The triennial audit of three of New Zealand’s four seed testing laboratories was done last week by ISTA technical auditor Joel Lechappe from France and Swiss-based system auditor Florina Palada. Lechappe is also the president of ISTA which is based in Zurich, Switzerland.
ISTA is the international body responsible for setting standard procedures and rules for seed testing in more than 70 countries.
ISTA also accredits laboratories, promotes research and provides international seed analysis certificates and training.
The accreditation enables the laboratory to issue ISTA seed analysis certificates.
There are four ISTA accredited laboratories in NZ – AsureQuality’s seed laboratory in Palmerston North, one at Massey University and NZ Seedlab in Christchurch, the three in the audit, and Canterbury-based Kimihia Research Centre. Kimihia was audited last year.
The Grain and Seed Trade Association welcomed the audit process that ensured strong and independent testing rules that contributed to the trade of quality seed, NZGSTA general manager Thomas Chin said.
An ISTA certificate which primarily contained information on the purity of the seed and its germination rate was recognised globally, enabling a trader to transact that seed anywhere in the world.
Massey University-based Craig McGill is vice president of ISTA and hosted the audit entourage in the North Island.
He said the NZ testing laboratory accreditations pertained to agronomic crops such as grasses and clover, vegetable seeds and cereals.
While some countries allowed exports without accreditation, the ISTA quality assurance and audited international standards certificate was required by many of NZ’s export markets as it certified creditability in purity and germination.
ISTA provided the basis for ensuring the trade of quality seed by developing standard seed testing methods and a platform for research and co-operation between seed scientists worldwide.
The association promoted research and provided the chance to publish and distribute technological data, guaranteeing uniform seed testing worldwide through the accreditation, proficiency test and auditing programmes.
An independent voice for the seed industry, ISTA provided services and professional development programmes for furthering the education and experience of seed analysts.
