Standard & Source

What it says about  seeds

CODEX

International guideline

Seeds and vegetative reproductive material should be from plants grown in accordance with the provisions of  these guidelines for at least one generation or, in the case of perennial crops, two growing seasons. Where an operator can demonstrate to the official or officially recognized certification body or authority that material satisfying the above requirements is not available, the certification body or authority may support: a) in the first instance, use of untreated seeds or vegetative reproductive material, or b) if (a) is not available, use of seeds and vegetative reproductive material treated with substances other than those included in Annex 2. The competent authority may establish criteria to limit the application of the derogation.

EU

Government

The organic production method implies that for seeds and vegetative reproductive material, the mother plant in the case of seeds and the parent plant(s) in the case of vegetative propagating material have been produced …  in accordance with [this standard] for at least one generation or, in the case of perennial crops, two growing seasons.… Authorisation to use seed or seed potatoes not obtained by the organic production method may only be granted in the following cases:
(a) if no variety of the species which the user wants to obtain is registered in the database provided for in Article 6;
(b) if no supplier is able to deliver the seed or seed potatoes before sowing or planting in situations where the user has ordered the seed or seed potatoes in reasonable time;
(c) if the variety which the user wants to obtain is not registered in the database, and the user is able to demonstrate that none of the registered alternatives of the same species are appropriate and that the authorisation therefore is significant for his production;
(d) if it is justified for use in research, test in small-scale field trials or for variety conservation purposes agreed by the competent authority of the Member State.
2. The authorisation shall be granted before the sowing of the crop.
3. The authorisation shall be granted only to individual users for one season at a time and the authority or body responsible for the authorisations shall register the quantities of seed or seed potatoes authorised.
Each Member State shall ensure that a computerised database is established for the listing of the varieties for which seed or seed potatoes obtained by the organic production method.… For registration, the supplier must be able to … demonstrate that the seed or seed potatoes to be placed on the market comply with the general requirements applicable to seed and vegetative propagating material

US

Government

The producer must use organically grown seeds: Except, That, (1) Nonorganically produced, untreated seeds may be used to produce an organic crop when an equivalent organically produced variety is not commercially available, (2) Nonorganically produced seeds that have been treated with a substance included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production may be used to produce an organic crop when an equivalent organically produced or untreated variety is not commercially available.

Japan

Government

Seeds shall comply with the criteria [for organic production]. In case of a difficulty to obtain [such] seeds, seeds without prohibited substances may be used. Furthermore in case of a difficulty to obtain these seeds without prohibited substances, any seeds for seed propagation plants without the use of chemical treatment may be used.

Canada

Government

The operator shall use organic seed produced in accordance with this standard [, except]: If the operator can demonstrate that an organically produced variety is not available from its enterprise or other sources (i.e. not commercially available), the certification body may authorise the use of non-organic untreated seed and planting stock or seed only treated with substances in accordance with this standard.

China

Government

Organic seeds or seedlings shall be selected. If no organic seeds or seedlings are available, conventional seeds or seedlings not treated with objectionable substances shall be selected, but plans for obtaining organic seeds and seedlings shall be made.

India

Government

When organic seed and plant materials are available, they shall be used. The certification programme shall set time limits for the requirement of certified organic seed and other plant material. When certified organic seed and plant materials are not available, chemically untreated conventional materials shall be used.

Philippines

Government

Seeds shall be from certified organic production, when available. When certified organic seeds are not available, chemically untreated conventional materials may be used provided that they have not been treated with pesticides not otherwise permitted by these standards. When untreated conventional seeds and planting materials are not available, chemically treated seeds and plant materials maybe used. The certification body shall established time limits and conditions for exemptions for acceptable use of any chemically treated seeds and plant materials.

Argentina

Government

When seeds of organic origin cannot be obtained, the certifying company may authorise the use of conventional seeds.

Bolivia

Government

Seed must be used from organic production units (It is prohibited to use seed  treated with unauthorized products in Annex II of this standard); If no organic quality seeds exist, the producer may use seed that meets standards of quality and purity in force in the country, from the previously authorized certification body. Exceptions to the use of treated and untreated seeds are subject to the following requirements:
-- Conventional crop seeds or propagation material; permitted only if not chemically treated.
-- Crop seeds or propagation material that has been chemically treated, must pass a transition period of at least one cycle, according to the species and area of production. Deadline for exceptions finishes in 2003, at which time the producers must produce their own organic seed or propagation material.
-- Those excluded from producing one's own seed; producers whose climatic conditions or local environment, are not suitable for the production of seed. In these cases they must use organic certified seeds from elsewhere.
The availability of organic seeds must be monitored by the certification agency. In compliance with international standards, the use of non-organic seed can only can be used until 31/12/2003.… When purchasing seeds, this must have an explicit statement that it is not genetically modified.

Chile

Government

The seeds and propagating material of plants that should be used, must have been obtained through organic production. The seeds must have been treated exclusively with the products listed in Annex A, list 2a, of this standard. Exceptionally, and in order of priority, the following can be used:
a) untreated conventional seeds or other propagating materials;
b) conventional seeds or other propagating materials treated with the products listed in Annex A, list 2-A;
c) conventional seeds and other propagating materials treated with other products, provided that they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the certification body, the inability to obtain in the marketplace, seed and other propagating material of organic origin of the relevant species and variety.

El Salvador

Government

Organic production may only be used with seeds, reproductive vegetative material and seedlings that have been produced using organic methods and that in their production, only authorised pesticides have been used. If the seeds, reproductive vegetative material or seedlings do not satisfy any of the requirements specified in paragraph above, the producer must obtain permission from the Certification Body prior to the start of production.

Mexico

Government

The seeds used should come only from plants that are grown, in accordance with this standard, at least for a generation or, in the case of perennial crops, during two periods of vegetation, selecting the shorter option shorter.… When there is nothing commercial available, and for a transitional period between 1995-1999, seeds may be used which were obtained differently from the provisions of this Rule, provided that users of such seeds can demonstrate to the certification authority that untreated seeds appropriate range of the species in question do not exist in the market.

East Africa

Government

Seeds from organic production shall be used. If organic seeds are not commercially available, then conventional, chemically untreated seed may be used. Only if these are not commercially available may chemically treated seeds, seedlings and planting materials be used. The operator shall demonstrate the apparent need for such use. All use of chemically treated seeds, seedlings and planting materials shall be documented.

Tunisia

Government

It is authorised, during a transition period expiring on the 31 December 2007, to use seeds which have not been grown organically, as long as those using such reproductive material can prove, in a manner judged by the National Commission for Organic Agriculture or regulatory body, that they were unable to obtain reproductive material for an appropriate variety of the species in question, on national and international markets. The seeds and vegetative material must not be treated with pesticides must not be treated with pesticides not included in the annexes of the specific type of organic crop production.

BioSuisse

Private certifier

Seed dressed with substances prohibited by Bio Suisse (hereinafter called ‘dressed’) must not be used. If evidence is furnished showing that [organic] seeds are unavailable in the quality and quantity that is usual in the trade, non-dressed seed and vegetative propagating material, produced by non-organic methods may be used during a transition period ending on 31 December 2003. The use of dressed seed is only permitted in exceptional cases. The [BioSuisse Committee] determines the rules regarding the furnishing of evidence and possible derogations for each crop on an annual basis during the transition period. [It] decides on derogations concerning the use of non-organic seed, planting material and vegetative propagating material after 31 December 2003 in accordance with the legislation in force.

Ecocert

Private certifier

According to [EC regulations] seeds must originate from organic agriculture … The regulations on seeds are meant to support the establishment of markets for organic seeds. During import authorisation the application of this rule in countries outside the EC will be monitored.… Derogations for the above-mentioned regulation may be granted under certain conditions. If growers are unable to obtain organic seeds of the desired variety sufficient proof of the lack of availability must be provided to the certification body (and/or during import permit procedures to the competent authorities of the member state of the EC). Conventional seeds may be used if a derogation was obtained … Seed must be from non-GMO sources, with declarations from the supplier.

Organic Farmers’ Association of India

Farmers’ collective

Seeds are to be sourced by preference from an organic farm in the same area, or from other areas where organic assurance is confirmed. In cases where this is absolutely not possible, local, open-pollinated seeds can be sourced if a written declaration by the seed producer is made available. A commitment to sourcing all organic seed within three years of first farm appraisal is required. No GM seeds are permitted under any circumstances and will be severely penalised by cancellation of label use and public disapproval. All seeds should preferably be open-pollinated or selected varieties rather than hybrids. High external input and response hybrids are discouraged. Any seed material sourced from conventional growers shall be limited for seed duplication and then only declared as organic seed after one growing cycle.