Certified seeds
Almost all agricultural seed marketed (sold, exchanged or given away) must be certified. This applies to both seed and seed potatoes. Certified seeds comply with special requirements depending on plant species.
Certified seed
Almost all agricultural seed marketed (sold, exchanged or given away) must be certified – both seed from seed-bearing agricultural plants and from potatoes. Certification of seed means that it complies with the special requirements that apply for the plant species.
In order to be certified, the seed must undergo official checks, consisting of field inspection, post control test, sampling and laboratory analyses. These checks shall ensure that the seed is
- Of the right variety and of high quality
- Sufficiently healthy
- Treated against seed-bearing diseases when necessary.
Seed that does not need to be certified
Certain types of seed do not need to be certified, but can instead undergo quality inspection. This applies mainly to vegetable seed and seed of ornamental plants.
A few species are not regulated at all, and there are no requirements to be allowed to market them. This is the case, for example, for buckwheat, smooth brome grass, willow and quinoa.
The difference between certified and quality-inspected seed
The major difference between certified seed and quality-inspected seed is knowledge about the origin. In the case of quality-inspected seed, there are no requirements for field inspection, which means that the mother plants in the field are not inspected. Neither are there any requirements on how many generations that can be taken from quality-inspected seed.
Labelling shows whether the seed is certified or quality-inspected
The packages of certified and quality-inspected seeds must both be sealed and labelled. The labelling can be seen either on a label or on a print directly on the packaging.
In the case of certified seed, the labelling shall, among other things, show
- The species, variety and class of the seed
- The unique certification number for the particular lot of seeds.
The certification number starts with the designation SE or F if it is a Swedish certification, then the year when the seed was certified, followed by a series of numbers or letters (or both).
Cetrifying bodies that certify and check seeds
There are two certifying bodies in Sweden:
- The Swedish Board of Agriculture
- Frökontrollen Mellansverige AB.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture also certifies seed potatoes and inspect the quality of vegetable seeds and seeds of ornamental plants and seeds from agricultural plants that do not require certification.
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Classes of certified seeds
There are different classes of certified seeds. The basic principle (except for seed potatoes) is A-B-C, where A is the highest class. The higher the class the seed belongs to, the higher the requirements on the seed.
Classes and colour labels for seed from seed-bearing species
Name | Class | Colour |
|---|---|---|
Breeder's seed | F | White |
Pre basic seed | A | White with violet diagonal |
Basic seed | B | White |
Certified seed | C | Blue |
Certified seed 1 gen | C1 | Blue |
Certified seed 2 gen | C2 | Red |
Certified seed 3 gen | C3 | Red |
Commercial seed | H | Brown |
Standard seed | ST | Yellow |
Sampling label | – | White |
Seed not finally certified | C | Grey |
Variety not yet listed | – | Orange |
Mixture intended for feed | – | Green |
Mixture intended for turf | – | Green |
- Lots of agricultural seed that has been granted a derogation are labelled with the text “dispens” and the reason for derogation in Swedish text, for example, ”low germination”. The label shall be brown.
- Lots of conservation varieties of agricultural seed are labelled with a brown label.
- Lots of seed of conservation varieties of vegetables are labelled with a yellow label.
- If the label is printed directly on the packaging, it is without colour indication for agricultural species.
- OECD labels have a black field on one edge with the text "OECD Seed Scheme" and "Système de l'OCDE pour les Semences”.
- The supplier’s label has the same colour as the official label.
- Breeder’s seed is still under the breeder's responsibility. Breeder’s seed is similar to seed in other categories when it comes to the process. It is examined in field inspection, control plot testing and lab analyses. However, certification of breeder’s seed is always approved, as there are no minimum requirements. It is, however, stated in the certification document whether it meets or does not meet the certification requirements for other categories, e.g., A, B, or C.
- If the lot meets the certification requirements for category A, it corresponds to category PB1.
Requirements for certified seed
If you buy certified seed, it shall comply with the overall requirements:
- The seed shall have high germination capacity.
- The seed shall be free of wild oats.
- The seed may not contain too high quantities of other cultivated plants, weeds or waste (such as half kernels or bits of straw).
- The seed may not contain high quantities of diseases.
For example, cereals seeds may only contain very small quantities of other cereal species, while seed from forage plants may only contain a limited quantity of large-seeded dockweed and couch grass.
Here you can find more details about the requirements applicable to seed of cereals, forage plants, fodder plants and oil plants.
Quality requirements for certified cereal seeds
Here are the most important quality requirements for certification of cereal seed. Samples are taken from every lot. A lot of cereals may not exceed 30 tonnes.
Germination
Germination capacity must be at least 85 percent for oats, barley, rye and wheat. It must be at least 80 percent for triticale.
Water content
The water content for all species must not exceed 16.0 percent, except for winter seed sampled during the period 1 March to 31 July. The water content may then not exceed 15.0 percent.
Wild oats
The seed may not contain kernels or parts of kernels of wild oats.
Diseases
The seed may not be infected with diseases which impairs usability. The barley is also checked for loose smut. The winter wheat is also checked for stinking smut and dwarf smut.
Admixture of other species
Species | Class | Pure seed, weight per cent | Seed from other species, no./kg¹ | Of which maximum of cereals | Ergot fungus, no./kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oats, barley, wheat | A, B | 99 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
C1, C2 | 98 | 20 | 14 | 6 | |
Rye | A, B | 98 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
C | 98 | 20 | 14 | 6² | |
Triticale | A, B | 98 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
C1, C2 | 98 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
¹ There may be at most the following of the species wild radish or corn cockle
- 2 seeds in class A and B
- 6 seeds in class C, C1 and C2.
² For hybrid rye, 8 per kg.
Quality requirements for certified seed of grass, clover, field pea, field beans and other fodder plants
Here are the most important quality requirements for certification of seed of the most common species in the group. Samples are taken of every lot. A lot of grass and clover may not exceed 10 tonnes and a lot of field peas or field beans may not exceed 30 tonnes.
Water content
The water content for grass and clover seed may not exceed 13.0 percent. The water content in field pea and field bean seed may not exceed 18.0 percent.
Wild oats
The seed may not contain kernels or parts of kernels of wild oats.
Seed certification
The requirements for seed certification are shown in the tables.
Species | Minimum germination capacity % | Pure seed, minimum weight per cent | Maximum proportion other species, weight per cent | Maximum proportion individual species, weight per cent¹ | Maximum proportion of couch grass, weight per cent | Number large-seeded docks² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smooth-stalked meadow grass | 75 | 85 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 2 |
Cock-s’ foot | 80 | 90 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 5 |
Rye grass Perennial | 80 | 96 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Rye grass (hybrid-, Italian, Westerwold | 75 | 96 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Festulolium | 75 | 96 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Fescue (sheep, hard) | 75 | 85 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Fescue (red) | 75 | 90 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Fescue (tall, meadow) | 80 | 95 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 5 |
Timothy | 80 | 96 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 5 |
¹ Black-grass may not exceed 0.3 percent. In the case of meadow-grass (Poa spp.), it is permissible with a certain proportion of another member of Poa spp.
² Number of Rumex spp., in addition to Rumex acetosella and Rumex maritimus.
Species | Minimum germination capacity % | Maximum content hard seed, % | Pure seed, min. weight per cent | Maximum proportion other species, weight per cent | Maximum proportion individual species, weight per cent | No. of large-seeded docks¹ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alsike clover, red clover | 80 | 20 | 97 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 10 | |
White clover | 80 | 40 | 97 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 10 | |
Field beans | 80 | 5 | 98 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 5 | |
Field pea | 80 | – | 98 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 5 |
¹ Number of Rumex spp., in addition to Rumex acetosella and Rumex maritimus.
Certified grass and clover seed
The requirements on pre basic seed (A) and basic seed (B) are higher than for certificate seed (Class C). For example, fewer seeds from other species are permissible in pre basic seed and basic seed.
Commercial seed
Commercial seed is a simpler type of certification which is available for certain species. It does not include any post control test or field inspection, and the seed may be marketed without variety denomination. Substantially, the same provisions apply as for certificate seed. The difference is in the quantity of other seeds that is permitted in the seed.
Commercial seed is available for, for example, bermuda grass, fenugreek, sainfoin, black mustard, sulla, Hungarian vetch and annual meadow grass. You may see all the species that commercial seed is available for in the fodder plant regulation (SJVFS 1994:23), to which there is a link under the heading Regulations.
Quality requirements for certified oil plant seeds
Here are the most important quality requirements for certification of rape, turnip rape and linseed seeds. Samples are taken from every lot. A lot of oil seeds may not exceed 10 tonnes.
Germination capacity
The germination capacity must be at least 85 percent.
Water content
The water content may not exceed 9.0 percent.
Wild oats
The seed may not contain kernels or parts of kernels of wild oats.
Diseases
There should be the lowest possible level of diseases in the seed. For example, the quantity of white mould is checked in rape and some fungal diseases in linseed.
Admixture of other species
In a sample of 2 500 seeds, there may be at most 10 charlock mustard seeds (Sinapis arvensis).
In rape and turnip rape, there may be at most 0.3 percent of other species, but at most 10 wild radish or charlock mustard seeds. In linseed, there may be at most 15 seeds of other species, with a maximum of 4 seeds of black grass.
This is how seed that is certified is checked
- Each lot which is to be cultivated for use as seed is checked prior to cultivation. These post control tests are monitored throughout the growing season to check that it is the correct variety and that there is no admixture of other varieties.
- Field inspections are made of the seed cultivation areas both that the right variety is being cultivated and if other species, weeds or disease are present in the cultivation. Wild oats shall not be present.
- When sampling the harvest from the seed cultivation, a representative sample from the whole lot is taken for analysis.
- The seed is examined in a laboratory to check that there is no admixture of other species and that the content of pure seed is sufficiently high. Furthermore, the germination capacity is checked and the water content as well as checking for diseases in the seed for certain species.
You can read more about the certification process on our website for seed plants.
Lots of cereals that do not comply with the certification requirements
Many seed plants have a permit to deliver lots of cereal seed before the result of the analyses has been completed. In order for this permit to be granted, preliminary analyses must have shown a value that makes it probable that the certification requirements will be complied with. For example, the preliminary analysis for gemination capacity shall be at least 90 per cent if the certification requirement for germination capacity is 85 per cent.
It does happen, however, that delivered lots do not meet the certification requirements despite this precaution.
Every spring and autumn, we publish the lots that have been delivered and do not comply with the certification requirements. We can also impose restrictions in the extradition permits.
Requirements on certified seed potatoes
Certified seed potatoes are checked so that there is not too high a content of various diseases, such as virus, rot and various kinds of scab.
Here you can find more details about the different classes of seed potatoes.
Classes and colour labels for seed potatoes
Name | Class | Colour |
|---|---|---|
Pre basic seed | PB 1–PB 4 | White with violet diagonal |
Basic seed | S/SE/E | White |
Certificate seed | A/B | Blue |
Quality requirements on certified seed potatoes
Here are the most important quality requirements for certification of seed potatoes.
The highest proportion of damaged potatoes
Seed potatoes with quality defects can lead to a smaller and poorer harvest. It is therefore important that there is not too damage to the seed potatoes.
In the tables, you can read about how large a proportion of damaged potatoes there may be in different classes of certified seed potatoes. The total of these quality defects may not exceed 6.0 percent for pre basic and basic seed and 8.0 percent for certificate seed.
Damage | PB 1–PB 4 | S/SE/E | A/B |
|---|---|---|---|
Wet and dry rot | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
of which wet rot | 0 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Deep plant splits and mechanical damage | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Common scab, more than a third of the surface | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Black scab, more than a tenth of the surface | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Powdery scab and Skin spot more than a tenth of the surface | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Shrivelled tubers | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Size fractions
Potatoes are certified in size fractions, for example 30–45 mm. There may not be more than 3 percent of tubers that are larger or smaller than the fraction stated on the label. The proportion of soil may not exceed 1 percent.
Virus diseases
The presence of PLRV (potato leafroll virus) is investigated only if there is suspected infection.
There are certain exceptions for testing virus diseases, for example, within the same contracted production in the Counties of Västerbotten and Norrbotten.
There are limits for how large a proportion of potatoes with PVY virus there may be in different classes of seed potato. The limits are presented in the table.
Class | The permitted proportion with PVY virus, per cent |
|---|---|
PB 1 and PB 2 | 0.5 (including PVS and PVM) |
PB 3 and PB 4 | 0.5 |
S | 1.0 |
SE | 2.0 |
E | 4.0 |
A | 8.0 |
B | 10.0 |
How the Swedish Board of Agriculture checks seed potatoes that are to be certified
- On the field where the seed cultivation is planned, soil samples are taken before every growing season to investigate and check that there are no potato cyst nematodes in the soil.
- During the growing season, field inspection takes place of growing crops in the seed cultivations. The potato plants are then checked for the presence of regulated organisms harmful to plants and that the plants are of the right variety.
- Before certification can take place, the seed must be tested for the presence of viruses.
- There are also quality requirements for seed lots. The tubers are check that there is not too much damage to them and that they do not have too high a content of diseases, such as rot and scab. The seed lot shall also be checked so that the size of the tubers does not vary too much.
- You can read more about the certification process on our website for seed installations.
Authorisation in certification of seed
In order for the seed to be certified, it is required that several steps in production are checked by the Swedish Board of Agriculture or by someone authorised by the Swedish Board of Agriculture for this task. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for supervision of the individuals and companies which are authorised and can withdraw the authorisation.
You can read here about the rules for authorisation of samplers, field inspectors and laboratories.
Authorisation of samplers
A seed plant must use an official sampler to take samples for analysis and post control test of the seed which is to be certified. It is also possible to authorise an individual as a sampler.
In order for a seed plant to be able to use an authorised sampler, the plant must be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
How to apply
You apply to become an authorised sampler at the Swedish Board of Agriculture by e-mail. In order to be authorised, you need to have successfully completed a course arranged by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. You then need to participate in a refresher course every other year. The Swedish Board of Agriculture carries out random checks of the work of the authorised person.
Read more about authorisation of samplers
You can read more about the conditions for and details of authorisation of samplers for seed of seed-bearing plants and approval of seed plants in
- Annexes 3b of the regulations for seeds of cereals plants, beet seeds, seeds of fodder, oil and fibre plants
- Annex 2b of the regulations for vegetable seeds.
The regulations are collected under the heading Regulations.
Authorisation of field inspectors
A company that is to produce seed of agricultural plants can let the Swedish Board of Agriculture carry out field inspection of the seed cultivations or choose to use someone else authorised by the Swedish Board of Agriculture to do this.
How to apply
You can apply to be authorised as a field inspector at the Swedish Board of Agriculture by e-mail. In order to be authorised, you need to have successfully completed a course arranged by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. You also need to participate in a refresher course every third year. The Swedish Board of Agriculture makes random checks of the work of the authorised person’s work.
Special rules apply for authorisation of persons who are to inspect cultivations of seed potatoes. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information.
Read more about authorisation of field inspectors
You can read more about the details of authorisation of field inspectors in
- Annex 3a in the regulations for seeds of cereals, beet seed, seed of fodder, oil and fibre plants
- Annex 2a in the regulations for vegetable seeds.
The regulations are collected under the heading Regulations.
Authorisation of laboratories
A business that produces seed from agricultural plants can use an official seed laboratory to make the mandatory laboratory tests of seed before it can be certified by an official certification body, the Swedish Board of Agriculture or Frökontrollen Mellansverige AB. It is also possible to use a laboratory authorised by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Read more about authorisation of laboratories
You can read more about the conditions for and details of authorisation of laboratories in
- Annexes 3c in the regulations for seeds of cereals, beet seed, seeds of fodder, oil and fibre plants
- Annex 2c in the regulations for vegetable seeds.
The regulations are collected under the heading Regulations.
Legislation
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
1994:22
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
1994:23
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
1994:24
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
2002:49
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
2016:44
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
1995:90
Söker efter grundforeskrifter:
2009:66