In order to prevent the spread of weedy rice, effective in 2019, growers may only use seed that has been enrolled in a certification program by an Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) member or is subject to a third-party quality assurance program approved by the California Rice Certification Committee. Currently, California Crop Improvement Association (CCIA) is the only organization offering these certifications for California rice.
Also effective in 2019, handlers shall require producer verification of planting certified seed or seed enrolled in a third-party quality assurance program approved by the Certification Committee.
The Certification Committee offers the following guidance for handlers when verifying grower use of certified or quality assurance seed for the 2019 crop.
Guidance for Handlers (including Brokers)1
In accordance with requirements established in regulations adopted pursuant to the Rice Certification Act of 2000, handlers shall implement one or more of the following methods of verification to meet this requirement or other methods to ensure proper verification:
- Contract provisions which require growers to provide verification that all rice delivered to the handler is from a class of certified seed or from a third-party quality assurance program. Currently only the California Crop Improvement Association (CCIA) has approved programs.
- Notification to growers which requires growers to provide verification that all rice delivered to the handler is from a class of certified seed or from a third-party quality assurance program.
- Require growers to provide bulk seed sales certificates for all rice delivered to the handler.
- Require growers to provide verification from written recommendations for pesticide use reporting identifying use of CCIA certified, or quality assurance seed for all rice delivered to the handler.
Footnotes:
1 – Handler means any person engaged in this state in the business of offering for sale or selling rice.
