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International Level Seed Testing Laboratory Protects the Quality of Taiwan Seed Product

Press release of Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station

(May 2023)

International Level Seed Testing Laboratory Protects the Quality of Taiwan Seed Product

 Seed is the foundation of agriculture, and high-value horticultural crop seeds such as papaya, watermelon, broccoli, oriental melon, and cherry tomato are important exportation of Taiwan seed industry. The increasing international seed trade raises the demand of seed testing report issued by a credible certifying authority in accordance with international testing standard. The reports also become an indispensable document to confirm the seed quality and to protect the rights of vendor and purchaser. The ISTA Certificate issued by an accredited laboratory of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) is one of the most credible quality certificates in seed international trade.

 Taiwan Seed and Seedling Improvement and Propagation Station, Council of Agriculture (TSIPS) take responsibility of the seed quality. The Seed Testing Laboratory (STL) passed the audit and became the first and the only ISTA accredited laboratory in Taiwan since 2001. STL processes nearly 2,000 pieces of domestic and international seed testing demands, that includes Seed Multiplication and Certification System od main agricultural crops such as rice, peanut, maize, sorghum and soybean, the Quality of Marketing Seed and the seed exportation testing reports. In 2022, the amount of paddy seed tested by STL was more than 3,600 tons that could provide 60% harvest area and ensure the production quality. The ISTA certificates that were issued in the same year covered 23,000 kg of exportation seed, and the value was nearly 100 million NTD.

 The seed testing quality and quantity of TSIPS was not affected by COVID-19 pandemic in recent year. Instead, STL continuously improves the management and technique, and passed the 8th ISTA audit of ensure the right of issuing ISTA certificates in 2022 to provide continuous service for Taiwan seed and seedling industry.

Fig. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the STL was remote audited by ISTA.
▲Fig. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the STL was remote audited by ISTA.

 

Contact person: I-Cheng Chen Yi-Lun Liao
Tel.: 04-25825438 04-25825481
e-mail: ICChen@tss.gov.tw liaoyl@tss.gov.tw