(a)

1. (1) Four (4) classes of seed shall be recognized for seed certification.
2. (2) These classes shall meet the specific requirements approved for each crop.

(b) These classes are as follows:

1. (1) Breeder seed (a class reserved for licensed plant breeders).

   1. (A) Breeder seed shall be seed directly controlled by the originator, or in certain cases, the sponsoring plant breeder, which is used in developing and maintaining a variety, and is never available to the public for general use.
   2. (B) Breeder seed is used for the production of foundation, registered, or certified seed.
   3. (C) If breeder seed is to be tagged, it must be tagged with a white tag labeled "breeder seed";

2. (2) Foundation seed.

   1. (A) Foundation seed shall be the progeny of breeder (or foundation) seed so handled as to most nearly maintain specific genetic identity and purity of the variety as described by the breeder in its approved release and/or as described in the registration of the variety as approved by the National Committee on Registration of Crop Varieties, and meets the standards approved for this class.
   2. (B) Foundation seed shall be produced only by or under the direct supervision of a licensed plant breeder.
   3. (C) White tags shall be used to designate this class;

3. (3) Registered seed.

   1. (A) Registered seed shall be the progeny of foundation seed that is so handled as to maintain satisfactory genetic identity and purity and meets the standards established for this class by the certifying agency.
   2. (B) Purple tags shall be used to designate this class;

4. (4) Certified seed (blue tag).

   1. (A) Certified blue tag class seed shall be produced from either foundation or registered class seed that has been so handled that it meets the standards established for this class.
   2. (B) A blue tag or label shall be used to designate this class.
   3. (C) Note. At the discretion of the certifying agency, a grower may be permitted to continue production of seed for certification from lots of seed that were fully inspected but rejected because of factors which did not involve genetic identity and purity of germplasm; and
5. (5) Off-type. Off-type means a plant or seed which deviates in one or more characteristics from the description filed with the certifying agency by the breeder as being usual for the strain or variety.