Division:

Seed Quality Control

Assistant Director: 
Telephone no.:

Pamela Strauss
(012) 8085395.

Sub-Division: 

Seed Analysis

Officer-in-Charge:
Telephone no.:

Ansie de Vries
(012) 8085385.

Routine inquiries with regard to this sub-division e.g. obtaining test results can be made directly to the Reception and Reporting Office.  Contact persons: Loraine Botha, Lina Msiza and Laas Rivele.

Telephone no.: 

(012) 8085394.

Primary function:

Testing of official samples to ensure compliance with prescribed standards of the Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act No. 53 of 1976) (PIA) for physical purity, germination and viability.

Secondary function:

Presentation of annual examinations in practical seed analysis methods and techniques for registration of seed testing analysts in terms of the PIA requirements.

Conduction of detailed pre-registration inspections of private registered seed testing laboratories in terms of the PIA requirements.

Monitoring activities of the registered seed testing laboratories that include follow-up inspections, check tests, etc. 

Services:

Testing of seed samples for the issuance of International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Certificates (orange, blue and green), as we are currently the only accredited station in South Africa.

* Testing of seed samples for any seed company, organisation, farmer, etc. in order to determine the quality of the seed sample submitted.

** Presentation of the annual practical demonstration course in seed analysis methods and techniques for analysts entering the seed testing trade.

Sub-Division:

Seed Quality Investigations (including the National Seed Collection)

Officer-in-Charge:
Telephone no.:

Iren Barla-Szabo
(012) 8085052.

Inquiries with regard to seed identification can be made directly to the applicable technician, namely Alta Gildenhuys.

Telephone no.:

(012) 8085388/89.

Primary function:

Maintenance and revision of requirements in the PIA (Table 4) with regard to physical purity, germination and viability.

Identification and verification of seed (including prohibited seed) found in official samples.

Investigation of disputes and complaints with regard to seed testing in terms of the PIA requirements.

Secondary function:

Development of new methods and improvement of existing techniques for assessing the quality of seed in terms of the PIA.

Maintenance and expansion of the National Seed Collection in order to ensure accurate identification for compliance with prescribed standards of the PIA.

Implementation of a referee seed testing program in order to evaluate if the registered seed testing laboratories conduct tests as prescribed.

Services:

Identification of seed for various purposes, such as establishment of seed collections in registered laboratories, seed removed from archaeological digs, for veterinary purposes, etc.

* Investigation of the quality of seed for companies, organisations, farmers, etc. using methods that are not of the routine type, such as vigour, etc.

The organisation and presentation of an annual workshop in order to promote standardisation of seed testing in South Africa is undertaken by either or both of the sub-divisions, depending on the topic.

determine quality of seed lots for trade purposes,

conduct follow-up tests on seed lots that are in the trade in order to determine if they still conform to the requirements,

conduct tests for certification purposes,

test unprocessed seed (i.e. before cleaning) for determining the quality thereof, etc.

for various other purposes.

Tariffs for seed testing

Forms:

	Application for an Orange International Certificate
	Application for a certificate authorising the export of seed
	Registration as a trainee seed analyst

Procedure for registration of a private seed testing laboratory