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Pursuant to the provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 7308, otherwise known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, Chapter III, Article II, Section 3, and upon approval of the National Seed Industry Council; the following guidelines for inbred rice (include upland and lowland inbred rice planted under irrigated areas) seed certification are hereby adopted and promulgated as a revision of A.O. 21, Series of 2007, Guidelines on Rice Seed Certification to ensure better quality of rice seeds.

I. Land Requirement

The production area must have soil whose properties are suitable for rice seed production, with sufficient irrigation and efficient drainage system.

II. Field Inspection

1. Only seed production area that has been applied for certification and validated by the deputized seed inspector is eligible for field inspection. Validation shall be conducted no less than one (1) week prior to crop establishment.

2. Only varieties approved by the Philippine Seed Board/National Seed Industry Council are eligible for field inspection.

3. Field inspection shall be conducted by Deputized Seed Inspectors.

a. A preliminary field inspection shall be conducted 15 to 20 days after planting to determine seed source, isolation requirements, area planted, volunteer plants, presence of pests and guide seed grower on appropriate crop management.

b. Final field inspection shall be made after the crop is fully headed when varietal mixtures and other factors can be easily determined.

c. More follow up inspections may be done depending on the previous inspections to assess presence of off-types, weeds, diseased plants and other contaminants.

4. The Deputized Seed Inspector shall cross the field sufficiently to evaluate accurately the factors affecting the eligibility of the crop for certification. The procedures are the following:

a. Sample counts should not be confined to one portion of the field but should be spread out at random to cover as many parts of field as possible.

b. Each sample should be in a strip 25 square meters (1m x 25m) along the direction of planting. Minimum of four strips representing the 100 sq. m. area in a given field of one (1) hectare should be examined.

c. To ensure good result, the Deputized Seed Inspector must walk down towards the direction of the planting for a number of paces, then proceed examining the 25 sq. m. strip immediately in front of him.

d. It is necessary that the Deputized Seed Inspector should have a walking stick one meter long so that he can maintain the one (1) meter width of each strip 25 meters long. He should be trained to pace out the 25 meters accurately.

e. The Deputized Seed Inspector shall record the number of off-types, other varieties and weeds found in every strip of 25 sq. m. field inspected and determine from this if the minimum field certification standard permitted per 100 sq. m. is met.

f. If one third or more of the field is lodged that taking field count is difficult or impossible, the field should be recommended for rejection, unless the seed inspector is of the opinion that the field will stand up before maturity.

g. Seed fields that are damaged by insect pests and diseases by more than 50% shall not be eligible for certification.

III. Field Standards

1. The minimum area of fields eligible for certification per seed class per variety are as follows:

	Seed Class Planted
Breeder	Foundation	Registered
0.02 ha.	0.2 ha.	0.5 ha.

2. Specific Field Requirements. Fields which do not meet the following requirements shall not be accepted for certification:

Factors	Maximum No. of Plants Permitted in each class per 100 sq. m.
	Breeder Seed	Foundation Seed	Registered Seed	Certified Seed
Other varieties	0	0	1	2
Objectionable
weed whose
seeds are
inseparable *	0	0	5	10

^*Objectionable weeds as designated by the Certifying Agency such as Echinochloa crusgali (Barnyard grass), Cyperus iria (Bayakibok), Monocharia vaginalis (paying-payungan, Gabing uak)

IV. Seed Lot

Maximum number of bags/seedlot for seed certification are the following:

Weight 1/

Seed Class/Bag Per Lot

	Breeder	Foundation	Registered	Certified
1-10 kg/bag	100	200	200	400
11-20 kg/bag	50	100	100	200
21-40 kg/bag	25	50	50	100

^1/ Range in weight is in whole number

V. Bagging

1. The bags should be closed using bag sewer with a distance of three (3) inches from the edge of the bag.

2. New polyethylene bags measuring 22 inches x 42 inches should be used for seeds intended for certification. The following information should be printed:

Name of seed grower: Address:
Variety:
Lot No.:
Date of harvest:
Net Weight: 40 kg

VI. Seed Piling

The bags shall be piled in accordance to Memorandum Order issued by BPI Director on March 31, 2010 re: Procedure on Proper Seed Storage.

VII. Seed Sampling

1. Seed sampling shall be carried out and submitted to NSQCS by Deputized Seed Inspectors not later than 3 months after harvest.

2. Samples submitted for analysis beyond 3 months after harvest is no longer eligible for certification.

3. Representative sample of each lot consist of one (1.0) kg sample shall be submitted for laboratory analysis by the Deputized Seed Inspector.

4. Intensity of seed sampling shall be as follows:

No. of bags in lot	No. of bags to sample
1-10	Every bag
11-20	10
21-30	12
31-40	14
41-50	16
51-60	18
61-70	20
71-80	22
81-90	24
91-100	26
101-120	30
121-140	34
141-160	38
161-180	42
181-200	46
201-240	60
241-280	70
281-320	80
321-360	90
361-400	100

Note: Range of bags in lot is in whole number

6. The certifying agency can re-sample or spot check any or all of the seed lots even if the tags have been issued. If upon re-checking the seed lots did not conform to the quality standard, the results of analysis will be revoked and the seed grower shall return the tag to the NSQCS.

VIII. Seed Testing

Samples submitted for certification shall be analyzed/tested within seventy two (72) hours after receipt of the sample. Result of analysis shall be released within fifteen (15) working days of the testing/analysis.

IX. Seed Standards

Factors	Breeder Seed	Foundation Seed	Registered Seed	Certified Seed
Pure seed (min.) %	99	99	98	98
Weed & other crop seed (max.) %	0	0	0.04	0.04
Inert matter (max.) %	1	1	2	2
Other varieties grains/500g (max)	0	2	5	20
Germination (min.) * %	85	85	85	85
Moisture content (max.) %	14	14	14	14
*based on pure seed only

X. Tagging

To ensure that BPI-NSQCS certified seeds are delivered to the stakeholders, the following procedures/guidelines for tagging must be adopted:

1. BPI certification tags should be placed by NSQCS in transparent plastic packet, sized 8 cm x 15 cm.

2. BPI certification tags, which is a proof for bags passing certification, shall be issued to the Deputized Seed Inspectors.

3. The Deputized Seed Inspector shall attach the certification tags (size 7 cm x 14 cm) to the bags.

4. BPI Certification tags folded lengthwise, are stapled (staple wire #35) or machine sewed at the uppermost center on one of the lids of the bag by the Deputized Seed Inspector.

Color of tags of inbred seeds are as follows:

White – Breeder
Red – Foundation
Green – Registered
Blue – Certified

Non-compliance with the above requirement shall be a ground for the denial of seed certification.

This order shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation and supersedes Administrative Order No. 21, Series of 2007.

(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALA
  Secretary, Department of Agriculture
Chairman, National Seed Industry Council

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) CLARITO M. BARRON, PHD., CESO IV
  Executive Director and Vice Chairman,
National Seed Industry Council