On January 4, 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a draft of the national standard "General Principles for Crop Seed Labeling" for comments.
Purpose and significance
Background: Seed labels are the "identity card" of seeds, which is a credential for seed producers and operators to protect their own rights and interests, and an important tool for farmers to identify and use seeds. The authenticity and specification of seed labels is essential for seed quality control.
Objective: The main purpose of GB 20464-xxxx is to standardize the labeling content and production requirements of crop seed labels and instructions for use, and to establish the inspection scope, content and quality judgment rules of use supervision. This is to ensure that the information on seed labels and instructions for use is true and complete, and to ensure the effective implementation of the legal system.
Significance: The implementation of this standard will help guide seed producers and operators to correctly label seeds and instructions for use, strengthen the main responsibility, standardize production behaviors, and ensure the quality and transparency of crop seed information.
The main content of the standard
Labeling content and production requirements: including the basic requirements of seed labeling, such as authenticity, validity, completeness, accuracy, scientificity and standardization. In addition, it also stipulates the general labeling content of seed labels, such as commodity name, seed category, variety name, producer and operator information, quality index, net content, quarantine certificate number, production year and month, testing date and quality assurance period, etc.
Instructions for use: Covers the main traits of the variety, cultivation measures, adaptability, risk warnings, and consulting services.
Production requirements: Seed labels and instructions for use should be attached to the surface of the seeds or packaging. The information needs to be expressed in Chinese, and can be attached to Hanyu Pinyin or other characters. Added QR code format and generation requirements.
Supervision of use: Supervision and inspection covers seeds sold directly to users. The content of supervision and inspection includes the authenticity, legitimacy, and integrity of the label. New rules and tolerances have been added for the conformity of mass characteristic values.
Attached: The main contents of the draft of the "General Principles for Crop Seed Labeling".
