Guaranteeing Quality
Since 1962 the Gnis has been charged by the public authorities to control and certify seed quality in the interests of farmers and other users. Official certification is essential for the traceability expected by industry and consumers.
The Official Service for Control and Certification ( SOC ), the technical department of the Gnis, is responsible for the implementation of regulations decided by the French Ministry of Agriculture and the official labelling of seed lots.
Quality controlled and certified
Certification results originally from a very strong demand from farmers - they need products with guaranteed and constant quality. Purity of species and varieties, good sanitary conditions and strong germination are essential to successful crops. Official seed control and certification is more necessary today than ever - it is essential for traceability requirements, and is the core element of varietal identity.
The Official Service for Control and Certification (SOC), a technical department of the Gnis, is charged with the implementation of seed and plant regulations decided by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
For agricultural species (cereals, beets, oilseeds, fiber crops, potatoes, forage crops, etc.), product certification has three aspects:
- varietal certification
This covers varietal identity and purity. The certification is based on the control of filiation, and the respect of rules regulating growing field plots and crop inspection.
- technological certification
This is a guarantee of seed analytical purity and germination capacities. It depends on analyses carried out following international rules (ISTA).
- Sanitary certification
This depends on both crop inspections and laboratory tests.
SOC certification is indicated by an official certificate attached to the packaging of seeds and plants which meet European or national standards required for the particular species.
For vegetable species - for which certification is not compulsory ( Eu standard seeds)- the SOC carries out post controls on their varietal identity and purity, as well as their germination capacity.