UNECE Quality seed potatoes
III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY
The purpose of the Standard is to define the quality requirements of seed potatoes at the export control point, after preparation and packaging.
A. Minimum requirements
Seed potatoes shall be substantially free from injurious diseases and pests and from any defects likely to impair their quality as seed.
They shall be substantially dry outside and, in general, of normal shape for the variety.
These requirements shall be observed in conjunction with the standards and tolerances set out under B on Classification.
Neither growing crops of seed potatoes nor seed potatoes shall be treated with sprout inhibitors.
B. Classification
Seed potatoes shall be classified according to variety and the standards given below. Their classification shall be subject to official control in the producing country. The DA is responsible for the maintenance of all classification data to provide traceability.
Seed potatoes shall be placed in two classes within each of three categories as defined below:
1. Pre-basic category seed
These are seed potatoes of generations prior to basic seed.
(a) Pre-basic TC (tissue culture) class seed shall be directly derived by micropropagation and may be tissue culture plantlets or tubers of the first generation meeting the requirements specified in Table below/
(b) Pre-basic class seed shall be generations of seed multiplied in the field prior to Basic seed, meeting the requirements specified in table below.
2. Basic category seed
These are seed potatoes descended directly from Pre-basic or Basic category seed or produced under the special provisions of a national certification scheme and are mainly intended for the production of certified seed potatoes.
Seed shall be classified as either Basic I or Basic II, according to the minimum requirements given in table below.
3. Certified category seed
These are seed potatoes descended directly from Pre-basic, Basic or Certified category seed and are mainly intended for the production of potatoes other than seed potatoes.
Seed shall be classified as either Certified I or Certified II, according to the minimum requirements given in table below.
4. Field generation
Each class may be additionally classified according to the number of generations (FG1, FG2 etc.). The final designation of a class will therefore contain a class name and may contain a field generation record (e.g. Basic I FG3, Ce
Summery table of tolerances
