C1 and C2 naked barley must include the words “minimum germination capacity 75%”.

(2) An official label for basic cereal seed of varieties that are hybrids or inbred lines must include—

(a) for basic seed where the hybrid or inbred line to which the seed belongs has been accepted on to the NI Variety List or , has been accepted on to the Common Catalogue and the seed is marketed before the end of the period of two years beginning with the day after the day on which exit day falls, the name under which it has been officially accepted, with or without reference to the final variety, and if the seed is intended solely as a component for final varieties the word “component”;

(b) for basic seed in other cases the name of the component to which the basic seed belongs, which may be given in code form, accompanied by a reference to the final variety, with or without reference to its function (male or female) by the word “component”.

(3) An official label for certified cereal seed (CS, C1 or C2) of varieties that are hybrids or inbred lines must include the word “hybrid” after the variety.

(4) Where seed is marketed as being of the higher voluntary standard the label must contain the letters HVS.

Additional requirements for fodder seed

12

An official label for fodder seed must include—

(a) for certified seed, second and subsequent generations, the number of generations after basic seed;

(b) in the case of seed of grass varieties in respect of which no official examination of their value for cultivation and use has been carried out the words “Not intended for fodder production”;

Additional requirements for oil and fibre seed

13

(1) An official label for basic oil and fibre seed of varieties that are hybrids or inbred lines must include—

(a) for basic seed where the hybrid or inbred line to which the seed belongs has been officially accepted on to the NI Variety List or , has been accepted on to the Common Catalogue and the seed is marketed before the end of the period of two years beginning with the day after the day on which exit day falls, the name under which it has been officially accepted, with or without reference to the final variety, and if the seed is intended solely as a component for final varieties the word “component”;

(b) for basic seed in other cases the name of the component to which the basic seed belongs, which may be given in code form, accompanied by a reference to the final variety, with or without reference to its function (male or female) by the word “component”.

(2) An official label for certified oil and fibre seed (CS, C1 or C2) of varieties that are hybrids or inbred lines must include the word “hybrid” after the variety.

(3) An official label for certified seed of a varietal association must be blue with a diagonal green line.

PART 4 — Supplier's labels

Meaning of “supplier's label”

14

A supplier's label is a label that has not been provided by, or on behalf of, the Department.

Labelling a package

15

A supplier's label must either be affixed to the package in the same way as an official label or printed indelibly on the package.

References to weights in this Part

16

In this Part references to the weight excludes any granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives.

Breeder's seed: supplier's labels

17

(1) The following must appear on a supplier's label on a package of breeder's seed—

(a) the name and address or identification number of the supplier responsible for affixing the label;

(b) the reference number of the seed lot;

(d) the variety;

(e) the words “breeder's seed”;

(f) the declared net or gross weight or number of seeds.

(2) The label must be buff coloured.

Beet seed: supplier's labels

18

(1) A supplier's label may be used on a small package of beet seed.

(2) A small package of beet seed (known as a “small ... package”) is a package that—

(a) in the case of basic and certified beet seed of precision or monogerm varieties, either weighs not more than 2.5 kilograms or consists of not more than 100,000 clusters;

(b) for all other beet seed, weighs not more than 10 kilograms.

(3) The label must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “small ... package”;

(b) the name and address or identification number of the person affixing the label;

(d) the service that assigned the serial number and name or initials of the country of production;

(e) the reference number if the official serial number does not enable the lot to be identified;

(f) the species;

(g) either sugar beet or fodder beet as appropriate;

(h) the variety;

(i) the category;

(j) the declared net or gross weight or number of clusters or pure seeds;

(k) where the weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and the approximate ratio between the weight of the clusters or pure seeds and the total weight;

(l) either “monogerm” or “precision” as appropriate.

Cereal seed: supplier's label

19

(1) A supplier's label may be used on a small package of cereal seed.

(2) A small package of cereal seed is a package of any certified seed, or any mixture of certified seed not exceeding 15 kilograms.

(3) The label must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

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