Certified Seed Bulk
Retailer Requirements

Retail facilities must be approved by the North Dakota State Seed Department to handle and sell bulk certified seed. To be approved, bulk retailers must meet certain minimum requirements for equipment and management practices to ensure compliance to state certification requirements and the Federal Seed Act.

Bulk Retail Facility Permit
A permit is required to operate as a certified seed bulk retail facility in North Dakota. Permits are issued on an annual basis following an inspection of the facility by a Seed Department inspector. Bulk retail facilities must meet minimum requirements to obtain a permit. Facility managers are under agreement to handle all seed and records according to certification rules and regulations. Specific requirements for facility management are included on the Agreement to Operate an Approved North Dakota Bulk Retail Seed Facility”.

Facility Management
Facility managers must understand and agree to all of the requirements on the permit application. The facility manager and employees are responsible for all items specified on the agreement. In general, the agreement covers specific practices relating to proper handling of certified seed, record retention and compliance to state and federal seed laws, including Plant Variety Protection.

• Conditions specified in the Agreement are not fulfilled.
• Violations of state certification standards.
• Violations of state seed laws.
• Violations of the Federal Seed Act.

• Only Certified class seed may be handled and sold by approved retailers
• Facilities must be able to handle certified seed without introducing admixtures
• Maintain a clean facility including bin site at all times
• Identity of the seed must be maintained at all times
• Records of all operations relating to certification shall be complete and adequate to account for all incoming seed and final disposition of seed
• Bulk certified seed may only be moved physically twice after final certification has been completed to prevent contamination. For example: bulk certified seed may be moved from the conditioner to the approved retail facility, and then from the retail facility to the farmer.

Approved Bulk Retailers listed on this website meet the minimum standards established by the department for equipment, facility management and proper seed handling.