Seed certification
Seed certification is an industry programme to ensure cultivar identity. It is run by AsureQuality for the New Zealand Seeds Authority (NZSA).
What does certified seed mean?
A crop must be grown to specific standards (e.g. to grow 4front the paddock must have been free from any other ryegrass for at least the previous two seasons). This eliminates the risk of contamination.
Each paddock has an ID, with data relating to seed certification held in a geospatial information system. Before harvest, a crop must pass inspection by AsureQuality to ensure purity, correct isolation between paddocks of the same species and confirm no noxious weeds are present. Seed harvested from an individual paddock is given a unique line number.
After harvest, cleaning and packaging, the resultant seed is tested by the National Seed Laboratory and must be of sufficient purity (e.g. for perennial ryegrass of first generation a minimum of 98% pure seed and a maximum 0.7% other seed).
Full guidelines for certification requirements are available from the National Seed Laboratory. (See also seed analysis certificates.)
Seed analysis certificates are available on request for all certified 1st Generation cultivars.