Skip to Content
ASTA LogoASTA Logo
  • Membership
    • Join ASTA
    • Student Membership
    • Committees and Working Groups
    • Committee Sign Up Form
  • E-news
  • Contact
Member Login
  • The Issues
    • Intellectual Property Rights
    • State
    • Federal
    • Innovation and Policy
    • Organic
    • Phytosanitary
    • Seed Treatment and Environment
    • Environmental and Conservation Seed
    • International
    • Sustainability
  • About ASTA
    • Who We Are
    • Leadership
    • Committees and Divisions
    • ASTA Staff
    • Industry Honors
    • ASTA’s Seed Industry Heritage Award 
    • ASTA Mentorship Award
    • ASTA Annual Report
    • ASTA Strategic Plan
    • Anti-Trust Statement
    • Affiliated Organizations
    • State and Regional Seed Associations
    • Career Opportunities
  • News
    • COVID-19
    • News Releases
    • Domestic Policy
    • International News
    • Industry News
    • ASTA News
    • Member News
    • State News
    • Federal News
    • Meetings & Education News
    • Other News
    • Media
  • Events
    • ASTA Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • ASTA Sponsorship Opportunities
    • #JustGrowIt
  • Resources
    • Seed Industry FAQ’s
    • ASTA Farm Bill Priorities
    • Treated Seeds
    • Hemp
    • What’s in a bag?
    • University Seed Programs
    • The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship
    • Environment and Conservation Seed Companies
    • Acronyms
    • Trade Leads
    • ReFreSH Draft Concept Paper
    • Submit A Classified Ad
    • Retailers Guide for Proper Handling & Storage of Lawn Seed Products
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Seed Industry FAQ’s
  • ASTA Farm Bill Priorities
  • Treated Seeds
  • Environment and Conservation Seed Companies
  • Hemp
  • What’s in a bag?
  • University Seed Programs
  • The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship
  • Acronyms
  • Trade Leads
  • Environment and Conservation Seed Companies
  • ReFreSH Draft Concept Paper
  • Submit A Classified Ad
  • Retailer’s Guide for Proper Handling & Storage of Lawn Seed Products

Seed Testing and Accreditation Schemes

  • Home 
  • Resources
  • Seed Testing and Accreditation Schemes
Tweet

Scope of Activities

Agency Primary Objective(s) Germination Purity Noxious Biotech Trait Field Inspection/ Sampling Accreditation Schemes Mutual Recognition Yearly Fee
AOSA
www.aosaseed.com
1. Education & accreditation of analysts.

2. Research & development of standardized testing protocols to enhance trade & movement of seed.

Yes

Yes
(through SCST accreditation)
AOSA rules cover sampling guidelines & intensity. Analyst accreditation, laboratory membership AOSCA, CFIA, OECD, ISF arbitration rules $600 per lab
AOSCA (U.S.)
www.aosca.org
Coordinate seed certification activities of state & international member Agencies.

Yes

Conduct IRM assessments and trait-specific QA programs According to AOSCA Genetic and Crop Standards Certify seed grown in accordance to AOSCA standards.  Agencies approve seed conditioning facilities AOSA, SCST, OECD, Seed Agencies pay dues plus assessments based on the amount of certified seed acres.  Affiliate/Associate memberships @$50/Year
ISST
www.isstech.org
Education & accreditation of analysts internationally.

Yes

Yes No Analyst No $50 per individual
ISTA
www.seedtest.org
1. Development, validation & standardization of seed testing rules on international level

2. Accreditation of Seed testing labs worldwide.

3. Education & Training of seed analysts

4. Publication of Scientific Journal

Yes

Yes (laboratory accreditation) ISTA Rules for seed sampling Laboratory accreditation, Analyst membership OECD, Canada, EU, ISF, APSA, AFSTA, ESA, National Governments (72 member Governments) $4475 per lab for membership including participation in international proficiency test program (3 per year)
NSHS
www.seedhealth.org
Accreditation of private and public entities for phytosanitary field inspections, sampling, visual inspection, and laboratory seed health testing.

No

No Yes, for phytosanitary certification Entity (i.e. a private company, etc.) accreditation granted by USDA-APHIS-PPQ.  ISO 9001-2000 based. USDA-APHIS program established by Federal Register rule 7 CFR 353.9 Yearly fee is 16.5% of the initial accreditation fee. Reaccreditation required every 3 years.
OECD Seed
Schemes (U.S.)

www.ams.usda.gov/
lsg/seed/oecd.htm
Aid in movement of Certified Seed to countries which require OECD Certified Seed. SRTB head of U.S. delegation.

Yes

No,
except as claimed
Yes Allow for accreditation however, none accredited through OECD AOSCA and 54 other nations Based on U.S. GDP
SCST
www.seedtechnology.net
1. Education & accreditation of analysts.

2. Research & development of standardized testing protocols  to enhance trade & movement of seed.

Yes

Yes AOSA rules cover sampling guidelines & intensity. Analyst AOSCA, CFIA (Canada), OECD $250 per individual
U.S. Accredited
Seed Lab Program

www.ams.usda.gov/
lsg/arc/asl.htm
Quality management system for field, sampling, and/or testing

Yes

Future Option Yes USDA process Verified Program USDA shield ISO 9001-2000 based ECD, Canada, Canadian Grader, Australia applied for Every 3 years, actual audit costs

 

Table Key
1) What are the primary objectives of your organization?
Examples:
a. Accreditation for labs on germination
b. Quality Management Systems
c. OECD certification
2) Please specify which categories are in scope.  For each category, indicate Yes or N/A.
3) Who do you certify or accredit?
Examples:
a. Laboratories
b. Analysts
4) What organizations recognize your process or scope as proxy for similar service offered.
Example:
a. AOSA/ISTA mutual recognition
5) What are annual fees?

 

Abbreviations
AOSA Association of Official Seed Analysts
AOSCA Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
ISST International Society of Seed Technologists
ISTA International Seed Testing Association
NSHS National Seed Health System
OECD Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
SCST Society of Commercial Seed Technologists
Scroll
  • ASTA Events
  • Who We Are
  • Membership
  • ASTA Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Copyright 2020 - American Seed Trade Association - 1701 Duke Street, Suite 275, Alexandria, VA 22314

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Please indicate your acceptance of our cookie policy. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Welcome
    • Log In
  • The Issues
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • State
  • Federal
  • Innovation and Policy
  • Organic
  • Phytosanitary
  • Seed Treatment and Environment
  • Environmental and Conservation Seed
  • International
  • Sustainability
  • About ASTA
  • Who We Are
  • Leadership
  • Committees and Divisions
  • ASTA Staff
  • Industry Honors
  • ASTA’s Seed Industry Heritage Award 
  • ASTA Annual Report
  • ASTA Strategic Plan
  • Anti-Trust Statement
  • Affiliated Organizations
  • State and Regional Seed Associations
  • Career Opportunities
  • News
  • News Releases
  • Media
  • Events
  • ASTA Events
  • Calendar of Events
  • ASTA Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Resources
  • Key Seed Laws
  • University Seed Programs
  • Lawn Seed Handling Guide
  • The Guide to Seed Quality Management
  • The Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship
  • Seed Industry FAQs
  • Seed Testing and Accreditation Schemes
  • Simple Sequence Markers
  • CGMMV Brochure
  • Acronyms
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Membership
  • Join ASTA
  • Committees and Working Groups
  • Committee Sign Up Form
  • E-News
  • Contact