Chapter 16-302 WAC

On April 9, 2025, the department adopted amendments to this chapter that include:

• Adding definitions from chapter 16-301 WAC and chapter 16-303 along with creating definitions for the following terms that are currently used throughout the chapter, but are not defined: cultivar, genetic purity, grower, lot of seed, PNW, Pre-Varietal Germplasm (PVG), Plant Variety Protection (PVP), purity, volunteer, United States.
• Adding language to WAC 16-302-010 regarding the relationship between the Seed Program and the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA).
• Adding language in WAC 16-302-020 to require additional documentation for proprietary varieties.
• Adding language in WAC 16-302-050 to allow for Washington producers or growers in Eastern Washington dryland areas to temporarily waive the crop acreage fee.
• Adding language to WAC 16-302-080 to include an exemption for dry bean seed crops.
• Adding language to WAC 16-302-115 to expand on what certificates issued by the program represent and the responsibility of the producer or vendor for proper use of a certification label.
• Adding language requiring prohibited noxious weeds to be controlled to prevent seed formation to WAC 16-302-225.
• Adding language to WAC 16-302-560 to reflect addition of Quinoa and associated field inspection timing requirements.
• Adding standards for the certification of quinoa seed in WAC 16-302-705.
• Aligning with other seed certification states for blended and mixture tagging of certified seed.
• Aligning with the most current version of the AOSCA standards manual.
• Aligning with the most current version of the Federal Seed Act (FSA).
• Updating the seed standard tables to match the amount of seed required by Association of Seed Analyst (AOSA).
• Aligning the units in the seed standard tables for all crops with AOSA standards.
• Adding standards for Foundation classes in relation to maximum damaged seed, inert matter, splits and weed seed maximums that are currently not listed.
• Repealing section WAC 16-302-390.
• Removing the reference to WAC 16-301-480(1), which was repealed in 2004.
• Incorporating field corn crop standards that are currently in practice.
• Incorporating a new Pacific Northwest SOD Quality exam and tagging process.
• Incorporating a number of clarifying changes throughout the rule, such as addressing inconsistencies in language between crop standards, correcting spelling errors, replacing gendered pronoun usage, updating the numbering of sections that are not related to each other, adding headers and borders to table formatting, and moving footnotes that are currently at the end of tables into the body of the section text.

The department held public hearings to receive information and comments regarding the proposed amendments on:

Written comments were to be submitted using one of the following:

Written submissions about the proposed rule may be inspected at:

Please contact Paula Lundt to discuss implementation and enforcement of the rule.

By mail:
Paula Lundt, Seed Program Manager
Commodity Inspection Division
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
21 North 1st Ave., Suite 203
Yakima, WA 98902