The Seed Marketing Regulations 2011

PART 4 Supplier’s labels

Meaning of “supplier’s label”

15.  A supplier’s label is a label that has not been provided by the Secretary of State.

Labelling a package

16.  A supplier’s label must either be attached to the package in the same way as an official label or printed indelibly on the package.

References to weights in this Part

17.  In this Part references to the weight excludes any granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives.

Breeder’s seed: supplier’s labels

18.—(1) The following must appear on a supplier’s label on a package of breeder’s seed—

(a) the name, address and registration number of the supplier responsible for attaching the label;

(b) the reference number of the seed lot;

(c) the species;

(d) the variety;

(e) the words “breeder’s seed”;

(f) the declared net or gross weight or number of seeds.

(2) The label must be buff-coloured.

Beet seed: supplier’s labels

19.—(1) A supplier’s label may be used on a small package of beet seed.

(2) A small package of beet seed (known as a “small EC package”) is a package that—

(a) in the case of basic and certified beet seed of precision or monogerm varieties, either weighs not more than 2.5 kg or consists of not more than 100,000 clusters;

(b) for all other beet seed weighs not more than 10kg.

(3) The label must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “Small EC package”;

(b) the name, address and identification number of the person affixing the label;

(c) the serial number;

(d) the service that assigned the serial number;

(e) the name or initials of the member State;

(f) the reference number if the official serial number does not enable the lot to be identified;

(g) the species;

(h) either sugar beet or fodder beet as appropriate;

(i) the variety;

(j) the category;

(k) the net or gross weight or number of clusters or pure seeds;

(l) where weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and also the approximate ratio between the weight of clusters or pure seeds and the total weight;

(m) either “monogerm” or “precision” as appropriate.

Cereal seed: supplier’s labels

20.—(1) A supplier’s label may be used on a small package of cereal seed.

(2) A small package of cereal seed is a package of any certified seed, or any mixture of certified seed, not exceeding 15kg.

(3) The label must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “EC rules and standards”;

(b) the name and address and registration number of the supplier responsible for affixing the label;

(c) the reference number of the seed lot;

(d) the species;

(e) the variety;

(f) the category;

(g) the declared net weight or declared number of seeds;

(h) for hybrid varieties of maize, the word “hybrid”;

(i) in the case of C1 and C2 seed of naked barley, the words “minimum germination capacity 75%”.

Fodder seed (agricultural or amenity): packages that may be labelled with a supplier’s label

21.—(1) A supplier’s label may be used on a small package of fodder seed, either agricultural or amenity (including a mixture of fodder seed).

(2) A small package of fodder seed is either a small EC ‘A’ package or a small EC ‘B’ package.

(3) A small EC ‘A’ package is a package containing a mixture of seed not intended for the production of fodder plants, with a net weight not exceeding 2 kg.

(4) A small EC ‘B’ package is a package containing—

(a) basic seed,

(b) certified seed (CS, C1 or C2),

(c) commercial seed, or

(d) (unless the package is a small EC ‘A’ package) a mixture of seed,

with a net weight not exceeding 10 kg.

Fodder seed other than a mixture: labelling requirements

22.—(1) A supplier’s label on a small package of fodder seed (other than a mixture, for which see paragraph 23) must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(2) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “small EC ‘B’ package”;

(b) the name, address and identification number of the person affixing the label;

(c) the serial number;

(d) the reference number if the serial number does not enable the seed lot to be identified;

(e) the species;

(f) the net or gross weight of pure seed or the number of pure seeds;

(g) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and also the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight;

(h) in the case of certified seed—

(i) the variety;

(ii) the category;

(iii) for grass seed of a variety for which an examination of its value for cultivation and use is not required the words “not intended for the production of fodder plants”;

(i) in the case of commercial seed the words “commercial seed”.

Fodder seed mixture: labelling requirements

23.—(1) A supplier’s label on small package of a mixture of fodder seed must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(2) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “small EC ‘A’ package” or “small EC ‘B’ package” as appropriate;

(b) the name, address and identification number of the person affixing the label;

(c) for a small EC ‘A’ package—

(i) the reference number enabling the seed lots used in the mixture to be identified;

(ii) the name or initials of the member State;

(d) for a small EC ‘B’ package—

(i) the officially assigned serial number;

(ii) the person that assigned the serial number;

(iii) the name or initials of the member State;

(iv) the reference number if the official serial number does not enable the used seed lots to be identified;

(e) the words “Seed-mixture for … (intended use)”;

(f) the net or gross weight or number of pure seeds;

(g) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and also the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight;

(h) the percentage by weight of the various components shown by species and, where appropriate, by variety.

(3) But for mixtures registered with the Secretary of State, provided the label shows the registered name of the mixture, the percentage by weight of each of the components may be omitted provided that—

(a) this information is supplied to the customer on request; and

(b) customers are informed that they can request these details.

Oil and fibre seed: supplier’s labels

24.—(1) A supplier’s label may be used on a small package of oil and fibre seed.

(2) A small package of oil and fibre seed is a package of any certified or commercial oil and fibre seed that does not weigh more than 15 kg.

(3) The label must be the same colour as the official label for that category of seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “EC Rules and standards”;

(b) the name and address and registration number of the supplier responsible for affixing the label;

(c) the reference number of the seed lot;

(d) the species (this must be the botanical name, either in full or in abridged form);

(e) the variety;

(f) for certified seed, the category;

(g) for commercial seed the words “commercial seed (not certified as to variety)”;

(h) the declared net or gross weight of clusters of pure seeds (except for packages not exceeding 500 grams);

(i) where granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and also the approximate ratio between the weight of the seed and the total weight.

Vegetable seed: supplier’s labels

25.—(1) A supplier’s label may be used on—

(a) a package of standard vegetable seed, no matter what the weight, and

(b) a small package of certified (CS) seed.

(2) A small package of certified (CS) vegetable seed is a package of certified (CS) seed that weighs no more than—

(a) for legumes, 5 kg;

(b) for asparagus, beetroot, carrot, chard or spinach beet, gourd, marrow, onion, radish, spinach or turnip, 500 grams;

(c) for any other vegetable species, 100 grams;

(d) for a mixture of different varieties of standard seed of lettuce or radish, 50 grams.

(3) The label must be coloured dark yellow for standard seed or blue for certified seed.

(4) The following must appear on the label—

(a) the words “EC rules and standards”;

(b) the name, address and identification number of the person affixing the label;

(c) the marketing year of the sealing or of the last examination of germination (the end of the marketing year may be indicated);

(d) the species;

(e) the variety;

(f) the category: in the case of small packages, certified seed may be marked with the letter ‘C’ or ‘Z’ and standard seed with the letters ‘ST’;

(g) in the case of standard seed, the reference number given by the person responsible for affixing the labels;

(h) in the case of certified seed the reference number enabling the certified lot to be identified;

(i) the declared net or gross weight or declared number of seeds, except for small packages of up to 500 grams;

(j) where weight is indicated and granulated pesticides, pelleting substances or other solid additives are used, the nature of the additive and also the approximate ratio between the weight of clusters of pure seeds and the total weight.