Seed Certification

North Carolina Crop Improvement Association is recognized as the official agency for seed certification in North Carolina. NCCIA is dedicated to assisting clients in the production, identification, distribution and promotion of certified classes of seed and other crop propagation materials. Seed certification aims to assure high seed quality and maintain varietal purity. NCCIA provides these certification services to seed growers to assure what they are selling is pure. Growers must to meet our land requirements, provide source of seed, and pass a field inspection. Once the field passes as certified, it qualifies for a blue certified seed tag.

Four classes of seed shall be recognized in seed certification, namely: Breeder, Foundation, Registered, and Certified. These classes are defined as follows:

1. Breeder Seed
Breeder Seed is seed or vegetative propagating material directly controlled by the
originating or sponsoring plant breeding institution, or person, or designee thereof.
Breeder Seed is the source for production of seed of the other classes of Certified
seed.

2. Foundation Seed
Foundation Seed is seed which is the progeny of Breeder or Foundation Seed
produced under control of the originator or sponsoring plant breeding institution, or
person, or designee thereof. Foundation Seed is a class of Certified seed, which
Approved by NCCIA Board of Directors 8/2017
is produced under procedures established by the certifying agency for the purpose
of maintaining genetic purity and identity.

3. Registered Seed
Registered Seed shall be the progeny of breeder or Foundation Seed handled
under procedures acceptable to the certifying agency to maintain satisfactory
genetic purity and identity.

4. Certified Seed
Certified Seed shall be the progeny of Breeder, Foundation or Registered Seed so
handled as to maintain satisfactory genetic purity and identity, and which has been
acceptable to the certifying agency.

For more information regarding seed certification and our standards, refer to our General Seed Certification Standards.