Grower Registration - Seed Varietal Certification Scheme

Grower Registration - Seed Varietal Certification Scheme

Growers who wish to enter crops in the New Zealand MPI Seed Varietal Certification System must be registered. A registration document is attached for completion.

POINTS TO NOTE:

• Registration applies to the grower or company and relates to certified seed production on all properties owned or leased by the grower/company. This includes properties that may have differing Region of Production numbers.

• Registration will not be required annually.

• Registration imposes legal obligations on growers and consequent liability in the event of failure to meet these obligations. If you feel you cannot meet these obligations, please do not enter crops for seed varietal certification.

• Completed registration forms must be returned to the AsureQuality Limited Seed Certification Bureau in Palmerston North and a copy of the completed attached registration document, once accepted by AsureQuality, will be returned to you for your records.

If you have any queries, please contact the Seed Certification Bureau.

Postal AddressCourier AddressOnline & Phone

Seed Certification Bureau Seed Certification Bureau T: +64 6 351 7904

P.O Box 609Batchelar HouseF: +64 6 351 7907

Palmerston North 4440Tennent DriveW: Palmerston North 4472 E:

REGISTRATION OF GROWER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ZEALAND MPI SEED VARIETAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

NEW ZEALAND operates a non-statutory seed certification system to ensure that cultivars (varieties) of important agricultural plant species maintain their identity through successive generations of multiplication for the ultimate benefit of end-users. SQMA, representing the Seed Industry, operates with MPI to apply strict rules and standards during the production and processing of certified seed. Such standards and procedures are amended from time to time to conform to developments both nationally and internationally in certification requirements. AsureQuality Limited (AsureQuality) is authorised by MPI as their seed varietal certification agency and is contracted by SQMA to operate the system.

GROWERS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NZ MPIOPERATED SEED VARIETAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEM MUST BE REGISTERED.

Before completing this form, you are ADVISED TO CAREFULLY READ the following conditions which apply to all registered growers:

I/We______

(Individual grower or partnership)

(Strike out whichever does not apply)

______Limited

(Grower Company)

______(Full address of applicant)

agree to the following conditions of registration:

1Supply of Information

The Grower warrants that all information supplied in this application, in theGrower’s Application - New Zealand MPI Seed Certification Scheme form and any other written or oral information supplied to AsureQuality in relation to the production of seed for varietal certification shall be correct in all respects.

2Farm Plan

A Grower shall, within one month of registration or such further time as is agreed to, supply to AsureQuality an accurate farm plan to show:

• The location of individual paddocks and the area in hectares.
• The location of buildings and other topographical features.
• Farm and adjacent roads including rapid numbers.
• Potential Hazards

Detail must be sufficient to enable AsureQuality to correctly locate and inspect registered crops. Further the Grower shall supply an amended farm plan to show any changes to paddocks or farm boundaries. The amended plan shall be supplied to AsureQuality before application for varietal certification of seed is first made after the paddock/boundary changes.

3Access

The Grower will permit any person authorised by AsureQuality access at reasonable times to areas, crops, machinery, plant, storage facilities or any other thing used by the Grower in the production of seed intended for varietal certification.

4Instructions

The Grower will apply the standards and procedures published by MPI in Appendix 1, Seed Field Production Standards. These are available from the MPI website .

5Adulteration of Seed

The Grower will not, in respect of seed to be sown or harvested seed, add to or substitute seed of any other cultivar of the same species or other species which will adulterate or otherwise change the certified seed lot. Further, the Grower will not mix seed of the same cultivar unless it is of the same seed varietal certified class and has been harvested from a separately identified certified area.

6Labelling of Seed

The Grower will identify field-dressed seed with labels supplied by AsureQuality and will maintain the identity of the seed at all times. Further, the Grower will supplya signed copy of the Grower’s Certificate of Identification to the Seed Cleaning Plant giving an estimate in either tonnes or kilograms of the weight of seed harvested.

7Liability of the Grower

The Grower will indemnify MPI and AsureQuality against any loses (including costs) suffered by MPI and AsureQuality arising from failure, breach or negligent performance by the Grower of:

a)Conditions of this Agreement.

b)Requirements or instructions supplied by AsureQuality as to sowing, growing, harvesting or identification of seed submitted by the grower for varietal certification under the System.

8Operation of the System

MPI provides a non-statutory Seed Varietal Certification System operated to meet national standards and procedures determined in conjunction with interest groups of the seed industry and to meet the requirements of other seed certifying authorities and international organisations.

9Promulgation of Standards

MPI will, from time to time, publish sufficient information as to the required standards and procedures to be observed in the production of certified seed in the ‘Seed Field Production Standards’ available from the MPI website .

10Applications

AsureQuality will accept and maintain records of applications for registration and of entries for seed varietal certification provided that such applications are made on the prescribed forms and are completed so as to conform to the published standards and procedures of the MPI Seed Varietal Certification System.

11Inspection

AsureQuality will provide a Field Inspection Service appropriate to the type and class of seed and to a standard meeting the published standards and procedures of the MPI Seed Varietal Certification System.

12Seed Testing Services

AsureQuality will provide a seed testing service appropriate to the type and class of seed and to a standard to meet the MPI Seed Varietal Certification System and the requirements of other seed certifying authorities and international organisations.

13Cancellation of Registration

Where any of the conditions imposed by this agreement are breached or negligently performed by the Grower, AsureQuality may, after consulting with MPI and after considering any submissions made in writing by the Grower, remove that Grower from the System by cancellation of registration. Such removal may be permanent or for such period as MPI and AsureQuality decides.

Signed at ______this______day of ______

(Place) (Date)(Month) (Year)

By the Grower (or on behalf of the Partnership)______

Registration is hereby granted by: ______

(Authorised by AsureQuality Limited) (Date)

Issue Date: Feb 2017 Page 1 of 4 Code: SB-FR-1a-ADM