Section 20. Seed Testing

To be eligible for certification, each lot must be tested and meet minimum seed inspection standards established for each crop and described in individual Crop Standards. The seed from a field which has passed field inspection must be tested forpurity (both physical purity and varietal purity) and germination. In many instances varietal identity cannot be determined by visual seed inspections, though tests exist for certain crops (such as Red Rice Rubout and contrasting kernel color in wheat). In addition, some crop kinds require special tests such as presence of dodder or Ascochyta Blight (see individual Crop Standards). The size of  the representative sample submitted for seed analysis from each lot is  identified in each crop standard (refer to Section 19 Sampling).  Seed must be tested in accordance with the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules for testing seeds. 

In addition to meeting the requirements for germination and purity, each lot of seed must be well screened and graded, bright in color and otherwise of good appearance. If the sample meets the required standards, a Seed Inspection Report will be issued to the applicant granting certification based on the sample tested. Certification may be maintained on a lot of seed only as long as subsequent tests for labeling data indicate that the seed meets or exceeds the standards for that  crop seed (see Crop Standards). If a lot of certified seed is sampled for Seed Law enforcement, or any labeling purposes, and the sample is found to be out of tolerance with the minimum certification standards, it is the conditioner's responsibility to notify CCIA staff and the lot will lose its certification.