The extension of validity period of certified seed shall be for a period of six months at each subsequent validation as long as the seed conforms to the prescribed standards.
2. The holder of the certificate or his authorised representative may request for extension of validity of certified seed before expiry of the previous validity period to a Certification Agency of the area in which the seed is located. He shall furnish the relevant information such as name of the crop, variety, class of seed, quantity of seed in lot, lot number, size and type of containers, number and date of certificate etc. to the Certification Agency at the time of submission of application.
3. The Certification Agency after receipt of application for extension of validity period shall verify that tags, labels and seals are intact on each seed container and arrange to draw samples and its analysis in a notified seed laboratory. The sample would be tested for physical purity, germination and insect damage.
4.
If reprocessing and rebagging at the time of extension of validity is requested
to a Certification Agency which has not initially certified the seed, it may be
permitted provided Certification Agency is of the opinion that such operation
may improve the quality of seed and seeds are not badly invaded by fungus, pest
etc. Infested seed lots shall meet the conditions laid down in para XXXV of the
General Seed Certification Standards. whenever such operations are undertaken, a
seed sample from each lot will be drawn before the seed containers are opened
and shall be divided into three equal parts and sealed. One part should be
retained by the Certification Agency, another part by holder of the certificate
or his representative and remaining sample will be sent under Registered Post to
Certification Agency, which had initially certified the seed.
Besides this, holder of the stock shall retain at least two
bags/containers of smaller packings up to 10 kg and one bag/container above 10
kg in original packing of each seed lot being validated upto the next validation
or till the stock is disposed off.
5.After analysis of sample, if seed is found to conform to the prescribed standards, the Certification Agency shall extent the validity of seed for a further period of six months from the date of test. The date of test and period of validity and name of Certification Agency who has extended the validity period must be rubber stamped on the tags affixed on the seed containers. However, if new tags are required to be issued due to reprocessing and rebagging of the seed, the information indicated on the certification tags issued at the time of initial certification and name of the Certification Agency who performed the initial certification shall be recorded on the new tags. The serial number of new tags used for a seed lot shall be informed to the Certification Agency who performed the initial certification. The Certification Agency shall preserve at least two tags out of the tags removed from a seed lot and ensure the destruction of remaining tags in its presence.
6. A complete information shall be maintained by the Certification Agency of each lot offered for extension of the validity period.