The Cereal Seeds (Amendment) Regulations 1995

• Citation: S.I. 1995/1482
• Sections: 2

Section 1 Title and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Cereal Seeds (Amendment) Regulations 1995 and shall come into force on 30th June 1995.

Section 2 Amendment of the Cereal Seeds Regulations 1993

(1) The Cereal Seeds Regulations 1993 shall be amended in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.

(2) In regulation 3(3) (interpretation) in the definition of “Certified Seed” for the words “and spelt wheat” each time they appear there shall be substituted the words “, spelt wheat and rye”.

(3) In paragraph 5 (isolation distances) of Part I of Schedule 4 (conditions relating to crops from which seeds are obtained)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (b) after the first occurrence of the word “rye” there shall be inserted the words “other than hybrids”;

(b) after sub-paragraph (c) there shall be inserted the following sub-paragraph—

(d) For hybrids of rye the minimum distance from neighbouring crops of other varieties of rye shall be—

(i) Crops to produce Basic Seed where male sterility is used 1,000 metres

(ii) Crops to produce Basic Seed where male sterility is not used 600 metres

(iii) Crops to produce Certified Seed 500 metres.

(4) After paragraph 8 (special conditions for maize) of Part I of Schedule 4 there shall be inserted the following paragraph—

Special conditions for hybrids of rye

(9)

(a) The crop shall have sufficient varietal identity and varietal purity as regards the characteristics of the components, including male sterility.

(b) In particular, the crop shall conform to the following standards—

(i) the number of plants of the crop species that are recognisable as obviously not being true to the component shall not exceed one per 30 square metres for the production of Basic Seed and, in respect of official field inspections of the female component, one per 10 square metres for the production of Certified Seed; and

(ii) in the case of Basic Seed where male sterility is used, the level of sterility of the male-sterile component shall be at least 98%.

(c) Where appropriate, Certified Seed shall be produced in mixed cultivation of a female male-sterile component with a male component which restores male fertility.

(5) In paragraph 3(a) of Part II of Schedule 4 (conditions relating to the seeds) for the words “and spelt wheat” there shall be substituted the words “, spelt wheat and triticale”.

(6) For paragraph 3(b) of Part II of Schedule 4 there shall be substituted the following sub-paragraph—

(b) Rye and hybrids of rye

Germination (% by number) Basic and Certified Seed 85

Analytical Purity (% by weight) Basic and Certified Seed 98

Sample Purity Standards

Maximum number of seeds in 500 g.

Concerning the maximum content of seed of the species Avena fatua, Avena sterilis, Avena ludoviciana or Lolium temulentum. The presence of one seed of one of these species in 500 g shall not be considered an impurity if a search of a further 500 g from the same submitted sample is free.

Concerning the maximum content of seeds of other cereal species. When themaximum content is fixed at one seed, a second seed shall not be regarded as an impurity if a search of a further 500 g from the same submitted sample is free.

For hybrids of rye. The presence of five ergots or fragments in asample of seed of a hybrid of rye of the prescribed weight shall be deemed to be in conformity with required purity standards, where a second sample of the same weight contains not more than four ergots or fragments of ergot.

Seed of hybrids of rye shall not be certified as Certified Seed unless due account has been taken of the results of an official post-control test on samples of Basic Seed taken officially and carried out during the growing season of the seed entered for certification as Certified Seed to ascertain whether the Basic Seed has met the requirements for Basic Seed laid down in these Regulations in respect of identity and purity as regards the characters of the components, including male sterility.