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 Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017)
 Title 2. Agriculture
 Agency 10. State Certified Seed Board
 Chapter 10. Rules and Regulations Providing for the Certification of Seeds and Othermaterials Used for Plant Propagation Purposes

  Section 30. Classes, identification, and sources of certified seed  

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  • A. There shall be four classes of seed recognized in the certification program as follows:

    1. Breeder seed. Breeder seed is a class of certified seed directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeding institution, or person, or designee thereof, and is the source for the production of seed of the other classes of certified seed.

    2. Foundation seed. Foundation seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of breeder or foundation seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the certifying agency, in accordance with this part, for producing the foundation class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic purity and identity.

    3. Registered seed. Registered seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of breeder or foundation seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the certifying agency, in accordance with this part, for producing the registered class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic purity and identity.

    4. Certified seed. Certified seed is a class of certified seed which is the progeny of breeder, foundation, or registered seed and is produced and handled under procedures established by the certifying agency for producing the certified class of seed, for the purpose of maintaining genetic purity and identity.

    B. Identification of the above classes shall be as follows:

    Breeder Class - White Tag

    Foundation Class - White Tag

    Registered Class - Purple Tag

    Certified Class - Blue Tag

    Attaching of tags to base shall depend upon the crop and shall be in accordance with guidelines specified by the official certifying agency.

    C. The source of seed planted for the production of any of the above classes of seed shall be documented to the certifying agency which shall establish appropriate criteria of acceptance from time to time considering variety, origin, diseases, limited generations and other factors that may be necessary to implement the standards of certification established by the State Certified Seed Board.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR172-01-01 § 3, eff. April 1980.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-4024 of the Code of Virginia.