Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The requirements for ISTA accreditation are contained in the ISTA Laboratory Accreditation Standard.
This standard is an adaptation of ISO 17025, which has been modiied to include speciic requirements for
seed sampling and testing. Laboratories are required to have a quality system, be audited by ISTA every
three years, and participate and perform satisfactorily in the ISTA Proiciency Program for tests and species
for which they are accredited. ISTA does not require analyst certiication. Accreditation is valid for three
years and ISTA performs both technical and systems onsite audits each accreditation cycle.
Accreditation is offered for a wide range of tests and species, including sampling, purity, germination,
TZ, seed health, vigor, moisture, and other tests. ISTA also offers performance-based accreditation for
laboratories performing specialized testing. Accredited testing must be conducted according to the ISTA
International Rules for Seed Testing.
Under the ISTA system, seed sampling is under the control of the laboratory. This enables the labora-
tory to issue the ISTA Orange International Seed Lot Certiicate (OIC), a test report that represents the
entire lot of seed. Although seed lot control in many countries is achieved through other programs such as
certiication; the OIC offers an alternative to customers who require results for an entire lot of seed but may
not be able to obtain them another way. ISTA accredited laboratories also issue ISTA Blue International
Seed Sample Certiicates (BIC), which do not include a sampling requirement. Only ISTA accredited labo-
ratories may issue ISTA Certiicates.
The uS national Seed Health System
The U.S. National Seed Health System (NSHS) is a recent initiative authorized by the USDA-APHIS to
accredit both private and public entities to perform certain activities needed to support the issuance of
Federal phytosanitary certiicates for the international movement of seed. This plan was developed by the
American Seed Trade Association in cooperation with many public and agencies interested in facilitating
the movement of seed in international trade because of the many government restrictions around the world
against the importation of seeds containing various seedborne diseases. Among its goals are to develop
protocols for testing for the presence of seedborne diseases and an accreditation program for laboratories
conducting such tests.
Multiple Accreditations
It is becoming more common for laboratories to be accredited by more than one accrediting body. For
example, a laboratory could be both ISTA and ASL accredited. Implementation of a quality system is a
common requirement for accreditation, and quality systems are typically very similar. Once a laboratory
achieves one accreditation, a second may be possible with relatively minor adaptations, particularly if the
irst accreditation is to a more technical standard such as ISO 17025 or ISTA. Both the CFIA and ASL
programs recognize ISO accreditation and include provisions intended to facilitate accreditation for labs
that are already ISO accredited.
