Following a rigorous independent audit, CSL has gained international recognition for its seed testing services. ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) has awarded CSL accreditation for five key seed quality indicators - purity and determination of other seeds, germination, moisture content determination, and weight determination, making it one of only three laboratories in the UK to be accredited. Achieving this prestigious mark of quality underscores CSL"e;s status as a leading laboratory in seed health testing.
CSL provides seed testing services for Defra"e;s Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate with in excess of 50 years experience, testing over 10,000 seed samples a year, permitting the issuing of phytosanitary certificates necessary for exporting seeds from the UK. The new ISTA accreditation means that CSL can now also issue ISTA Orange International Seed Lot Certificates (OIC) and Blue International Seed Sample Certificates (BIC), which are required by many countries around the world before they will allow the import of seeds.
An ISTA member since 2006, CSL has regularly participated in ISTA proficiency tests. As CSL"e;s Kelvin Hughes says: "e;Accreditation is only awarded to laboratories that have the right expertise, methodology and quality assurance systems to carry out seed testing procedures in accordance with their International Rules for Seed Testing – it"e;s a real feather in our cap. The fact that we can now issue OIC and BIC certificates is great news for our clients."e;