Form PPQ Form 925 PPQ Form 925 Federal Seed Analysis Certificate

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0579-0124. The time required to
complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

FORM APPROVED
OMB No.: 0579-0124
EXP: XX/XXXX

CERTIFICATE NUMBER

FEDERAL SEED ANALYSIS CERTIFICATE
(For Canadian-Grown Agricultural and Vegetable Seed Destined for the United States)
1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF SENDER

2. DATE ISSUED

3. LABORATORY NUMBER

4. ORIGIN

SENDER’S INFORMATION (The information is that of the sender and not of the laboratory.)
5. KIND
6. VARIETY

7. SCIENTIFIC NAME

8. LOT DESIGNATION

9. SIZE OF LOT

10. TREATMENT

11. SAMPLE TAKEN BY

12. OTHER INFORMATION

LABORATORY DETERMINATION (to be used for labeling)
13. COMMON NAME(S) OF KINDS IN EXCESS OF 5% OF THE WHOLE
(as recognized in Federal Seed Act regulations)

14. SCIENTIFIC NAME(S)

15. INDICATE IF SEED IS, OR WILL BE (mark all that apply)

Pelleted

Coated

Treated (indicate labeling)

16. NOXIOUS WEED SEEDS BASED ON EXAMINATION OF _____________ GRAMS
17. SCIENTIFIC NAME AND NUMBER OF EACH KIND OF NOXIOUS WEED SEED

18. CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL (place an “X” in ONE box below)
I certify that this lot meets the noxious weed requirements of the Federal Seed Act.
OR
This lot contains noxious weeds beyond tolerance and may be imported into the United States only if consigned to an approved facility for
cleaning.

19. NAME AND ADDRESS OF ISSUING LABORATORY

20. NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL

21. SIGNATURE

PPQ FORM 925
JAN 2017

(All previous editions are obsolete.)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING PPQ FORM 925
FEDERAL SEED ANALYSIS CERTIFICATE
(For Canadian-Grown Agricultural and Vegetable Seed Destined for the United States)
Appropriate Use of PPQ 925 - Use the PPQ Form 925 only for agricultural or vegetable seed of
Canadian origin, or U.S. Seed Returned. If the seed to be exported to the United States is of foreign
origin other than Canada, or is not U.S. Seed Returned, do not use PPQ Form 925. Instead, use
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Form 5289 provided by CFIA, and follow their
instructions.
Do not use PPQ Form 925 if the kind of seed is not listed in the Federal Seed Act (FSA)
Regulations. Refer to the APHIS regulations under the FSA (7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
361 aka APHIS FSA Regulations) for a list of regulated kinds of seed.
Top Right Assign a Certificate Number - Use the alpha code for your laboratory followed by the
Corner
last two digits of the calendar year, then the consecutive number of the certificate. For
example, if your laboratory's alpha is “A,” the first certificate you issue in 2018 will
be “A-18-1.” Each certificate number must be unique. To find your laboratory’s alpha
code, please contact the Seed Examination Facility (SEF) 1 or refer to the WHITE TAB
(#7) of the Reference Notebook for Canadian Seed for Export to the United States.
Block 1

Enter the name and mailing address of the person and company submitting the sample
for testing.

Block 2

Enter the date the certificate is issued.

Block 3

If your laboratory assigns a test number, enter it here.

SENDER'S INFORMATION
Block 4

Enter either “Canada” or “U.S. Seed Returned.” Seed of other origins is not eligible
for entry into the United States based on this certificate. A Canadian seed mixture
containing a component (or components) of origin other than Canada is treated as
foreign origin (other than Canada). Do not issue a PPQ Form 925 for a mixture if it
contains any component that is of foreign origin.

Block 5

Enter the common name(s) as provided by the sender. You may abbreviate to fit the
space. For example, if the seed is a mixture of red clover, yellow sweetclover, and
white sweetclover, you may designate the kind in Block 5 as a “clover mixture.” Name
all components in the LABORATORY DETERMINATION section.

Block 6

Enter the variety name or “V.N.S.” (variety not stated) if the sender does not state the
variety. The FSA requires a variety name only on vegetable seeds.

Block 7

Enter the scientific name provided by the sender. DO NOT change the sender's
information if you determine the seed is other than provided.

1 USDA Seed Examination Facility (SEF), Building 308, Room 319 BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705; Phone: 301-504-8605;
Fax: 301-504-9840; Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

Instructions for PPQ Form 925

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Block 8

Enter the lot designation provided by the sender. It may be numeric, alphanumeric, or
alphabetical.

Block 9

Enter the number and types of containers, and weight in pounds or kilograms, as
provided by the sender.

Block 10

If the lot has been (or will be) treated, enter the name of the substance or process used
to treat the seed. Substance names shall be the commonly accepted coined, chemical
(generic), or abbreviated chemical name.

Block 11

Enter the name of the officially recognized sampler.

Block 12

If the seed will be pelleted or coated, indicate that here. Add any other pertinent
information supplied by the sender.

LABORATORY DETERMINATION (to be used for labeling)
Block 13

YOU MUST FILL IN THIS BLOCK! The kind names used must be recognized in
APHIS regulations under the FSA (7 CFR 361 aka APHIS FSA Regulations). The
accepted kind names are listed in two sections:
1. Section 361.1, Definitions.
2. Section 361.5, Sampling of seeds, TABLE 1.

NOTE:

The following kinds are most often mislabeled. These kind names are not acceptable:
“canola,” “sweetclover,” “bromegrass,” “mustard,” and “trefoil.”
If the seed lot is not a mixture, fill in the kind name of that single kind.
If the seed lot is a mixture, identify each kind in excess of 5 percent of the whole. List
each kind on a separate line. Although the FSA does not require labeling of percentage
for each component, you may include the percentage, if known. For example:
13. COMMON NAMES(S) OF KINDS IN EXCESS OF 5% OF THE WHOLE

14. SCIENTIFIC NAME(S)

35% yellow sweetclover
30% white sweetclover
25% red clover
10% white clover
Block 14

Enter the scientific name(s) as listed in Section 361.1 – Definitions. If not found in the
APHIS FSA Regulations, use the scientific name(s) as found in the Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
database. For mixtures, list each species on a separate line as in Block 13. For example,
this would be the entry next to the example above:
13. COMMON NAMES(S) OF KINDS IN EXCESS OF 5% OF THE WHOLE

35% yellow sweetclover
30% white sweetclover
25% red clover
10% white clover
Instructions for PPQ Form 925

14. SCIENTIFIC NAME(S)

Melilotus officinalis
Melilotus albus
Trifolium repens
Trifolium pratense
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Block 15

Put an “X” in any block that applies to indicate if the seed is, or will be, pelleted,
coated, and/or treated.

Block 16

Enter the weight of the sample examined for noxious weeds. You will find the required
weights for testing in Section 361.5, Sampling of seeds, TABLE 1. For mixtures, refer
to Section 361.5 (a)(1)(i) and (ii) to determine the working weight for a noxious weed
examination.
If the seed is extremely weedy, stop the test after finding five noxious weed seeds, and
enter the amount you examined up to that point.
If you find two noxious weed seeds in the sample, you must test an additional sample.
This additional sample should also be reported in Block 16. For example, if the
working weight is 30 grams, enter “30 + 30” to indicate that two samples of 30 grams
were examined. See Block 17 for reporting instructions in this situation.

Block 17

Include only FSA-listed noxious weeds. Section 361.6 (a) of the APHIS FSA
Regulations contains two noxious weed lists:
1. 361.6 (a)(1) lists prohibited Federal Noxious Weeds (FNWs) (NOTE: Native
species of dodder, Cuscuta spp. and broomrape, Orobanche spp. are allowed);
and
2. 361.6 (a)(2) lists noxious weed seeds allowed in minimal amounts as
determined by sampling.
The FNWs listed in paragraph 361.6 (a)(1) generally do not occur in Canada. If you
find any weeds listed in paragraph 361.6 (a)(1), DO NOT ISSUE THE
CERTIFICATE. Inform the sender that the shipment is not eligible for entry into
the United States.
You are more likely to find weeds with allowed tolerances as listed in 361.6 (a)(2).
The taxonomy of weeds can change so be sure to check the ARS GRIN database for
the currently valid scientific name.
Inert Matter - Do not count material considered Inert Matter as weed seeds. See Section
361.6 (c) of the APHIS FSA Regulations for categories of noxious weed seeds
considered Inert Matter.
If you find two noxious weed seeds in the first test, you must do a second test on an
additional sample. Report this in Block 17 as: “Test Number 1: [number of seeds]
[scientific name]” and “Test Number 2: [number of seeds] [scientific name].” For
example:
17. SCIENTIFIC NAME AND NUMBER OF EACH KIND OF NOXIOUS WEED SEED

Test Number 1: 1 Cirsium arvense; 1 Sonchus arvensis
Test Number 2: 2 Sonchus arvensis

Instructions for PPQ Form 925

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Block 18

Put an “X” in the First block in the following cases:
1. You find no noxious weed seeds in the sample;
2. You find only one noxious weed seed from the list in Section 361.6 (a)(2); or
3. You test a second sample after finding two noxious weed seeds and find an
additional two or fewer noxious weed seeds from the list in
Section 361.6 (a)(2).
Otherwise, put an “X” in the Second block. This will occur in the following cases:
1. You find any Federal Noxious Weed seed from the list in section 361.6 (a)(1);
2. You find three or more noxious weed seeds from the list in
Section 361.6 (a)(2); or
3. You test a second sample after finding two noxious weed seeds and find an
additional three or more noxious weed seeds from the list in
Section 361.6 (a)(2).
If you mark the second block, notify the sender that the seed lot may not enter the
United States unless it is consigned to an approved facility for cleaning. For a list of
approved facilities, see Appendix D-6 of the Canadian Border Agricultural Clearance
Manual or contact the USDA SEF. 2

Block 19

Enter the name and address of the issuing laboratory (a stamp may be used).

Block 20

Print the name and title of the person responsible for the content of the test information
(usually the laboratory manager).

Block 21

The person listed in Block 20 signs here. Signatures may be preprinted or actual
signatures. The person signing the certificate is certifying that kind names used and
noxious weed tests performed are in accordance with FSA Regulations.

2 USDA Seed Examination Facility (SEF), Building 308, Room 319 BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705; Phone: 301-504-8605;
Fax: 301-504-9840; Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

Instructions for PPQ Form 925

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DISTRIBUTION

(4 Copies Total)

Original

Give to sender. The sender forwards the original with the shipment. U.S. Customs
and Boarder Protection (CBP) will then send this original to the APHIS SEF when the
shipment crosses the border.

Copy 1

Give to sender. The sender retains this copy.

Copy 2

Give to sender. The sender forwards Copy 2 with the shipment, and the importer
keeps this copy.

Copy 3

Your file copy.
IMPORTANT: INSTRUCT THE EXPORTER TO SEND THE ORIGINAL AND
COPY 2 WITH THE SEED WHEN IT CROSSES THE BORDER.
Copies sent via FAX are acceptable, but if they are used at the border, YOU MUST
MAIL THE ORIGINAL to the USDA Seed Examination Facility:
ATTN: David F. Bitzel, Botanist OR Mark Thurmond, Botanist
USDA, APHIS, PPQ, NIS
Seed Examination Facility
Building 308, Room 319 BARC-East
Beltsville, MD 20705
Tel. (Main): 301-504-8605
Tel. (D. Bitzel): 301-313-9332
Email: [email protected]
Tel. (M. Thurmond): 301-313-9329
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 301-504-9840

NOTE:

If a lot is sold to more than one consignee, the original Seed Analysis Certificate (PPQ
Form 925) will be sent with the first shipment. Copies of the original PPQ Form 925
will be acceptable for subsequent shipments. The combined weight of shipments with
the same PPQ Form 925 must not exceed the weight of the shipment entered in
Block 9.

Instructions for PPQ Form 925

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