The Cereal Seed (England) Regulations 2002

PART I Conditions to be examined mainly by field inspections

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

2.  The seed of an in-bred line shall have sufficient identity and purity as regards its characteristics.

3.  In the case of seed of a hybrid variety, the requirement for sufficient identity and purity shall also apply to the characteristics of the components.

4.  In the case of barley, durum wheat, oats, spelt wheat and wheat, other than a hybrid in each case, the minimum varietal purity shall conform to the following standards—

Category	Minimum standard	Higher Voluntary Standard
(a) Basic seed	99.9	99.95
(b) C1 seed	99.7	99.9
(c) C2 seed	99.0	99.7

5.  In the case of a self-pollinating variety of triticale, other than a hybrid, the minimum varietal purity shall be—

(a) 99.7% in the case of basic seed;

(b) 99.0% in the case of C1 seed; and

(c) 98.0% in the case of C2 seed.

6.  For the purposes of paragraphs 4 and 5, the minimum varietal purity of seed shall be examined mainly in field inspections carried out in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 15 of Schedule 3.

7.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), in the case of a hybrid of barley, durum wheat, oats, self-pollinating triticale, spelt wheat and wheat, the minimum varietal purity shall be 90% in the case of CS seed.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), the minimum varietal purity of seed shall be examined mainly in official post control tests on an appropriate proportion of samples.

8.  Where a female male-sterile component and a male component which does not restore male fertility are used for the production of CS seed of a hybrid variety of maize, the seed shall be produced—

(a) by blending seed lots in a proportion appropriate to the variety where, on the one hand a female male-sterile component has been used and, on the other, a female male-fertile component has been used, or

(b) by growing the female male-sterile component and the female male-fertile component in a proportion appropriate to the variety.

9.  In the case of seed produced in the manner specified in paragraph 8(b) the proportion of the female male-sterile and female male-fertile components shall be examined in field inspections carried out in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 15 of Schedule 3.

10.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of barley, durum wheat, spelt wheat and wheat, the maximum percentage by number of loose smut infection shall be as follows—

Category	Minimum standard (maximum percentage by number)	Higher Voluntary Standard (maximum percentage by number)
(a) Basic seed	0.5	0.1
(b) C1 seed	0.5	0.2
(c) C2 seed	0.5	0.2

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), the incidence of loose smut infection of seed shall be examined mainly in field inspections carried out in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 15 of Schedule 3.

(3) The provisions of sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to seed which has failed to meet the standards laid down in that sub-paragraph if it has been adequately treated by any product approved by the Secretary of State for the control of loose smut under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986(1).

(4) The provisions of sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply to seed which has failed to meet the standards laid down in that sub-paragraph (1) if an embryo test carried out by an official testing station or a licensed seed testing station on the sample submitted for seed testing shows that the seed meets the relevant standard.

(1)

S.I. 1986/1510; amended by S.I. 1997/188.