The
seed certification authority has no control over the seed lots after
certification and it is the responsibility of the producer (or) the seller to
keep the seed stock under controlled conditions so that the viability and the
standards for which the seed lot is certified is maintained till the validity
period is over.
As
long as the seed is kept in unopened original container with certification tag
and seal intact the genetic purity level will not normally alter.
But physical purity, germination and moisture may alter due to various
reasons including insect infestation. Increased
seed moisture content may reflect in germination decline to various degrees.
The
producer / holder of the seed lot shall apply for validation
if he desire to have the seed lot validated for a further period of 6
months. The process of extension of validity is called “validation”.
For doing so, one has to apply in the application (Annexure
XXI) and get permission from the Assistant Director of Seed Certification in
whose area the seed lot is kept.
The
Assistant Director of Seed Certification may accord permission to the applicant
for validation. The applicant must
remit the prescribed fee to the Assistant Director of Seed Certification within
30 days from the date of permission. Then
the Assistant Director of Seed Certification will issue instructions immediately
to the concerned SCO to attend validation work.
In this regard the ADSCN have to maintain the Registers given in Annexure
XXII.
The
holder of the seed lot shall arrange lot wise in such a manner so as to maintain
the lot identity and to ensure accessibility so as to facilitate sampling.
He shall also ensure that all the containers in the lot are intact with
certification tags and seals.
Within 10 days from the date of receipt of orders from the ADSCN, SCO will inspect the seed lots. He will verify the correctness of the seed lots and ensure whether all the containers have tags and seals intact. The seeds in tampered containers have to be rejected summarily from validation. He should further open certain containers at random and examine whether the seeds are affected by any pests or in deteriorated conditions. If the seeds are found to be in good condition, straight away he can draw a sample for analysing germination, physical purity, moisture and insect damage and send to ADSCN for analysis.
In
the sample slip it should be clearly indicated as ‘VALIDATION SAMPLE’ so as
to enable the seed testing officer to test the sample for INSECT DAMAGES also
besides all other tests.
On receipt of Seed Analytical Report, if the lot conforms to the prescribed standards, the SCO will extend the validity period by six months by stamping validation in the existing tags duly signed.
Validation
Date
of Test:................
Valid
up to:........................
Seed Certification Officer
The seed lot containers which were opened for examination and sampling will be attached with fresh tags. The required number of fresh tags shall be obtained on payment of cost. If fresh tags are affixed the details of initial tags should be filled and validity period shall be extended for six months from the date of test by stamping. If necessary fresh containers may also be used.
If
the seed lot have apparent or visible evidence of damage by insects for lots of
foundation and certified seeds classes in excess of 1.0% for the seeds of maize
and legumes and 0.50% for the seeds other than maize and legumes, processing
should be done to improve the quality of seed.
If necessary drying can also be done.
Validation of other state certified seeds.
If
extension of validity is requested for a seed lot, which was initially certified
by other state seed Certification Agency, permission may be obtained from the
Director of Seed Certification after giving complete details of the lots along
with FORM II. If the seeds are in good condition, validation may be done in the
existing tag itself by adopting the aforesaid procedure.
If processing, re bagging and issue of fresh tags is needed due to the
infestation of pest etc., the following procedure may be adopted.
A.
Before the seed containers are opened three seed samples should be drawn for
each seed lots and sealed. One part
should be retained by the concerned Assistant Director of Seed Certification
another part by holder of the certificate or his representative (producer) and
the remaining sample should be sent under Registered Post to certification
agency, which has initially certified the seed.
B.
Holder of the stock should retain at least two or more bags/containers of
smaller packing up to 10 kg in original packing of each seed lot being validated
up to the next validation or till the stock is disposed off.
C.
Processing (delinting and cleaning or cleaning alone) should be carried out only
in the presence of seed certification officer.
The
seed sample shall be drawn for germination, physical purity, moisture, insect
damage and genetic purity test.
D. If the seed lots are found to conform to the
prescribed standards tag indent may be given.
E.
Tagging may be carried out after Packing in new seed containers / cloth bags.
The information indicated on the certification tags issued at the time of
initial certification should be recorded on the new tags.
The information indicated on the producer label affixed at the time of initial certification should be recorded on the new labels.
F.
Extension of validity period must be given by rubber stamping on the new tags.
G.
Serial numbers of new tags used for a seed lot should be informed to
certification agency that performed the initial certification.
H.
Assistant Director of Seed Certification concerned should preserve at least two
tags out of the tags removed from the seed lot (at least two tags from each and
every seed lot) and the same shall be maintained in the file concerned.
I.
The Seed Certification Officer should ensure the destruction of remaining tags
in his presence.
J.
Complete information regarding validation should be maintained by SCO.
A
seed lot is eligible for any number of validations provided it conforms to
minimum seed standards prescribed.
Validation
fee, seed testing fee and genetic purity test fee wherever applicable may be
paid at the time of applying for validation to avoid delay. For other state
validation lots validation fee and genetic purity test fee has to be paid within
15 days from the date of permission. In all the above cases sampling work should
be completed within 15 days from the date of instructions of ADSCN.
The
validity period shall be given for a period of six months from the date of test.