 
  
 ICS 67.060  
 
Reference number
DRS 275 -1: 2020
© RSB 2020
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS
275-1
Second edition
2020 -mm-dd
(Reaffirmed yyyy-mm-dd)
Seeds  — Requirements for certification — 
Part 1: Common bean  
   
DRS 275 -1: 2020  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB yyyy 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without  
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.go v.rw 
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 275 -1: 2020  
iii                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 1 
4 Abbreviated terms  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 6 
5 Seed classes  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .....6 
6 General requirements ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 7 
6.1 Eligible var ieties  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 7 
6.2 Application for certification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 7 
7 Field inspection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 7 
8 Field requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 8 
9 Seed sampling and laboratory requirements  ................................ ................................ .................. 8 
10 Certificates ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 9 
11 Packaging and label ling ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  10 
12 Post -control tests  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  11 
Annex  A (normative)  Field inspection report  ................................ ................................ ............................  12 
Annex  B (normative)  Seed laboratory test report  ................................ ................................ .....................  14 
Annex  C (normative)  Seed test certification  ................................ ................................ .............................  15 
 DRS 275 -1: 2020  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 275-1 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 032, Seeds and planting materials . 
This second  edition cancels and replaces the first  edition (RS  275-1:2015 ), which has been technically 
revised.  
DRS 275 consists of the following parts, under the general title Seeds — Requirements for certification  
 Part 1: Common bean  
 Part 2: Rice  
 Part 3: Wheat  
 Part 4: Peas  
 Part 5: Sweet potatoes  
 Part 6: Vegetable seeds  
Part 7: Cassava seeds  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Seeds and planting materials  
(RSB/TC 032) in the preparation of this standard.  
Paragraph of p articipants  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
 DRS 275 -1: 2020  
1                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Seeds  — Requirements for certification — Part 1 : Common bean  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies the certification requirements for the production of pre -basic, basic and 
certified seed of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris  L.). It includes requirements for eligible varieties, field 
requirements, field inspections, seed sampling, labor atory requirements, certificates, packaging and labelling, 
and post -control tests.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For date d references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
International Seed Testing Association ISTA Rules  
OECD , Seed Schemes; Guidelines for Control Plot Tests and Field Inspection of Seed Crops  
OECD , Schemes for Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in the International Trade  
UPOV TG/12/9,  Guidelines for conducting DUS tests for Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the pu rposes of this standard, the follow ing terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
seed test certificate  
legal document issued by the national seed certification authority, which states that a seed lot has  met the 
requirements set in this standard  
3.2 
distinctness  
variety is deemed to be distinct if it is clearly distinguishable in at least one character from any  other variety 
whose existence is a matter of common knowledge at the time of filing the application for registrati on  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  2 
 3.3 
field 
defined and identifiable are a of land or facility that is used to produce a seed crop under the Seed Certification 
Scheme  
3.4 
field inspection  
inspection of a field and/or seed crop, by an inspector to check if the minimum requirements for see d 
certification have been satisfied  
3.5 
field number  
number assigned to the field by the national seed certification authority, when the application form  for 
certification is submitted  
3.6 
germination  
emergence and development of a seedling to a stage where the aspect of its essential structures  indicates 
whether or not it is able to develop further into a satisfactory plant under favourable conditions i n the field  
3.7 
seed grower  
person or entity registered to produce seed  
3.8 
inert matter  
seed units and all other matter and structures not defin ed as pure seed or other seeds  
3.9 
isolation  
minimum distance or time between two crops of common bean that is required to prevent contamination either 
mechanically or by cross pollination  
3.10 
inspector  
authorized official or accredited entity responsible  for carrying out seed certification activities  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
3                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 3.11 
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) rules  
rules for seed testing published by the International Seed Testing Association  
3.12 
label  
tag or other device that is attached to or written, stamped, or printed on any container of seed or that 
accompanies any lot of bulk seed and which describes the kind of seed and any other information requ ired by 
relevant regulation.  
3.13 
previous cropping  
period (seasons or years) that elapses between the productio n of a crop of the same species in a field and the 
production of a crop entered in the certification scheme in the same field  
3.14 
maintainer  
person or organisation responsible for the production or maintenance of a bred variety included in a  national 
list of varieties/variety catalogue eligible for certification, and ensure that the variety remains true to type 
throughout its full life -span and in the case of hybrid varieties, that the formula for hybridisation is followed  
3.15 
National Seed Certification Authority (NSCA)  
national authority responsible for conducting seed certification processes  
3.16 
noxious weed  
weed species, the seed of which is difficult to separate during processing or has undesirable effect s on the 
crop produced, for example by possibl e genetic contamination  
3.17 
off-type 
plant of the same species which does not exhibit the recognised and accepted habit and characteristi cs of the  
variety being grown   
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  4 
 3.18 
other seeds  
seeds of any plant species other than that of the crop sample that is b eing tested. They consist of weed seeds  
and other crop seeds  
3.19 
parental material  
population or lines used by a breeder to maintain a variety  
3.20 
person  
natural person or legal entity  
3.21 
post -control plot  
small plot where a representative sample of a seed lot is grown to determine the identity and purity of the  
variety and to check if the seed certification system is operating satisfactorily  
3.22 
pure seed  
species stated by an applicant, or found to predominate in a test, and includes all botanical varieties and  
cultivars of that species, including intact seeds and pieces of seed units larger than one -half their original size  
3.23 
variety registration  
recording of a new variety in a national variety catalogue when it has been tested and satisfied the  
requirements for distinctness, uniformity, stability, and has value for cultivation and use  
3.24 
rogueing  
removal of off -types and diseased plants or any other unwanted plant from a seed crop if they may reduce the  
quality of the harvested crop  
3.25 
seed certification  
process by which the quality and identity of a seed lot is assured  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
5                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 3.26 
seed lot  
defined quantity of seed bearing the same reference number and for which the origin, production hist ory and  
identity is known  
3.27 
stability  
condition of a varie ty distinguishing characteristics to remain unchanged after repeated growing cycles  
3.28 
uniformity  
variety is deemed to be uniform if, subject to the variation that may be expected from the particula r features of  
its propagation, it is sufficiently unifor m in its relevant characteristics  
3.29 
variety  
assemblage of cultivated plants that is clearly distinguished from other varieties by any characters  
(morphological, physiological, cytological, chemical, or others) and which retains its distinguishin g 
charac teristics when reproduced by the normal means for the crop and variet  
3.30 
variety catalogue/national list varieties  
list of varieties that have been registered by a national authority and can be produced and marketed  as 
certified seed  
3.31 
carryover seed  
seed produced in previous season and stored for one or more cropping seasons  
3.32 
pre-basic seed  
seed that is derived from breeder seed and is used to produce basic seed through one cycle of multip lication  
3.33 
breeder seed  
nucleus seed from the breeder and is used to produce pre -basic seed   
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  6 
 3.34 
seed  
planting materials used for generative propagation of plants  
3.35 
basic seed  
seed that has been produced from breeder or pre -basic seed and is used for the production of certified seed  
3.36 
certified seed  
seed that is produced from basic seed through one or two generations of multiplication  
3.36.1  
certified seed 1st generation  
first generation of seed derived from basic seed  
3.36.2  
certified seed 2nd generation  
multiplied once and from certified seed 1st gener ation  
4 Abbreviated terms  
 DUS: Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability  
 ISTA: International Seed Testing Association  
 OECD: Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development  
 UPOV: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.  
5 Seed classes  
For the purpose of this standard, the following classes of seed shall apply:  
a) pre-basic seed;  
b) basic seed; and  
c) certified seed:  
1) 1st generation (C1); and  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
7                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 2) 2nd generation (C2).  
6 General requirements  
6.1 Eligible varieties  
6.1.1 Varieties eligible for seed certification shall be those that have been examined, tested and registered 
in the national list of varieties/variety catalogue.  
6.1.2 The national seed certification authority shall keep the official descriptor of the varieties in har d and 
electronic copi es. 
6.2 Application for certification  
6.2.1 The minimum information for an application for certification of a seed crop shall include the follow ing: 
d) name, address and contact details of the seed grower;  
e) crop and variety to be sown;  
f) physical location;  
g) area and reference number of the field, and its cropping history for the past two cropping seasons;  
h) class of seed to be produced; and  
i) registration number of the seed grower.  
6.2.2 Information and records related to the previous cropping history, origin of seed planted, and field 
inspections shall be kept and used for certification to ensure full traceability of quality, genetic  identity and 
purity of the seed harvested.  
7 Field inspection  
7.1 The national seed certification authority shall prepare the inspections’  schedule for the inspectors, 
based on all necessary information on the application form, to ensure that the timing of inspections  allows the 
requirements in Table 1 to be properly assessed.  
7.2 The inspector shall inspect the field in accordance with OECD  seed schemes and shall check for 
isolation requirements, off types, the presence of noxious weeds and diseases.  
7.3 A minimum of three inspections shall be done for each seed production field to check if the field 
requirements specified in Table 1 are met . 
7.4 At the time of the first inspection, the inspector shall confirm with the grower the previous croppi ng of 
the field, checking on isolation and the proof of origin/authentication of the variety planted by us ing the labels.   
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  8 
 7.5 Depending on the degree of contamination, the inspector may give instructions for off -types and 
diseased plants to be rogued. In case of noxious weeds found in the field, the grower shall be instr ucted to 
remove the weeds before harvesting.  
7.6 The field inspection report shall i ndicate the field status and comments for any corrective actions 
required such as re -inspection to confirm the field requirements. All field inspection reports shall be provided 
to the grower and the seed enterprise after each inspection in a timely manner . The field inspection report in 
Annex A shall be signed by both the inspector and the grower or the grower’s representative.  
8 Field requirements  
8.1 Pre basic and basic seed shall be produced under the responsibility of the breeder or maintainer  
8.2 Certified seed shall be produced in two generations.  
8.3 The national certification authority shall inspect and certify the production of pre -basic, basic and 
certified seed crops  
8.4 A field producing a seed crop of common bean shall be approved for certi fication if it complies with the 
requirements in Table 1.  
8.5 Fields may be rejected for certification because of unsatisfactory condition caused by noxious weeds , 
poor growth, poor stands, excessive disease presence, insect damage and any other condition that prevents 
accurate inspection or creates doubt as to the identity of the variety.  
Table 1 — Field requirements for seed crops of common bea ns 
S/N  Variable  Pre-basic seed  Basic seed  Certified seed  
i. Previous cropping requirements, min  1 1 1 
ii. Isolation, m, min  25 25 10 
iii. Maximum Off -types %, max  1 1 2 
iv. Anthracnose %, max  0.02 0.02 0.02 
v. Bean Common Mosaic Virus %, max  0 0 0.1 
vi. Bacterial canker %, max  0 0 0.05 
vii. Halo blight (Psuedomonas 
Phaseolicola), %, max  0 0 0.05 
viii. Angular bean leaf spot %, max  0.02 0.02 0.05 
ix. Common Blight ( Xanthomonas 
Phaseoli ), %, max  0 0 0.05 
9 Seed sampling and laboratory requirements  
9.1 The harvested seed from the field approved for certification shall be kept as an identified unit unt il 
processing. After processing, a sample shall be submitted to laboratory for testing where a conforme d sample 
shall be given a certificate with a unique lot number for the purpose of tracking and sampling.  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
9                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 9.2 The maximum size of a seed lot for certificatio n purposes is 30 000 kg; lots larger than this shall be 
divided and given separate lot numbers.  
9.3 An inspector shall draw a representative submitted sample from each lot according to the ISTA rules 
(Chapter 2).  
9.4 The submitted sample shall be divided i nto three sub -samples, one for testing in the laboratory, one to 
be stored for reference purposes in case re -testing is necessary, and one for the post -control tests. The 
samples shall be marked with the same identification as the seed lot, securely sealed  and shall be stored in 
cool and dry conditions to prevent contamination and loss of germination.  
9.5 Laboratories authorized by the national seed certification authority to conduct seed testing for 
certification shall follow the methodology established in  the ISTA rules for common bean seed.  
9.6 The seed lots shall comply with the laboratory requirements specified in Table 2.  
9.7 The laboratory test report shall be issued in accordance with Annex B.  
9.8 A seed lot that conforms to the requirements set out in Table 2 shall be given a seed test certificate 
and a unique reference number to confirm its status under the certification scheme. One part of the seed 
sample shall be retained for sowing in a post -control plot in the next season, or earlier if that can  be achieved.  
Table 2 — Laboratory requirements for seeds lots of common bea ns 
S/N  Variable  Pre-basic seed  Basic seed  Certified seed  
i. Pure seed, %, min.  99  99 99 
ii. Inert matter, %, max.  0.95 0.95 0.95 
iii. Other crop seeds, %, max.  0.05 0.05 0.05 
iv. Germination, %, min.  90 90 90 
v. Moisture content, % max.  14 14 14 
vi. Weed seeds, per kg, max.  0 0 0 
NOTE Moisture content is expressed as a percentage of the fresh weight of the original sample.  
10 Certificates  
10.1 The seed test certificate for a seed lot shall be signed and issued by the national seed certification  
authority and shall include all information presented in Annex C. This certificate shall be valid fo r a period of  
six months.  
10.2 Carryover seed shall be re -sampled and retested for germina tion. If the test result complies with the  
minimum requirements, a new test certificate shall be issued for the seed lot, which cancels the pre viously  
issued certificate, and shall include the certificate number of the cancelled certificate.   
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  10 
 11 Packaging and labelling  
11.1 All classes of seed that have been certified shall be packaged in new containers which shall be mark ed 
with the company name and crop species and shall have the official label of the national seed certif ication  
authority.  
11.2 The labels for  each class are identified by the following colours:  
1) pre-basic seed: Violet band on white  
2) basic seed: White  
3) certified Seed 1st generation: Blue  
4) certified Seed 2nd generation: Red  
11.3 If seeds are treated with any chemical or product harmful for human or a nimal consumption, the  
container shall carry a label stating the chemical or product used and warning of the health risks.  
11.4 The labels shall be prominent, indelible, and legible and fixed to the containers by an authorized p erson  
in such a way that the y cannot b e destroyed or easily removed. The following information shall be included on  
the official labels:  
a) front of label:  
1) name of the crop, “Common bean seed”;  
2) species (Latin name);  
3) variety denomination;  
4) seed lot number;  
5) test certificate number;  
6) date of  test; 
7) net weight; and  
8) seed treatment declaration (if applicable);  
b) back of label:  
1) logo of the national certification authority;  
2) name and address of certifying authority;  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
11                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 3) seed class;  
4) year and country of production; and  
5) statement of re -packing and re-labelling (if applicable).  
11.5 All containers/bags shall be closed either by hand or machine stitching and shall be sealed in such a 
way that if they are opened illegally, that violation can be detected.  
11.6 Repackaging and relabeling are authorized i n the following cases:  
a) the national seed certification authority may authorize the re -packaging and re -labelling of a particular  
seed lot that is produced in another country, but shall retain the original label information of the  producing 
country; and  
b) blending of a seed lot with other lots of the same variety and class (generation) is allowable if all s eed lots 
of the blend have met the field and laboratory requirements for certification prior to blending. A  new lot 
number shall be issued. Details of the b lended lots and their proportions shall be kept by the  certifying 
authority for traceability.  
12 Post -control tests  
The Post control tests shall be carried out in accordance with OECD Schemes for Varietal Certificati on or the  
Control of Seed Moving in the International Trade.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  12 
 Annex  A 
(normative)  
 
Field inspection report  
Reference number..................  
Date of the report....................  
Seed grower information  
Name ……………………………………. Address..………………………………………  
Telephone: ……………………………… E -mail.............………… ………………………  
Registration number……………………. Number of inspection....................................  
Field location  
Province/Region............................................ District ............................... Sector  
Latitude......................................................... Longitude ……………….. Field number  
Field size (Ha/acre) ………………………..... Cropping season ………. Crop species  
Seed class ………………………….……… Variety ………………… Previous cropping  
Variable  Observations/results  Comments/remarks  
Isolation, m    
Off types    
Noxious weeds    
Deliberative disease     
    
    
    
    
Other crops    
General conditions of the crop (for  
example, drought, crop husbandry, 
etc.)   
Decision  DRS 275 -1: 2020  
13                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Decision on the approval  Justification  
The seed crop is approved for certification   
The seed crop is approved for certification   
Seed grower       Inspector signature     National seed certification authority  
Date &signature     Date & signature      Date & signature  
   
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  14 
 Annex  B 
(normative)  
 
Seed laboratory test report  
Name of seed grower:  
Species, variety, class, weight of lot:  
Testing and Issuing laboratory:  
Sampled by:  
Test number:  
Country of origin:  
Label serial number:  
Seed Lot Reference Number:  
Number of containers  Date of sampling  
 Date sample received  Date test(s)concluded  Test 
numbe
r 
     
ANALYSIS RESULTS  
Purity  Germination  Moisture  
content,
% Pur
e 
see
d % Inert 
matter
, % Othe
r 
crop 
seed
s % Weed 
seeds
, per 
kg Numbe
r of 
days  Normal 
seedlings,
% Hard 
seeds
, % Fresh 
seeds,
% Abnormal 
seedlings,
% Dead 
seeds,
% 
           
Kind of inert matter:  
Other crop seeds:  
Weed seed:  
Other determinations:  
Place  Date  Signatur
e 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 275 -1: 2020  
15                ©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved  
 Annex  C 
(normative)  
 
Seed test certification  
This certificate is issued for a seed lot which has satisfied all the requirements of the certification scheme.  
Previously issued certificate 
number..............  Certificate No. ………….  Requirements: .................  
SEED GROWER INFORMATION  
Name:  Address:  Country of 
origin:  
SEED  LOT INFORMATION  
Seed Lot 
Reference   Number  Species and  
variety  Class  Weight of lot  
 Number of containers  
 
     
SAMPLING AND TESTING INFORMATION  
Date of sampling  Sampled by  Date sample received  Date test(s) concluded  
    
Name of testing laboratory:  Test number:  
ANALYSIS RESULTS  
Purity  Germination  Moisture 
content%  Pure 
seed %  Inert 
matter 
% Other 
crop 
seeds 
% Weed 
seeds 
Per kg  Normal 
seedlings  Abnormal 
seedlings  Fresh 
seeds  Hard 
seeds  Dead 
seeds  
          
Kind of inert matter:  
Kind of other crop seeds:  
Kind of weed seeds:  
Other determinations:  Statement of packaging and re -labelling: (if 
applicable)  
- 
 
National Seed Certification Authority  
Signature ………………………………………………………………….  
Place and Date ………………………………………………………………….  
  
©RSB 2020  - All rights reserved                  16 
 Bibliography  
[1] RS 275 -1: 2015, Seeds — Requirements for certification — Part 1 Common bean, First edition  
 DRS  275-1: 2020  
 
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