Legal basis and policy purpose
- The order is issued pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7308 (the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992), specifically Chapter III, Article II, Section 3.
- The order is adopted and promulgated upon approval of the National Seed Industry Council.
- The guidelines revise A.O. 21, Series of 2007 to ensure better quality of rice seeds.
- The guidelines apply to inbred rice seed certification covering both upland and lowland inbred rice planted under irrigated areas.
Coverage and qualifying inputs
- Seed certification is governed by the order’s requirements for inbred rice (upland and lowland under irrigated areas).
- Only seed production areas that are applied for certification and validated by the deputized seed inspector are eligible for field inspection.
- Only varieties approved by the Philippine Seed Board/National Seed Industry Council are eligible for field inspection.
- Seed fields with destruction by insect pests and diseases exceeding the set threshold are not eligible for certification.
- Seed certification eligibility depends on compliance with the order’s land, field inspection, field standards, seed lot, bagging, sampling, testing, and tagging requirements.
Land requirement for production
- The production area must have soil suitable for rice seed production.
- The production area must have sufficient irrigation.
- The production area must have an efficient drainage system.
Field inspection rules and methods
- Only seed production areas that are applied for certification and validated by the deputized seed inspector are eligible for field inspection.
- Validation must be conducted no less than one (1) week prior to crop establishment.
- Field inspection is conducted by Deputized Seed Inspectors.
- A preliminary field inspection must 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.
- A final field inspection must be made after the crop is fully headed to determine varietal mixtures and other factors that can be easily determined.
- Follow-up inspections may be conducted to assess off-types, weeds, diseased plants, and other contaminants.
- The deputized seed inspector must cross the field sufficiently and evaluate eligibility using random distribution of samples.
- Sample counting must not be confined to one portion; samples must be spread out at random to cover as many parts of the field as possible.
- Each sample must be a strip 25 square meters (1m x 25m) along the direction of planting.
- At least four strips must represent the 100 sq. m. area within a field of one (1) hectare.
- The deputized seed inspector must walk down toward the planting direction for a number of paces, then examine the 25 sq. m. strip immediately in front.
- The deputized seed inspector must use a walking stick one meter long to maintain the one (1) meter width of each 25 meters long strip.
- The deputized seed inspector must record the number of off-types, other varieties, and weeds found in every 25 sq. m. strip and determine whether the minimum field certification standard permitted per 100 sq. m. is met.
- If one third or more of the field is lodged, field count is difficult or impossible; the field must be recommended for rejection, unless the seed inspector believes the field will stand up before maturity.
- Seed fields damaged by insect pests and diseases by more than 50% are not eligible for certification.
Field standards and plant/weed limits
- The minimum area of fields eligible for certification per seed class per variety is:
- Breeder: 0.02 ha.
- Foundation: 0.2 ha.
- Registered: 0.5 ha.
- Fields that do not meet the specific field requirements are not accepted for certification.
- Maximum allowable plants permitted per 100 sq. m. for each class includes:
- Other varieties
- Breeder Seed: 0
- Foundation Seed: 0
- Registered Seed: 1
- Certified Seed: 2
- Objectionable weed whose seeds are inseparable
- Breeder Seed: 0
- Foundation Seed: 0
- Registered Seed: 5
- Certified Seed: 10
- Other varieties
- Objectionable weeds as designated by the Certifying Agency include Echinochloa crusgali (Barnyard grass), Cyperus iria (Bayakibok), and Monocharia vaginalis (paying-payungan, Gabing uak).
- The field limits apply to the named seed classes: Breeder Seed, Foundation Seed, Registered Seed, and Certified Seed.
Seed lot limits, bagging, and storage
- Maximum number of bags/seed lot for seed certification is determined by bag weight and seed class:
- For 1–10 kg/bag: Breeder 100, Foundation 200, Registered 200, Certified 400
- For 11–20 kg/bag: Breeder 50, Foundation 100, Registered 100, Certified 200
- For 21–40 kg/bag: Breeder 25, Foundation 50, Registered 50, Certified 100
- Bagging rules require closure using a bag sewer with a distance of three (3) inches from the edge of the bag.
- New polyethylene bags measuring 22 inches x 42 inches must be used for seeds intended for certification.
- Each bag must print:
- Name of seed grower:
- Address:
- Variety:
- Lot No.:
- Date of harvest:
- Net Weight: 40 kg
- Seed bags must be piled according to Memorandum Order issued by BPI Director on March 31, 2010 re: “Procedure on Proper Seed Storage.”
Sampling, testing timeline, and analytical limits
Seed sampling must be carried out and submitted to NSQCS by deputized seed inspectors not later than 3 months after harvest.
Samples submitted for analysis beyond 3 months after harvest are no longer eligible for certification.
A representative sample of each lot must be one (1.0) kg for laboratory analysis by the deputized seed inspector.
Sampling intensity is required based on number of bags in the lot:
- 1–10 bags: 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
The certifying agency can re-sample or spot check any or all seed lots even if tags have been issued.
If re-checking shows non-conformity with the quality standard, the results are revoked and the seed grower shall return the tag to the NSQCS.
Seed samples submitted for certification must be analyzed/tested within seventy two (72) hours after receipt.
Results of analysis must be released within fifteen (15) working days after testing/analysis.
Seed standards by class require the following minimums/maximums:
Pure seed (min.) %
- Breeder: 99
- Foundation: 99
- Registered: 98
- Certified: 98
Weed & other crop seed (max.) %
- Breeder: 0
- Foundation: 0
- Registered: 0.04
- Certified: 0.04
Inert matter (max.) %
- Breeder: 1
- Foundation: 1
- Registered: 2
- Certified: 2
Other varieties grains/500g (max)
- Breeder: 0
- Foundation: 2
- Registered: 5
- Certified: 20
Germination (min.) %
- Breeder: (based on pure seed only) 85
- Foundation: 85
- Registered: 85
- Certified: 85
Moisture content (max.) %
- Breeder: 14
- Foundation: 14
- Registered: 14
- Certified: 14
Tagging, delivery requirements, and denial grounds
- BPI certification tags must be placed by NSQCS in transparent plastic packets sized 8 cm x 15 cm.
- BPI certification tags serve as proof that bags pass certification.
- Certification tags are issued to deputized seed inspectors.
- Deputized seed inspectors must attach the certification tags (size 7 cm x 14 cm) to the bags.
- Deputized seed inspectors must fold BPI certification tags lengthwise and staple (staple wire #35) or machine sew them at the uppermost center on one of the bag lids.
- Inbred seed tag colors are:
- White for Breeder
- Red for Foundation
- Green for Registered
- Blue for Certified
- Non-compliance with the tagging procedures is a ground for the denial of seed certification.