The Vegetable Seeds Regulations 1993

PART I BASIC SEED AND CERTIFIED SEED

CONDITIONS RELATING TO CROPS FROM WHICH SEEDS 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.

Crop health

4.  The crop shall be of a satisfactory state of health insofar as seed-borne diseases and organisms affecting the seeds are concerned.

Previous cropping

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

Isolation distances

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

7.  Throughout the period of flowering of the crop there shall be the following minimum distances from sources of undesirable pollen capable of fertilising the seed crop—

(a) Beta species

from any pollen sources of the genus Beta not included in subparagraphs (ii) or (iii)

1000m

(ii) from pollen sources of varieties of the same sub-species belonging to a different group of varieties—

Crops to produce Basic Seed	1000m
Crops to produce Certified Seed	600m

(iii) from pollen sources of varieties of the same sub-species belonging to the same group of varieties—

Crops to produce Basic Seed	1000m
Crops to produce Certified Seed	600m

(b) Brassica species—

Crops to produce Basic Seed	1000m
Crops to produce Certified Seed	600m

(c) other cross-fertilised vegetable species—

Crops to produce Basic Seed	500m
Crops to produce Certified Seed	300m

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

For the purposes of this paragraph the groups of varieties of the Beta species shall be those set out in the following table classified in groups according to their characteristics. Where the crop is of a genetically monogerm variety, multigerm varieties shall be deemed to belong to a different group—

(1) Beta vulgaris L. var. vulgaris, Spinach beet, chard

1	2
Group	Characteristics
1	White petiole and pale green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration.
2	White petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration.
3	Green petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration.
4	Pink petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade.
5	Red petiole and leaf blade with anthocyanin coloration.

(2) Beta vulgaris L. Var. conditiva Alef., red beet or beetroot

1	2
Group	Characteristics
1	Transverse narrow elliptic or transverse elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple.
2	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh white.
3	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh yellow.
4	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple.
5	Narrow oblong shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple.
6	Narrow obtriangular shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple.

Varietal purity standards

8.—(a) For crops of Brassicas, French bean, broad bean, and pea the minimum varietal purity standards shall be:—

Kind	Varietal purity percentage by number in crops to produce
Basic Seed	Certified Seed
Brassicas (other than turnip)	99.8	99.5
Turnip	99.7	98.0
French bean	99.8	99.0
Broad Bean	99.7	99.0
Peas	99.995	99.995

(b) Within the standards laid down in (a) above the maximum percentage of flower colour off-types shall not exceed the percentages here specified:—

Kind	Basic Seed	Certified Seed
French bean	0.1	0.5
Broad bean	NIL	0.01
Peas	NIL	NIL