(1) Only seed varieties that are accepted as meriting seed certification by an appropriate AOSCA National Variety Review Board or a member agency of AOSCA in accordance with the criteria listed below may be eligible for seed certification in Washington state. The following items (see Federal Seed Act at 7 C.F.R. § 201.68) or their equivalent (from national/international programs) must be made available by the originator, developer, owner, or agent when eligibility for certification is requested:

(a) The name of the variety or its experimental designation(s). This name must be the established name if the variety has previously been marketed.

(b) A statement concerning the variety's origin and the breeding procedure used in its development.

(c) A detailed description of the morphological, physiological, and other characteristics of the plants and seed that distinguish it from other varieties.

(d) Evidence supporting the identity of the variety, such as comparative yield data, insect and disease resistance, improved end-use traits or other factors supporting the identity of the variety. These claims must be supported by data and statistics commonly recognized as supporting science-based decisions.

(e) A statement giving the suggested region of probable adaptation and purposes for which the variety is used.

(f) A description of the procedure for maintenance of stock seed classes, including the number of generations through which the variety can be multiplied.

(g) A description of the manner in which the variety is constituted when a particular cycle of reproduction or multiplication is specified.

(h) Any additional restrictions on the variety, specified by the breeder, with respect to geographic area of seed production, age of stand or other factors affecting genetic purity.

(i) A sample of the seed representative of the variety as marketed.

(j) Expectations for requiring that the variety be sold by name only as a class of Certified seed under provisions of Title V of the United States Federal Seed Act.

(k) Should additional certification testing be required to verify the presence of a particular trait by the developer, sponsoring breeder or originator before final certification, the exact protocol, approved facilities, tolerances and all other relevant information must be provided to the department.

(2) The information listed in subsection (1) of this section is also required for submission to an AOSCA National Variety Review Board or other certifying agency for acceptance of a seed variety for certification.

(3) Verification of such characteristics will be completed before a certificate (tag) of final certification is issued by the seed certifying agency.