Seed Certification

The purpose of seed certification is to preserve genetic purity and identity. It is an official AOSCA-agency program enabling seed companies to market genetically pure seed. Certification services are available for field crops, turf grasses, vegetables, fruits, vegetatively propagated species, woody plants and forbs. Once seed has been certified, it qualifies for the official "blue" certified seed tag and meets state, federal and international seed law requirements. Requirements for producing certified seed include special land requirements, planting eligible stock, field inspections, proper seed labeling and meeting standards based on complete lab analysis.

Four seed classes :

Breeder seed - seed directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeding organization.
Foundation seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation seed handled to maintain specific genetic purity and identity.
Registered seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation seed handled to maintain satisfactory genetic purity and
identity.
Certified seed - the progeny of Breeder, Foundation or Registered seed handled to maintain satisfactory genetic
purity and identity.

The program provides:

Coordinated, professional and unbiased field inspections and laboratory testing. Many agencies may provide approval of conditioning plants.
An unbiased record system for use in meeting state, federal and international seed law requirements.
Assurance for buyers that the designated seed has met purity standards related to a known description across
seed lots and years of production.

Seed Certification Agencies

Foundation Seed Organizations