Organization of certification

• Done by either Department of agriculture or State Agriculture Universities or Crop Improvement Association etc.
• In Nepal, the by-laws of Seed Act (1988).
• Seed certification is done by seed certification agency i.e. Seed Quality Control Center under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Nepal.
• Seed inspections are conducted at three levels: 1) Field inspection 2) Inspection during seed processing and 3) Laboratory testing

1. Field inspections:

• To examine the seed crop in the field and to determine its suitability for certification.
• Observations are made on isolation distance, the presence of off-type plants, error in planting, planting ratio in the case of hybrid varieties, presence of objectionable weeds and plants of other crops, and the incidence of disease transmissible through seed.
• Generally, 2-4 inspections are carried out at different phonological stages of crop.
• During field inspections, objectionable weed plants and plant infected by designated (seed borne) diseases are specifically monitored.

2. Inspection during seed processing:

• Done to determine whether the seeds have been dried to appropriate moisture level, and whether the correct processing procedure is being followed or not.
• To determine whether appropriate care is taken to avoid mechanical mixtures during seed processing.
• This is not common practice in Nepal.

3. Laboratory testing or seed tests:

• Consists of series of seed tests designed to determine the quality seed.
• Before certification, seed lots are subject to test to determine the quality of seeds. A) Purity test b)
• germination or seed viability test and c) moisture content test.