Pursuant to the provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 7308, otherwise known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992 and upon approval of the National Seed Industry Council, the following criteria for accreditation are hereby promulgated to provide and sustain the adequate supply of hybrid rice seeds of desired quality.

1. The applicant must be an individual hybrid rice seed grower, seed growers' cooperative/association or a seed company.

2. For individual hybrid rice seed grower, he must:

a. be a graduate of Hybrid Rice Seed Production training course conducted by government agencies involved in the training and implementation of hybrid rice seed production program;

b. have undertaken hybrid rice seed production for at least 2 cropping seasons, wet and dry; and

c. be willing to undergo retooling course at his expense every three years before renewal of accreditation.

3. For seed growers cooperative/association it must:

a. be duly registered with Cooperative Development Authority;

b. have members who have finished the Hybrid Rice Seed Production training course

c. require its members to undergo retooling course every three years before renewal of accreditation at its own expense.

4. For seed company, it must:

a. be duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

b. have technical and extension staff with training and expertise on hybrid rice seed production

5. The production area should be fully irrigated, preferably with supplementary source of irrigation, good drainage system and relatively with fertile soil.

6. The minimum effective area for hybrid rice production must be a compact area of five (5) hectares. However, for individual seed grower with less than 5 hectares, temporary accreditation will be issued within the period of three years. Renewal of accreditation will not be issued unless the minimum compact area of 5 hectares is met.

7. The seed yield of the production area for two cropping seasons should be an average of 600 kg/ha. However, a seed producer can be accredited after the first cropping season, provided seed yield is 700 kg./ha. or higher. Such yield should be duly certified by the deputized seed inspector.

8. Standard isolation for hybrid rice production should be strictly followed as indicated in the Revised Seed Standards for the Production of Hybrid Rice Seed (F1) and Parental Seed (A or CMS line, B line and R line).

9. The applicant must be willing to have the field and facilities inspected by the deputized Seed Inspectors anytime before planting, throughout the growing period, harvesting, processing, bagging and storage of the seeds.

10. The seed producer must posses or have ready access to use the following minimum post-harvest processing and storage facilities/equipment: thresher, mechanical drier, air-screen seed cleaner, accurate weighing scale, bagger (sewing machine), moisture tester, blower-cleaner, pallets, and storage warehouse.

11. Accreditation must be recommended by the concerned Regional Executive Director after the Seed Inspector has validated the requirements stated here-in and concurred by the chief, NSQCS of the respective region or area.

12. The Certificate of Accreditation duly approved by the Director of BPI shall be given to the applicant and copy furnished the Regional Executive Director and the Seed Quality Control Services.

13. Certificate of Accreditation shall be valid for a period of 3 years. The performance of the accredited seed growers shall be evaluated before renewal of accreditation.

Non-compliance of the above requirements shall be a ground for denial of accreditation or cancellation of existing certificate.

This order shall take effect immediately and supercedes Administrative Order No. 28, Series of 2001.

Adopted: 02 June 2005

(SGD.) ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary, Department of Agriculture and
Chairman, National Seed Industry Council

Recommending Approval:

(SGD.) CLARITO M. BARRON, CESO IV
Officer-In-Charge, Director