The Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Regulations 8(7)(a), 8(8) to (12), (14)(c) and (17)(a),(10)(3) and (4), 11(15)(a),and (b), 13(5), 14(1)(b),and paragraphs 2(3)(a), 5(3)(a), 9(3)(a), 12(3)(a),14(3)(a), 17(3)(a), 21(3)(a),24(3)(a) and 27(2)(a),and (3)(a) of Schedule 1.

SCHEDULE 3 CONDITIONS RELATING TO CROPS FROM WHICH SEED IS TO BE HARVESTED

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

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph 3, the crop shall conform to the following standards as regards the minimum distances from neighbouring sources of pollen which may result in undesirable foreign pollination—

			1.	2.
			Crop	Minimum distance (metres)
(a)	Beta vulgaris—
	(i)	from any pollen source of the genus Beta other than those specified in (ii) and (iii) below—		1,000
	(ii)	from any pollen source of a variety of the same sub species belonging to a different group of varieties—
		(aa)	for the production of basic seed	1,000
		(bb)	for the production of CS seed	600
	(iii)	From any pollen source of a variety of the same sub species belonging to the same group of varieties—
		(aa)	for the production of basic seed	1,000
		(bb)	for the production of CS seed	600
(b)	Brassica species—
	(i)	for the production of basic seed		1,000
	(ii)	for the production of CS seed		600
(c)	cross fertilised species other than Beta and Brassica species—
	(i)	for the production of basic seed		500
	(ii)	for the production of CS seed		300

(2) For the purposes of this sub-paragraph the groups of varieties of the Beta species shall be those set out in the following table classified in groups according to their characteristics—

(a) Beetroot
Group	Characteristic
1	Transverse narrow elliptic or transverse elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple
2	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh white
3	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh yellow
4	Circular or broad elliptic shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple
5	Narrow oblong shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple
6	Narrow obtriangular shape of root longitudinal section and root flesh red or purple
(b) Chard and spinach beet
Group	Characteristic
1	White petiole and pale green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration
2	White petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration
3	Green petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade, without anthocyanin coloration
4	Pink petiole and medium or dark green leaf blade
5	Red petiole and leaf blade, with anthocyanin coloration

3.  Paragraph 2 shall not apply if there is sufficient protection from any undesirable foreign pollination.

4.  Diseases and harmful organisms which reduce the usefulness of the seed shall be at the lowest possible level.

5.—(1) A crop from which basic seed is to be produced shall be examined by at least one official UK field inspection to determine whether the crop meets the requirements in this Schedule and in Part 1 of Schedule 4;

(2) A crop from which CS seed is to be produced shall be examined by at least one official UK field inspection or a UK field inspection carried out under official supervision to determine whether the crop meets the requirements in this Schedule and in Part 1 of Schedule 4.

(3) Field inspections shall be carried out at a time when the cultural condition of the field and the stage of development of the crop permit the varietal identity, varietal purity and health status of the crop to be adequately checked.

6.  For the purpose of determining whether a crop from which pre-basic seed is to be produced meets the conditions laid down in this Schedule, the crop from which such seed is to be produced shall be treated in the same way as a crop from which basic seed is to be produced.