b'ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing are Pivotal to Global Seed Quality ISTAs primary instrument in promoting uniformity in seed testing is the ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing, which lays down standard methods and procedures for seed sampling and testing. Dr. Andreas Wais, Secretary General, and Dr. Keshavulu Kunusoth, President, International Seed Testing AssociationTHE INTERNATIONAL SEED TESTING ASSOCIATION (ISTA) International Rules for Seed Testing includes 19 Chapters describing principles and definitions in detail. The Rules are designed for many agricultural crops, flowers, trees, shrubs, medical and herbage species. The Rules are approved and amended at ISTA Ordinary Meetings based on advice tendered by the ISTA Technical Committees.The Rules are referenced in a number of seed laws worldwide as the standard for seed testing and are part of the standard contract of the member of the International Seed Federation (ISF) for arbitration.ISTA AccreditationFig 1: ISTAs total number of certificates issued annually worldwide has grown by more than The aim of the ISTA Accreditation30% over the past 14 years, or about 2.5% per year.Programme is to verify if a seed testing laboratory is technically competent to carry out seed testing procedures inCertificates are accepted by manyThe use of the Orange International accordance with ISTAs published Rules.authorities and consumers as assuringSeed Lot and Blue International Seed Accredited laboratories must showreproducible and true results representingSample Certificates has had a relatively that they run a quality assurance systemthe quality of seed.constant rate of growth over the past fulfilling the requirements of the ISTAThere are two types of ISTAdecade and a half of about 2.5% annually, Accreditation Standard. Only laboratoriescertificates: demonstrating the growing importance accredited by ISTA are authorised to The Orange International Seedof uniform seed testing (see Figure 1).issue ISTA International Seed AnalysisLot Certificate refers to a seed lot, and Certificates. By reporting seed testsampling and testing are carried outECertificates Coming Soonresults on ISTA International Orangeunder the responsibility of an ISTAAs we enter a new century, ISTA will Seed Analysis Certificates, the issuingAccredited Seed Testing Laboratory. introduce an electronic certificate system laboratory assures that the sampling The Blue International Seed Sample(eCertificates). This will enable third and testing has been carried out inCertificates is a laboratory report on testparties not only to receive the originals accordance with the ISTA Rules. results based on a seed sample as it wasmuch quicker, but also to verify online. ISTA International Seed Analystsubmitted by the applicant. The system will be operated first in 10/ SEEDWORLD.COMISTA 100TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION'