General Hemp Seed Certification Standards

A. The General Seed Certification Standards provided in this Part apply to all crops, and together with the following specific standards constitute the certified Hemp standards. B. Definitions. The following definitions apply only to this Section. AOSCA—the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies Approved Cultivar—any variety designated as eligible for production by federal or local regulatory authorities. Breeder Plant Stock—propagation material identified and described by the breeder or developer. The breeder must also declare and document the methods in which parent lines are selected and how the Plant Stock is maintained. Clones—asexually propagated progeny genetically identical to the stock plant. Cuttings—portions of stems containing leaves which are rooted to produce clones. Dioecious Type—hemp plant with male and female flowers on separate plants. Feminized Hemp Seed—the progeny of a dioecious female hemp plant that has been pollinated with pollen derived from the same or another dioecious female hemp plant that has been induced to produce pollen. It is a true female plant with XX chromosomes. Field—the production area enclosed by natural borders such as a head lane, ditch, tree line, building, or road. Hemp—is defined by the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program as the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis or as otherwise defined by federal law. Hermaphroditic Plants—hemp plants exhibiting male and female flowers, not true females. LDAF—the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. Micropropagation—the science of plant multiplication in-vitro. Monoecious type—hemp plant with male and female flowers on the same plant. Pollen Parent—a reversed female hemp plant from the female line or another reversed female line to create a hybrid. Reversed Female—female hemp plants that are induced to produce pollen in replacement of true male plants. Seed—a flowering plant’s unit of reproduction capable of developing into another such plant. Seed Parent—female hemp plants used to produce feminized hemp seed. Sporting Male—is a female hemp plant that produces sterile male flowers. Structure—an enclosed growth facility. THC—total delta-nine (Δ9) tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the component of hemp regulated by federal or local regulatory authorities. Transplants—hemp plants produced from seeds or vegetatively from cuttings, prior to stock plant flowering. Variety—a subdivision of a kind that is distinct, uniform, and stable; "distinct" in the sense that the variety can be differentiated by one or more identifiable morphological, physiological, or other characteristics from all other varieties of public knowledge; "uniform" in the sense that variations in essential and distinctive characteristics are describable; and "stable" in the sense that the variety will remain unchanged in its essential and distinctive characteristics and its uniformity when reproduced or reconstituted as required by the different categories of varieties. Volunteer Plant—a hemp plant that was not intentionally planted and is the result from a previous crop. C. General Certification Standards for Hemp Seed, Feminized Hemp Seed, Vegetatively Propagated Hemp and Hemp Transplants 1. All certified production of hemp crops is subject to license application approval that may be required by LDAF or other regulatory authority. 2. Growers must meet all applicable state and federal hemp regulations and requirements. 3. Only varieties of hemp approved by LDAF are eligible for certification. 4. The allowable area of certified hemp production shall be determined by LDAF. 5. Growers may be required to obtain additional tests and submit results to LDAF before the seed can be certified. 6. The presence of Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) is prohibited in all certified hemp crops and shall be cause for rejection of certified status. 7. Excessive weeds obscuring required inspections or any other condition which prevents thorough inspection shall be cause for rejection. 8. Seed coated or pelleted by non-approved conditioners shall not be eligible for certification. AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 3:1433. HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Office of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Chemistry and Seed Commission, LR 51:1572 (October 2025).