Purpose of Seed certification

To maintain the genetic and mechanical purity, and identity of seed through all steps of production, harvesting, storage, and conditioning.  Close cooperation of the certifying agency, grower, conditioner, and distributor of the seed is required for a successful program.

The certification process is accomplished when seed meets specific minimum requirements as established by regulation.

The certification system involves a limited generation or pedigree system which is comprised of four classes of seed.  Each class, except for breeder seed, must meet minimum established  standards, and is denoted by a tag of a specific color.

Breeder Seed:
The initial stock seed produced by the breeder or institution supplying the variety.  Breeder seed is not normally found in commercial channels.

Foundation Seed:
'White tag seed' produced from Breeder seed.

Registered Seed:
'Purple tag seed' produced from foundation seed.

Certified Seed:
'Blue tag seed' produced from registered seed.

Seed certification is based on a record system which documents the entire process from the initial application for field inspection through tagging of the seed.  Seed sold in bulk is considered "tagged" when an official certification certificate has been issued for a specific lot.

Procedure:
1.  Application by grower and/or seed company to produce a class of certified seed.

2.  Determination by WSCIA of seed stock eligibility (An approved variety meeting standards of the class.), land history eligibility, and assignment of a field identification number.

3.  Field inspection.  Fields are inspected to determine satisfaction of minimum field standards for varietal purity, objectionable and prohibited noxious weeds, other crops, and mechanical isolation.  Rejected fields may be reinspected and approved after remedying the cause for rejection.

4.  Harvesting equipment inspections for foundation class seed fields.  Inspection of harvesting equipment is not conducted for registered or certified class fields.

5.  Approved seed conditioning plant.  Certified seed may be conditioned only at plants approved by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.  Approval is determined by the plant's ability to maintain varietal purity and lot identity.  

6.  Laboratory analysis of conditioned seed.  A representative sample, identified by grower, field number, variety, class, lot number, and conditioning plant is submitted to the WSDA Seed Lab for official analysis.  The seed is analyzed to determine percent crop purity, inert matter, presence of objectionable and/or noxious weed seeds, common weed seeds, other crop seeds, and percent germination.  The lab forwards an official analysis certificate to WSCIA for determination of seed lot acceptance for certification based on minimum seed standards.  Lots that meet the minimum standards are issued a certification certificate and if bagged, certification tags.

7.  Certifying Agency labeling.  In this final stage of the certification procedure, all lots which meet the minimum requirements of the seed class are eligible to be labeled with the agency certification tag or certificate.  Bagged seed must have a tag attached to each container.  Seed sold in bulk should be accompanied by a copy of the official certification certificate issued by WSCIA for that lot.