WAC 16-302-215   Crop standards for OECD variety certification.  (1) The general and specific crop certification standards as established in rule by the department are basic and, together with the following specific standards, constitute the rules for OECD varietal seed certification.

     (2) Varieties eligible for OECD certification.

     (a) Crop varieties of Unites States origin shall be eligible for OECD certification only if accepted into Washington state's certification program.

     (b) Crop varieties, of origin other than United States, are eligible for OECD certification only if listed in OECD publication, List of Cultivars Eligible for Certification.

     (3) Classes of seed eligible for OECD certification.

Washington and U.S. Seed Classes	Label Color	Equivalent OECD Seed Classes	OECD Label Color
Breeder	- - - - - - - - - - - -	Prebasic	- - - - - - - - - - - -
Foundation	White	Basic	White
Registered	Purple	Basic	White
Certified	Blue	1st Generation Certified Seed	Blue
Certified produced from Certified	Blue	2nd Generation Certified Seed	Red

     (a) Breeder or prebasic shall be planted to be eligible to produce basic white label.

     (b) Foundation white label, registered purple label, or basic white label shall be planted to be eligible to produce 1st generation blue label.

     (c) Certified or 1st generation blue label shall be planted to be eligible to produce 2nd generation red label.

     (4) OECD seed stock sample. Each lot of OECD seed stock shall be sampled under supervision of the certifying agency before seals are broken. Samples are used as control for grow out test and a portion may be submitted to seed laboratory for analysis if deemed necessary. Seed stock lots without official tags will not be granted OECD approval.

     (5) The department must obtain approval from the originating country for each OECD seed stock lot to be planted in the state of Washington for OECD production. Request for OECD approval is submitted by the seed program to ARS-Beltsville, Maryland, which then contacts the originating country.

     (6) Application for OECD certification and fees.

     (a) Applicant desiring plantings to be eligible for OECD certification must submit applications and fees as required for certification of that crop under Washington state's certification standards. Certification requirements and procedures for each species shall be the genetic standards in Washington state's certification program supplemented by OECD standards and by the limitations specified by originating country; such as, length of stand and number of seed crops eligible. All OECD seed shall be officially sampled and tested prior to tagging. Seed lots may not be required to meet Washington's minimum purity or germination certified seed standards.

     (b) Washington OECD eligible lots may, with approval of both agencies involved, be blended with OECD eligible seed of other state agencies. The applicant is responsible for all fees of both agencies involved.

     (c) Seed produced out-of-state and processed in Washington must be OECD tagged by the state of origin.

     (7) OECD tagging and sealing. OECD tags shall be printed and issued according to OECD rules. The department seed program shall issue an OECD reference number; e.g. (USA-W-78-000), which is printed on each tag. The department recommends that OECD reference numbers be stenciled on each bag. Additional statements on the OECD tag such as, "date of sealing," etc. must be kept to a minimum.

     (8) Bagging sample of OECD lot. A bagging sample of each lot of OECD seed tagged is drawn under supervision of the certifying agency. One hundred to two hundred fifty grams of the sample must be held for the originating country, and the balance of the sample is used for required post control grow-out tests.

     (9) OECD certificate. The seed program shall issue an OECD certificate showing:

     (a) Species,

     (b) Variety,

     (c) Reference number,

     (d) Date of sealing,

     (e) Number of containers,

     (f) Weight of lot, class of seed, and

     (g) OECD reference number of seed stock used for each lot tagged and sealed upon receipt of tagging report and bagging sample.

     One copy of the OECD certificate is to be mailed to the shipper, one copy is mailed to ARS-USDA, one copy is attached to bagging sample and one copy is for department seed program files.

     (10) OECD grow-out tests. As prescribed by OECD rules, at least one of four domestic lots tagged and all lots of foreign varieties OECD tagged must be planted in grow-out tests.

     (11) Special OECD fees. In addition to fees required by applicable Washington certification rules, an additional fee shall apply to all seed tagged OECD. Refer to chapter 16-303 WAC for the appropriate fee.

     All fees are payable by the person requesting OECD certificate.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, 15.49.081, 15.49.310, 15.49.370(3) and chapter 17.24 RCW. 00-24-077, § 16-302-215, filed 12/4/00, effective 1/4/01.]