b'ASSOCIATION NEWS Rules Changes for theInternational Rules for Seed Testing, 2026 EditionJodi Keeling1 and Janek Bartel21ISTA Rules Chair2ISTA Rules Vice-ChairJANEK BARTEL WAS SELECTED THISSummary of Approved ISTARemoval of requirement for airtight bag for YEAR AS THE NEW VICE-CHAIR OFRules Change Proposals submitted sampleTHE ISTA RULES COMMITTEE. He hasEditorial Changesworked in seed testing for well over a decadeChapter 19: Testing for seeds of genetically and is currently Laboratory Manager of theNomenclature Changes modified organismsISTA accredited SGS Crop Science LaboratoryISTA List of Stabilised Plant Names, 8th Edition Clarification of when an Orange or Blue in Canada. He has been involved in ISTA RulesInternational Certificate can be issued for GMO proposals and related issues throughout his workRules Changes and New Methodstest resultson the ISTA Germination Committee and inRequiring a Votevarious national committees. Chapter 1: ISTA CertificatesRevision of sublot allowance for Solanum The ISTA Rules voting process begins with thelycopersicum L. and other fleshy vegetable speciesCommittee hosting an online rules session that allows ISTA stakeholders from around the worldChapter 2: Samplingto discuss proposals that will be voted on at theMaximum seed lot size for Solanum Ordinary General Meeting. The session has threelycopersicum L. reset to 10 000 kgprimary purposes. The first is to allow Technical Committees (TCOMs) an opportunity to respondChapter 5: The germination testto comments and questions from ISTA membersWording revised to clarify that first count may and stakeholders. The second is to providebe postponed or omittedmember governments with the information theyChange in percentage of potassium nitrate need to make informed voting choices at thesolution permittedOrdinary General Meeting. The third is that the online session allows for submitted changes to beChapter 6: The tetrazolium testthoroughly evaluated by a wide audience, prior toChange in minimum number of seeds required publication. This years online ISTA Rules sessionfor tetrazolium testwas held on 8 April 2025 and was attended byAddition of instructions for rounding resultsmany people from around the world.Chapter 7: Seed health testingThe ISTA TCOMs submitted one new species,Addition of method to detect Fusarium eight editorial corrections and 13 rule changeoxysporum f.sp. lycopersici in Solanum proposals for consideration for the 2026 Editionlycopersicum L. (tomato) seed (7-034)of the International Rules for Seed Testing (ISTA Rules). The 8th Edition of the ISTA List ofChapter 9: Determination of moisture contentStabilised Plant Names was also submitted, andAdaption of Table 9A to Table 2Ca separate virtual Rules Committee meetingClarification of period allowed between was held to review the proposed changes. Thesampling and moisture testingproposals approved by the membership at the 2025 Ordinary General Meeting in Christchurch,Chapter 15: Seed vigour testingNew Zealand are summarised below. TheAddition of Brassica spp. for radicle emergence complete record of voting is available on thetestISTA website (see www.seedtest.org). ApprovedAdjustment of temperature precision required changes to the ISTA Rules will be incorporatedfor accelerated ageing chambersinto the next Edition, which will become effective 1 January 2026. Chapter 16: Rules for size and grading of Beta seeds and pelleted seedsWe look forward to seeing you at the ISTA AnnualTitle of chapter changedMeeting in Calgary, Canada from 2225 JuneEntire chapter rewritten for more detailed 2026. description of procedureSEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2025 25'