5.1   Certification Technical Committee – The Certification Technical Committee (CTC) is an advisory committee of CCIA charged with reviewing eligibility of varieties for certification, changing or developing new crop standards, and managing technical matters pertaining to seed certification. This committee will review varieties for distinctiveness and genetic stability according to the guidelines established by the AOSCA.  The committee is composed of representatives from CCIA, UCD Department of Plant Sciences, UCD Plant Pathology Department, UCD Foundation Seed Program, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The CTC meetings are scheduled one month prior to the winter, spring, and fall CCIA Board of Directors meetings (usually January, April, and August).

5.2   Submission of variety for review - To submit a variety for review, an application must be provided. The “Application for Variety Certification” is available online at the CCIA web site. Applicants and breeders wishing to submit an application to the CTC should call the CCIA Office at 530-752-0544 for the application deadlines and dates. The following information is required on the application:

1. Variety name – this must be the established name if the variety has been previously marketed

2. A statement concerning the varieties origin and breeding history

3. Botanical and objective description of the variety; other forms such as the PVP, Exhibit C - Objective Description of Variety may be used to complete section ‘c’ of the “Application for Variety Certification”. This form is available by searching the USDA website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/science.

4. Evidence supporting identity of the variety and any statements or claims made concerning its performance characteristics

5. Area of adaptation and primary use of the variety

6. Procedure for maintaining stock seed classes and number of generations variety may be multiplied

7. Description of how variety is to be constituted if a particular cycle of reproduction or multiplication is required

8. Restrictions with respect to geographic area of seed production, age of stand or other factors affecting genetic purity

9. Sample of the seed

10. Information to assist field inspections, including expected variability (kind and frequency) and prominent identifying characteristics of both plant and seed as well as other pertinent field and laboratory information not noted previously.

5.3   Certification Pending – Prior to final acceptance of a variety into certification, seed can be grown in a certification program under a 'pending status' with supervision and inspection of CCIA.  Certification tags will not be issued until the variety is approved for certification by CCIA.

An exception can be made for Foundation tags if it is evident that the variety owner intends to make the variety eligible for certification and the seed must remain under the control of the owner. Foundation tags issued for a variety not yet approved for certification in California will include the following statement printed on the tag: “Experimental variety pending acceptance for certification”.