SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea L.) AND SPINACH 

BEET (Beta vulgaris (L.) var. flavescens DC.)

I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Certification Standards

The General Seed Certification Standards are basic and, together with the following specific standards constitute the standards for certification of the seeds of spinach and spinach beet.

II. Land requirements

Land to be used for seed production of spinach and spinach beet shall be free of volunteer plants. 

III. Field Inspection

A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, and the second at  flowering stage.

IV. Field Standards

A. General requirements

1. Isolation

Seed fields offered for certification shall be isolated from the contaminants shown in the column 1 of the Table below by the distances specified in columns 2 and 3 of the said Table:

        Contaminants                                                                                   Minimum distance (meters)

                                                                                                                Foundation        Certified

            1                                                                                                         2                     3

Fields of other varieties                                                                                  1600               1000

Fields of the same variety not conforming to 

varietal purity requirements for certification                                                     1600               1000

Fields of the swiss chard (chard, sea kale beet,

sliver beet): Beta vulgaris Linn. Var. cicla Moq.,

sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and garden beet (beet

root, mangels or stock beet): Beta vulgaris (L.)

var. rubra Moq. for spinach beet only                                                            1600               1000

B. Specific requirements

        Factor                                                                                              Maximum permitted (%)*

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

      Offtypes                                                                                               0.10                       0.20    

    * Maximum permitted at and after flowering.

V. Seed standards

        Factor                                                                                              Standards for each class

                                                                                                                Foundation            Certified

Pure seed (minimum)                                                                                96.0%                    96.0%

Inert matter (maximum)                                                                              4.0%                      4.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)                                                                     5/kg                     10/ kg

Weed seeds (maximum)                                                                             5/kg                     10/ kg

Germination (minimum)                                                                              60%                       60%

Moisture (maximum)                                                                                  9.0%                      9.0%

For vapour-proof containers (maximum)                                                    8.0%                      8.0%