SOC certification: traceability and quality

Certified seed garlic is intended for professionals looking for identified, inspected and traceable planting material.

For garlic growers, market gardeners, farmers and distributors, the quality of the material used at planting plays an important role in the consistency of the crop.

Our seed garlic varieties are offered to meet the needs of professional farms, with several garlic types, size grades and packaging options depending on availability.

What is SOC certification?

SOC certification governs the production and marketing of certified seeds and planting material in France.

For certified seed garlic, it guarantees the identity of the material sold and its traceability throughout the production process.

This certification gives professionals stronger guarantees about the material they use to establish their crops.

The main objectives of certification

• guarantee varietal identity
• ensure lot traceability
• regulate seed production
• check compliance with the criteria that apply to certification
• give growers material intended specifically for planting.

The SOC (Service officiel de contrôle et de certification), the French official inspection and certification service, inspects and certifies the seeds and planting material marketed in France.

Certification relies on several inspection stages carried out during production and before marketing.

In particular, it checks that the seed matches the stated variety and meets the requirements defined for its certification category.

For a professional grower, choosing SOC-certified seed garlic therefore means working with material whose origin and identity are known.

Crops inspected during production

Certification does not only apply to the product at the time of sale.

The crops grown to produce the seed are monitored throughout their production cycle to check their compliance.

These inspections make it possible to monitor:

• the identity of the variety
• the compliance of the crop
• the general condition of the seed
• the possible presence of off-type plants
• compliance with the requirements for producing certified planting material.

The aim is to obtain uniform, clearly identified lots before they are marketed as seed garlic.

Particular attention to plant health

The plant health of planting material is a key point for professional garlic production.

Lots intended for certification must meet the plant health requirements for their category.

Using certified seed garlic therefore helps secure the choice of starting material compared with using bulbs of unknown origin or purpose.

Certification does not, however, replace good growing practices: crop rotation, field selection, soil drainage and plant health monitoring remain essential throughout the crop.

Traceable seed garlic

Each certified lot carries information that allows it to be identified and tracked.

This traceability is particularly important for professional farms. It shows exactly what material has been planted and makes it easier to track the different varieties on the farm.

For growers using several varieties or several lots of seed garlic, this identification also makes it easier to organise planting, harvesting and storage.