Certified stock

Certified stock relates to plants which have been certified by the appropriate local authority as ‘healthy’. While the certification cannot guarantee a plant to be 100% disease and pest free, it does ensure that plants are propagated from healthy stock and grown in strictly controlled conditions. In some areas, and for some plants, the certification may also grade the plant in terms of its trueness to type for that variety.

Certification can be applied to any plants and rootstocks, but it’s particularly important for plants where there is a high incidence of viral infections, including soft fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and currants.

In the UK plant certification is managed through the Plant Health Propagation Scheme.

In the USA plant certification is managed through the Plant Protection and Quarantine certification system.