Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc.

AOSCA
The purpose of seed certification is to preserve genetic purity and identity. It is an official Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA)-agency program enabling seed companies to market genetically pure seed. Certification services are available for field crops, turf grasses, vegetables, fruits, vegetatively propagated species, woody plants and forbs. Once seed has been certified, it qualifies for the official "blue" certified seed tag and meets state, federal and international seed law requirements.
Requirements for producing certified seed include special land requirements, planting eligible stock, field inspections, proper seed labeling and meeting standards based on complete lab analysis.

Four seed classes:
Breeder seed - seed directly controlled by the originating or sponsoring plant breeding organization.

Foundation seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation seed handled to maintain specific genetic purity and identity.

Registered seed - the progeny of Breeder or Foundation seed handled to maintain satisfactory genetic purity and identity.

Certified seed - the progeny of Breeder, Foundation or Registered seed handled to maintain satisfactory genetic purity and identity.

The program provides:
Coordinated, professional and unbiased field inspections and laboratory testing. Many agencies may provide approval of conditioning plants.
An unbiased record system for use in meeting state, federal and international seed law requirements.
Seed buyers with assurance that the designated seed has met purity standards related to a known description across seedlots and years of production.

OECD
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes are a globally recognized framework for the certification of agricultural seed moving through international trade. Their establishment in 1958 resulted from the combination of a fast-growing seed trade, regulatory harmonization in Europe, the development of off-season production, the seed breeding and production potential of large exporting countries in America (North and South) and Europe, and the support of private industry. 52 countries from Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle-East, Asia and Oceania currently participate in the OECD Seed Schemes. It is the fastest growing of the four OECD Schemes, increasing from 17 participants in 1958 to 52 today. The most recent participants are Latvia, Serbia and Montenegro, the Russian Federation, and Mexico who all joined in 2001. Columbia, Uganda and the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia have lodged official applications.

Seven Seed Schemes
There are seven agricultural Seed Schemes. Membership is voluntary and participation varies.

Grasses and Legumes (49 countries)
Crucifiers and other Oil or Fibre Species (49 countries)
Cereals (48 countries)
Maize and Sorghum (38 countries)
Beet (29 countries)
Vegetables (25 countries)
Subterranean Clover and Similar Species (4 countries)

The objectives of the Schemes are to encourage the use of “quality guaranteed” seed in participating countries. The Schemes authorize the use of labels and certificates for seed produced and processed for international trade according to agreed principles ensuring varietal identity and purity.

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