Promoting Seed Innovation

Greater emphasis is now being placed on preserving the identity of individual varieties after harvest. This conserves quality characteristics and helps to meet consumer demands for assurances about the integrity and traceability of their food.

Seed certification underpins the health and purity status of the major arable crops in the UK. It offers an independent benchmark of quality which buyers of seed and their customers depend on. An approved variety of seed can only be offered for sale if it meets

strict quality criteria dictated by UK law. This official seed certification system offers an independent assurance of quality to growers because crops are inspected in the field by an official or licenced crop inspector.

There are minimum standards that apply for varietal identity, purity, and germination of seed. This also extends to strict limits regarding seed-borne diseases, and the presence of physical impurities such as weed seeds.