The general seed certification standards together with specific crop standards established in this chapter constitute the basic standards for production of foundation seed as deemed necessary by the certifying agency. Seed to be eligible for foundation certification tags, or OECD basic tags, must be approved by the originating plant breeder or his designated agent, and in compliance with the following standards:

(1) Preplanting report. A preplanting inspection, an industry responsibility, must be made of fields to be planted with breeder seed. A written report of the preplant inspection, performed by either a representative of the person issuing the contract or by the grower must be maintained by the variety owner or designee for a minimum of three years. The report shall show the grower's name, number of acres, location, crop history for the past three years, crops to be planted, origin of breeder seed, isolation status, and weed and crop present.

(2) Planting requirement. To distinguish between any possible volunteer and the crop seeded, all fields must be planted in distinct rows. Plants outside defined rows may be construed as volunteers.

(3) Combine inspection. The combine used for seed harvesting must be cleaned and inspected prior to harvesting foundation or OECD basic seed. The combine must be free of all contaminating material. If an official combine inspection is requested, the certifying agency must be notified of the following: The date, time, and location where the combine inspection may be made.

(4) Processing plant inspection. The processing or conditioning plant must be inspected before processing foundation or OECD basic seed and periodic inspections will be made during processing by the processor.

(5) Recleaning, rebagging, preinoculation, treating, or other processes must be approved by the certifying agency. An original tag must be submitted with the request for recertification and the seed must be retagged and resealed on completion.

(6) For a proprietary variety the above combine inspection (subsection (3) of this section), and processing plant inspection (subsection (4) of this section), responsibility may be assigned to the proprietor or his designee upon their request. The variety owner or designee must maintain a report covering required inspections.