ESA_02.0033.1
19.07.2002
Product Specifications for Vegetable Seeds
Enclosed please find the latest update of ESA Product Specifications
for Precision seeds.
In addition to the Specifications for Germination, this new version
also contains the Product Specifications for varietal purity
These specifications are meant to facilitate communication between
seed suppliers and professional users of vegetable seeds. They
provide a guideline about what can be expected as minimum quality
test-result, when buying Precision seeds from ESA members.
Seed suppliers are therefore requested to publish those specifications
(as far as agreed for publication) in their catalogues/leaflets.
These Specifications are not meant to be absolute minimum standards
for delivery.
In case the quality tests of seed suppliers indicate a lower quality-level
than given in these published Specifications, seed suppliers have
the obligation to arrange a clear communication with prospective
seed users. This communication is aimed at informing professional
seed users about the quality they can expect, so they can make
their own risk assessment and decide if these seeds still meet
their requirements.
Product Specifications and related communication are important
tools to manage customer relations and to support handling of
customer questions about product quality.
We trust that all seed companies associated with ESA, will apply
and publish these Product Specifications.
VEGETABLE SEED PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Vegetable growing has become a highly specialized and intensive
activity. As a result of the ever increasing demand for better
quality vegetable growers and plant raisers require an improved
quality of the basic material.
The demand for specific seed forms and more information about
seed quality has strongly increased to better influence emergence
and required number of plants.
Seed is a natural product. The often varying environmental conditions
thus influence final results. It is therefore often not possible
to give detailed information about emergence and other physical
seed characteristics. To meet the wishes of clients as much as
possible (company name) has made up quality standards for the
various seed categories.
The germination percentages mentioned are (company name) minimum
required figures and made up according to ISTA methods and tolerances.
In cases where the seed does not apply with these product specifications
(company name) will inform the client.
GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Normal Seed
In general, normal seed has not been subjected to special processes.
It is sold by weight and/or by count, depending on the product.
Normal seed complies with national standards.
Precision Seed
Precision seed has been subjected to additional processes. It
has a uniform size and high germination. Precision seed is sold
by count.
Priming
Priming is defined as an activation of the germination process
with the purpose to obtain faster or more uniform emergence after
sowing. Primed seed is sold by count.
Pelleting
Pelleting is defined as the process of changing the seed form
by covering it with a material, the main purpose being to improve
uniformity of size and shape resulting in improved sowing ability.
Also additional ingredients may be added. Pelleted seed is sold
by count.
Filmcoating
Filmcoating is a full covering, usually pigmented layer, around
the seed. The original seed form remains intact. Additional ingredients
may be added. Filmcoating treatments that contain insecticides
are normally identifiable by color coding. Filmcoated seed is
sold by count.
Gluecoating
Gluecoating is a process which fixes the applied crop protection
products in an almost dustfree manner to the seed. A pigment may
be added.
Germination
Germination figures relate to ISTA procedures and are valid at
the time of despatch.
ESA Product Specifications for varietal
purity of precision seeds
Introduction:
Vegetable seeds are seldom 100% pure. Sibs and off-types occur
as a result of technical limitations and variable seed production
conditions. Additionally the expression of sibs and off-types
may vary depending on growing conditions.
Customers have their requirements and expectations for varietal
purity of vegetable seeds. These are based upon their experiences
in the different crops, the ‘average’ performances
obtained by the seed-industry and the technical developments in
vegetable production.
It is therefore advisable to develop specifications for varietal
purity, in order to have a clear tool to support communication
between suppliers and customers on this subject.
Definition of varietal purity:
Varietal purity rate is defined as: the percentage of plants
from a seed-lot that meets the variety description.
The UPOV-guidelines allow a certain variation in expression, within
the variety description. This variation is crop-dependent and
is related to the multiplication techniques used for that crop.
It is the responsibility of each seed supplier to decide if a
specific plant observed can be classified as ‘pure’,
within the variation allowed, or is to be classified as ‘not
pure’. Internally each seed supplier will have its own specifications
for off-types. The ESA varietal purity specifications do not differentiate
between levels.
Each seed producer decides its own communication policy towards
customers, within the general guideline given by the ESA specifications
for precision seeds. It is evident that in case of serious harmful
off-types, this communication will have been already made in case
of low percentages of off-types. This will also depend on the
specific market situation.
Above definition for varietal purity requires a clear coherence
between the official variety description and qualifications in
catalogues/leaflets of seed producers.
