The Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Regulations 2(1), 8(7)(a), 8(8), 8(9), 8(10)(b), 8(11), 8(12)(b), 8(14)(c), 8(17)(b), 11(6) to (13) and (15), 13(3)(b) and (5)(c) to (g), 14(1)(b) and (c) and paragraphs 2(3)(a), 5(3)(a), 9(3)(a), 12(3)(a), 14(3)(a), 17(3)(a), 21(3)(a), 24(3)(a) and 27(2)(a) and (b) and (3)(a) and (b) of Schedule 1

SCHEDULE 4 CONDITIONS TO BE SATISFIED BY THE SEED

PART 1 Conditions to be examined mainly by field inspections

1.  The seed shall have sufficient varietal identity and varietal purity.

2.  In the case of seed of turnips the minimum varietal purity shall be—

(a) 99.7 per cent in the case of basic seed, and

(b) 98 per cent in the case of CS seed.

PART 2 Conditions to be examined by seed testing

3.  The seed shall conform to the following standards or other conditions as regards analytical purity and the content of seeds of other plant species—

		Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
		Species	Minimum analytical purity (percentage by weight)	Maximum content of seeds of other plant species (percentage by weight)
(a)	asparagus		96	0.5
(b)	beans of the following species—
	(i)	broad bean	98	0.1
	(ii)	French bean	98	0.1
	(iii)	runner bean	98	0.1
(c)	beetroot		97	0.5
(d)	Brussels sprouts		97	1.0
(e)	red, Savoy and white cabbage		97	1.0
(f)	carrot		95	1.0
(g)	cauliflower		97	1.0
(h)	celery		97	1.0
(i)	chard and spinach beet		97	0.5
(j)	Chinese cabbage		97	1.0
(k)	cucumber and gherkin		98	0.1
(l)	curly kale		97	1.0
(m)	endive		95	1.0
(n)	gourd		98	0.1
(o)	kohlrabi		97	1.0
(p)	large-leaved chicory and Witloof chicory		95	1.5
(q)	leek		97	0.5
(r)	lettuce		95	0.5
(s)	marrow		98	0.1
(t)	melon		98	0.1
(u)	onion		97	0.5
(v)	Parsley		97	1.0
(w)	pea		98	0.1
(x)	radish		97	1.0
(y)	spinach		97	1.0
(z)	sprouting broccoli		97	1.0
(aa)	sweet corn or popcorn		98	0.1
(bb)	tomato		97	0.5
(cc)	turnip		97	1.0

4.—(1) It shall be determined, by way of a germination test, whether the seed attains the applicable percentage of germination set out in column 2 of the table below—

		Column 1	Column 2
		Species	Minimum germination (percentage clusters or pure seed)
(a)	asparagus		70
(b)	beans of the following species—
	(i)	broad bean	80
	(ii)	French bean	75
	(iii)	runner bean	80
(c)	beetroot—
	(i)	all except the Cheltenham variety	70
	(ii)	the Cheltenham variety	50
(d)	Brussels sprouts		75
(e)	red, Savoy and white cabbage		75
(f)	carrot		65
(g)	cauliflower		70
(h)	celery		70
(i)	chard and spinach beet		70
(j)	Chinese cabbage		75
(k)	cucumber and gherkin		80
(l)	curly kale		75
(m)	endive		65
(n)	gourd		80
(o)	kohlrabi		75
(p)	large-leaved chicory and Witloof chicory		65
(q)	leek		65
(r)	lettuce		75
(s)	marrow		75
(t)	melon		75
(u)	onion		70
(v)	parsley		65
(w)	pea		80
(x)	radish		70
(y)	spinach		75
(z)	sprouting broccoli		75
(aa)	sweet corn or pop corn		85
(bb)	tomato		75
(bb)	turnip		80

5.  The seed shall not be contaminated by live Acarina (commonly known as mites).

6.  Seed of broad beans, French beans, runner beans and peas shall not be contaminated by—

(a) Acanthoscelides obtectus Sag.;

(b) Bruchus affinis Froel.;

(c) Bruchus atomarius L.;

(d) Bruchus pisorum L.; or

(e) Bruchus rufimanus Boh.

7.  In the case of varieties of Zea mays (Sweet corn – super-sweet types) the required minimum germination capacity is reduced to 80 per cent of pure seed. The official label or the supplier’s label, where appropriate, shall include the words “Minimum germination capacity 80 per cent”.

PART 3 Other conditions

8.  Diseases and harmful organisms which reduce the usefulness of the seed shall be at the lowest possible level that can be achieved.

PART 4 General provisions

9.  For the purpose of determining whether seed meets the conditions laid down in this Schedule pre-basic seed shall be treated in the same way as basic seed.