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The Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations 1993

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Regulations 3(1) and (3), 5(3), (5), (6), (7) and (11), and 9(2), (3) and (4)

SCHEDULE 4REQUIREMENTS FOR BASIC SEED, CERTIFIED SEED, CERTIFIED SEED OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATIONS AND COMMERCIAL SEED

PART I

CONDITIONS RELATING TO CROPS FROM WHICH SEEDS OTHER THAN COMMERCIAL SEED ARE OBTAINED

1.  So far as the Minister can ascertain them, by the use of methods which shall include official examination of the crop and which may, at such stages in the production of a variety as the Minister may require, include examination of a plot sown with a sample from the seed lot sown in the field and the consideration of any other relevant information, the requirements for the crop set out below shall be met.

Varietal identity and varietal purity

2.  The characteristics for the determination of varietal identity and varietal purity shall be those recognised as those of the variety for the purposes of the National List or the Common Catalogue.

Crop inspections

3.  The crop shall be officially examined in such manner and at such times (when the cultural condition of the field and the stage of development and condition of the crop are such as to permit suitable checks of varietal identity, varietal purity and species purity to be made) as the Minister may reasonably require.

Previous cropping

4.  The crop may be grown only on land which has not previously been cropped in a manner which might adversely affect the nature or quality of the seeds to be produced and which complies with the Minister’s requirements in that respect.

Limitation of the number of harvest years

5.  A crop to produce Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed or Certified Seed of Italian ryegrass, and varieties of other kinds which are conducive to the establishment from shed seed of a high proportion of plants which themselves produce seeds, shall not be used to produce a crop in the second harvest year unless:—

(a)Pre-basic Seed was produced in the first harvest year in which case Basic Seed may be produced, or

(b)Basic Seed was produced in the first harvest year and the seed sown to produce the crop were Pre-basic Seed in which case Certified Seed may be produced.

Isolation distances

6.  There shall be a physical barrier or at least 2 metres of fallow between the seed crops and any crop likely to cause contamination in the seed.

7.  Field pea crops grown for the production of Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed, Certified Seed of the First Generation or Certified Seed of the Second Generation shall be isolated by 50 metres, throughout their whole growing period, from all other pea crops not being grown for such production.

8.  Throughout the period of flowering of the crop there shall be the following minimum distances from sources of undesirable pollen capable of fertilizing the crop:—

(a)Crucifers. Crops to produce—

Basic seed400 metres
Certified Seed200 metres
Crop Area
up to 2 hectaresover 2 hectares

(b)Field beans, Crops to produce—

Basic Seed and Certified Seed 1st generation200m100m
Certified Seed 2nd generation100m50m

(c)Other cross-fertilised species. Crops to product—

Basic Seed200m100m
Certified Seed100m50m

With the approval of the Minister these standards may be modified if there is adequate protection against undesirable pollen.

Standards for varietal purity

9.  The crop shall have sufficient varietal identity and varietal purity. In particular the average level of the following impurities, by area or by number, as appropriate, shall not exceed—

IN CROPS TO PRODUCE
Basic SeedCertified Seed, Certified Seed of the First and Second Generations

(a)recognisable off-types of the same species in grasses and herbage legumes (including Italian or awned ryegrass in perennial ryegrass and perennial or awnless ryegrass in Italian ryegrass) other than smooth-stalked meadowgrass

1 plant in 50 sq m1 plant in 10 sq m

(b)recognisable off-types of the same species in smooth-stalked meadowgrass other than apomictic uni-clonal varieties

1 plant in 20 sq m4 plants in 10 sq m

(c)recognisable off-types of the same species in apomictic uni-clonal varieties of smooth-stalked meadowgrass

1 plant in 20 sq m6 plants in 10 sq m

(d)recognisable off-types of the same species in field peas and field beans

0.3%1%

(e)recognisable off-types of the same species in swede and fodder kale

0.3%1%

(f)recognisable off-types of the same species in vetches, lupins and fodder radish

1 plant in 30 sq m1 plant in 10 sq m

(g)plants (other than those classified as off-types) grown from shed seeds in grasses and herbage legumes

1% of seed heads in cropNo standard

(h)ryegrass in cocksfoot, meadow fescue, red fescue or tall fescue

1 plant in 50 sq m1 plant in 10 sq m

(i)suckling clover (Trifolium dubium Sibth.) in white clover

1 plant in 50 sq m1 plant in 10 sq m

PART II

CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE SEEDS

1.  Basic Seed, Certified Seed and Certified Seed of the First and Second Generations shall possess the varietal identity and varietal purity specified in Part I; for apomictic uni-clonal varieties of smooth-stalked meadowgrass the minmum varietal purity shall be 99.7% for Basic Seed and 98% for Certified Seed.

2.  For lucerne and red clover, Basic Seed and seeds entered for the Higher Voluntary Standard shall be effectively fumigated if stem eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci) is reported on official examination of the crop.

3.  The seeds shall be of a satisfactory state of health in so far as seed-borne diseases and organisms affecting the seeds are concerned.

4.  For each seed lot of Pre-basic Seed or Basic Seed of field beans, a minimum of 1,000 seeds and, for each seed lot of Certified Seed of the First Generation of field beans, a minimum of 500 seeds shall be officially examined for Ascochyta fabae and the level of infection shall not exceed 1 seed in 1,000 for Pre-basic Seed, 2 seeds in 1,000 for Basic Seed and 2 seeds in 500 for Certified Seed of the First Generation.

5.  For each seed lot of Breeder’s Seed, Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed and Certified Seed of the First Generation of field peas 1 kg shall be officially examined from a submitted sample of 2 kg thereof for the presence of Pseudomonas syringae p.v. pisi infection and the level of infection therefrom found to be nil.

6.  The seeds shall comply with the following standards:—

KindMinimum germination (% by number of pure seeds or pure pellets)aMaximum hard seed content (% by number of pure seeds or pure pellets)Minimum analytical purity (% by weight)Maximum total content of seeds of other plant species (% by weight)
All categoriesAll categoriesAll categoriesBasic seedCertified Seed, Certified Seed of the Firstand Second GenerationsCommercial Seed
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
a

All fresh and healthy seeds which do not germinate after pre-treatment shall be considered as seeds which have germinated.

b

Up to the maximum content indicated in column (3), hard seeds present shall be considered as seeds capable of germination.

c

For Commercial Seeds 97%.

d

No Commercial Seed except under licence.

e

The Standard for Commercial Seed applies to the kinds of seed listed in the definition of commercial seed:—Regulation 3(3). Footnote 4 applies to the remaining kinds.

Brown top75900.32.0d
Red top80900.32.0d
Other Agrostis spp75900.32.03.0d
Tall oatgrass80900.33.04.0d
Rescue grass75970.41.5d
Alaska brome-grass75970.41.5d
Sheep’s fescue75850.32.03.0d
Poa spp. other than Poa pratensis75850.32.03.0e
Birdsfoot trefoil75b40950.31.82.8
Narrow-leaved lupin (Blue lupin)75b2098c0.30.51.5
Other lupins80b2098c0.30.51.5e
Trefoil80b20970.31.52.5
Alsike clover80b20970.31.52.5
Vetches85b2098c0.31.02.0e
Swede80980.31.0d
Fodder kale75980.31.0d
Fodder radish80970.31.0d
Field pea80980.30.5d
Field bean85b5980.30.5d
KindMinimum germination (% by number of pure seeds or pure pellets)aMaximum hard seed content (% by number of pure seeds or pure pellets)Minimum analytical purity (% by weight)Maximum total content of seeds of other plant species (% by weight)
Basic Seed and Certified SeedBasic Seed and Certified SeedBasic Seed and Certified Seed (minimum standard)Certified Seed (Higher Voluntary Standard)Basic seedCertified Seed (minimum standard)Certified Seed (Higher Voluntary Standard)
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)
a

All fresh and healthy seeds which do not germinate after pre-treatment shall be considered as seeds which have germinated.

b

Up to the maximum content indicated in column (3), hard seeds present shall be considered as seeds capable of germination.

c

Including Commercial Seed.

Perennial ryegrass8096980.31.51.5
Italian ryegrass7596980.31.51.5
Hybrid ryegrass7596980.31.51.5
Cocksfoot8090900.31.51.5
Timothy8096980.31.51.5
Meadow fescue8095980.31.51.5
Smooth-stalked meadowgrass7585900.32.01.5
Red fescue7590950.31.51.5
Festulolium7596980.31.51.5
Tall fescue8095980.31.51.5
Red clover80b2097980.31.51.5
White clover80b4097980.31.51.5
Sainfoin75b,c20c95c980.32.5c1.5
Lucerne80b4097980.31.51.5

7.  The seeds shall also comply with the following standards where appropriate. Where number standards are indicated a sample of the size indicated in column 2 should be examined.

KindWeight of sample for determination of foreign seeds by number gramsMaximum permitted content of seed impurities (by number or as a percentage by weight)
Avena fatua A. ludovicianaandA. Sterilis(Wild Oat) or Cuscuta spp. (Dodder)
Rumexspp. (Docks and Sorrels) excluding R. acetosella(Sheep’s sorrel) and R. maritimus (Golden dock)
Allopecurus myosuroides(Blackgrass)
Agropyron repens(couch)
Melilotus(Sweetclovers)
Maximum content of any one other plant speciesOther Requirements
Basic SeedCertified SeedBasic SeedCertified SeedBasic SeedCertified SeedBasic SeedCertified SeedBasic SeedCertified SeedBasic SeedCertified Seed
Minimum Standard and Higher Voluntary StandardMinimum StandardHigher Voluntary StandardMinimum StandardHigher Voluntary StandardMinimum StandardHigher Voluntary StandardMinimum Standard and Higher Voluntary StandardMinimum StandardHigher Voluntary Standard
No.No.No.No.No.No.%No.No.%No.No.%No.%%
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)
a

For Certified Seed minimum standard, 1 seed of dodder in a sample of the size specified in column (2) shall not be regarded as an impurity if a second sample of the same weight is free from dodder.

b

The presence of a maximum of 80 seeds of Poa spp. in a sample of the size specified in column (2) shall not be regarded as an impurity.

c

There shall be no more than 0.4% by weight of annual meadowgrass.

d

In Basic Seed awned ryegrass seeds shall not exceed 5 seeds in a sample of the size specified in column (2) of seeds of a variety known not to produce seeds with awns. In Certified Seed awned ryegrass seeds shall not exceed 1% by weight in seeds of a variety known not to produce seeds with awns.

e

There shall be no more than 0.3% by weight ofAgrostisspp.

f

There shall be no more than 0.3% by weight of ryegrasses.

g

There shall be no more than 0.3% by weight of rough-stalked meadowgrass.

h

For Certified Seed, Higher Voluntary Standard of red fescue, there shall be no more than a total of 4 seeds of ryegrass, cocksfoot and meadow fescue in a sample of the size specified in column 2.

j

One seed of Melilotusspp. in a sample of the size specified in column (2) shall not be regarded as an impurity if a second sample of twice that size is free of Melilotusspp.

k

Including Commercial Seed.

l

In Certified Seed a maximum of 0.8% by weight of seeds of other meadowgrasses shall not be regarded as an impurity.

m

In Certified Seed a maximum of 0.4% by weight of seeds of other meadowgrasses shall not be regarded as an impurity.

Perennial ryegrass6000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5c,gd
Italian ryegrass6000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5c,g
Hybrid ryegrass6000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5c,g
Cocksfoot3000a25550.31050.31020b1.00.5
Timothy1000a25410.31010.310201.00.5e
Meadow fescue5000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5f,g
Smooth-stalked Meadowgrass500a12210.3310.33201.0l0.5m
Red fescue3000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5gh
Festulolium6000a2550.350.51020b1.0
Tall fescue5000a25550.31050.51020b1.00.5f,g
Red clover50005101010100j0.3201.00.5
White clover20005101010100j0.3201.00.5
Sainfoin Seed/fruit400/60000k255k10k1000.3k201.0k0.5
Lucerne50003101010100j0.3201.00.5

PART IIIASCOCHYTA FABAE STANDARDS

CategoryMaximum percentage of infected seeds
Certified Seed of the Second Generation1.0

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