GB6142-2025
Quality grading of gramineous seed
禾本科草种子质量分级
GB 6142-2025 is an upcoming mandatory Chinese national standard for Quality grading of gramineous seed. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Jan 1, 2027.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to the quality assessment of gramineous (grass) seeds produced, sold, and used within China. It is relevant for agricultural and turf seeds, covering species such as Agropyron, Festuca, Lolium, Zea mays (corn), and Sorghum. Manufacturers and importers of grass seeds must comply with these grading requirements to ensure market access.
Technical requirements
The standard specifies comprehensive quality grading indicators for grass seeds, categorized into three quality tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3). It mandates strict thresholds for purity, germination rate, and moisture content, with the latter universally capped at a maximum of 13.0%. A critical metric defined in the standard is the Pure Live Seed (PLS) value, which is calculated by multiplying purity by germination rate. The standard also sets maximum limits for the presence of other plant seeds to prevent weed contamination. Seeds containing quarantine pests are strictly prohibited from being graded and are deemed non-compliant. The standard also details the comprehensive grading methodology, where the final quality tier is determined by the lowest-performing individual metric among the required parameters.
Testing methods
Testing and evaluation must be conducted in accordance with the GB/T 2930 series of standards. This includes specific procedures for sampling, purity analysis, germination testing, moisture determination, and the counting of other plant seeds. Compliance verification requires strict adherence to these referenced methodological standards.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 6142-2025?
The standard regulates the quality grading of gramineous (grass) seeds produced, sold, and used in China. It covers a wide variety of species, including forage grasses (e.g., Sorghum, Lolium), turf grasses (e.g., Zoysia, Poa), and major cereal crops like corn and oats.
Are there any significant updates from the previous GB 6142-2008 version?
The 2025 revision replaces the 2008 version and introduces several key changes: it modifies the moisture content limit to 13%, adds grading indicators for new species like hybrid wheatgrass and switchgrass, and updates the germination and purity thresholds for numerous existing species. Manufacturers previously compliant with the 2008 version must re-evaluate their products against these updated parameters.
How does GB 6142-2025 differ from international seed testing standards?
GB 6142-2025 establishes the domestic quality grading framework for grass seeds in China. While it references standardized testing procedures that align with international norms (such as those from ISTA), imported seeds must still be classified according to the specific Tier 1 to Tier 3 parameters defined within this GB standard to legally enter the Chinese market.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 6142-2025. To ensure complete compliance for your forage and turf grass seed products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 6142-2025 today to access all detailed parameters, grading tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Product
- CCS
- CCS B 21
- ICS
- 65.020.01
- Competent department
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Animal Husbandry of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB 6142-2008 (Current)