The Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Regulations 2(1), 7(8) to (12), (13)(b), (15)(c) and (18)(b), 9(3),(4)(c) and (6) to (13), (15)(a), 12(3) and 12(4)(f) to (h), 13(1)(b) and (c), paragraphs 2(3)(a), 6(3)(a), 10(3)(a), 14(3)(a), 16(3)(a), 20(3)(a), 24(3)(a), 28(3)(a), and 31(2)(a) of Schedule 1 and paragraph 9(1) and (2) and 10 of Schedule 3

SCHEDULE 4 CONDITIONS TO BE SATISFIED BY THE SEED

PART 1 Conditions to be examined mainly by field inspections

1.  The seed shall have sufficient varietal identity and varietal purity.

PART 2 Conditions to be examined by seed testing

2.  The minimum analytical purity of the seed shall be 97 per cent by weight excluding, where appropriate, granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives.

3.  The maximum moisture content of the seed shall be 15 per cent by weight excluding, where appropriate, granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives.

4.  The percentage by weight of other seeds shall not exceed 0.3.

5.  It shall be determined, by way of a germination test—

(a) in the case of basic seed, whether the seed attains the applicable percentage of germination set out in column 2 of the table below, and

(b) in the case of CS seed, whether the seed attains the applicable minimum percentage of germination set out in column 2 of the table below—

	Species and category	Germination standard for basic seed/minimum germination for CS seed (% of clusters or pure seed)
	1.	2.
Sugar beet—
(i)	monogerm seed	80
(ii)	precision seed	75
(iii)	multigerm seed of a variety with more than 85% diploids	73
(iv)	other seed	68
Fodder beet—
(i)	multigerm seed of a variety with more than 85% diploids, monogerm seed and precision seed	73
(ii)	other seed	68

6.  In the case of monogerm seed—

(a) at least 90 per cent of the germinated clusters shall give single seedlings, and

(b) clusters giving three or more seedlings shall not exceed 5 per cent of the germinated clusters.

7.  In the case of precision seed of sugar beet—

(a) at least 70 per cent of the germinated clusters shall give single seedlings, and

(b) clusters giving three or more seedlings shall not exceed 5 per cent of the germinated clusters.

8.—(1) In the case of precision seed of fodder beet—

(a) in the case of a variety with a percentage of diploids exceeding 85, at least 58 per cent of the germinated clusters shall give single seedlings, and

(b) in the case of any other variety, at least 63 per cent of the germinated clusters shall give single seedlings.

(2) In the case of precision seed of fodder beet, clusters giving three or more seedlings shall not exceed 5 per cent of the germinated clusters.

9.  Subject to paragraph 10, in the case of monogerm and precision seed, the weight of inert matter shall not exceed—

(a) 1.0 per cent in the case of basic seed, and

(b) 0.5 per cent in the case of CS seed.

10.  For the purpose of determining whether the pelleted seed of basic or CS seed will satisfy the condition laid down in paragraph 9, an official sample of seed drawn from processed seed which has undergone partial decortication (rubbing or grinding) but has not yet been pelleted shall be examined.

PART 3 Other conditions

11.  Diseases which reduce the usefulness of the seed shall be at the lowest possible level that can be achieved.

PART 4 General provisions

12.  For the purpose of determining whether seed meets the conditions laid down in this Schedule, pre-basic seed shall be treated in the same way as basic seed.