2023 Seed Industry Policy and Rule Changes

AOSA ISTA OECD AOSCA

FSA

Harmonization 

Comments

Labeling Changes

Not Applicable Not Applicable

• Labelling of pre-basic seed: 

Changed the wording from 

“Shall” to “May” when 

requiring a statement of 

number of generations by 

which the seed precedes 

Certified Seed, 1st

generation. 

• Nomenclature of Sorghum 

species: moved each variety 

of Sorghum spp. to the 

appropriate species in the 

OECD List of Varieties 

Eligible for Certification. 

Not 

Applicable

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Labeling Section.

Certification Changes

Not Applicable Not Applicable

• Introduced general 

provisions for authorization 

of the production of varietal 

mixtures of certified seed 

under the Schemes. 

• Moved Pearl Millet from the 

Grasses and Legume Seed 

Schemes to the Sorghum 

Seed Schemes. 

Editorial 

changes

only

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Certification 

Section. 

Testing Changes

• Vol 1 Section 3.8: 

Restructured pelleted, 

coated, or encrusted seed 

purity procedures to 

provide clarification.

• Section 1.3: Revised the

maximum lot size allowance 

for Solanum lycopersicum

to 20 sublots.

• Updated the List of the 

Biochemical and Molecular 

Techniques (BMT) by adding 

3 categories: 

I. The new BMT has been 

used to assess a specific 

characteristic of the 

Not 

Applicable

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Testing Section.
2023 Seed Industry Policy and Rule Changes

AOSA ISTA OECD AOSCA

FSA

Harmonization 

Comments

• Vol 1 Table 6A: Added

Salvia hispanica 

germination methods. 

• Vol 1 Section 6.5: Clarified

guidelines for the 

evaluation of borderline 

seedlings in germination 

testing.

• Vol 1 Section 6.2d, Vol 4 

section 3.5.4, and table 6A: 

Revised information on 

species belonging to 

families known to have 

hard seeds. 

• Vol 1 Section 6.7e: 

Adjusted Germination

Percentages for Extra or 

Missing Seeds.

• Vol 1 Section 6.2 K: 

Changed the reporting 

percentage of pure live 

seed (PLS) from a whole 

number to 2 decimal 

places.

• Vol 1 Section 6.9a: 

Removed raised blotters 

(RB) as a media option. 

• Section 1.4: Delete 1.4.2.l 

and allow the weight of the 

original seed lot and weight 

of the sublot to be recorded 

in the same place on an 

ISTA certificate. 

• Section 1.5.3: Changed to 

“Except for GMO tests, 

uncertainties of 

measurements associated 

with test results are 

accessible through the 

tolerance tables in the ISTA 

Rules and are not reported 

on the ISTA Certificates.”

• Section 2.5.2.1: Revised the 

method to add working and 

OSD weights to Table 2C.

• Table 2C Part 1: Revised the 

maximum lot size allowance 

for Solanum lycopersicum, 

from 10,000 maximum 

weight of lot to 200.

• Table 3B part 2: Numbered 

pure seed definitions: 33 to 

include the multi-seed unit 

that has both fertile and 

sterile florets.

variety in the official 

variety description of a 

variety registered under 

the Seed Schemes. 

II. The new BMT is 

recognized by a relevant 

international 

organization. 

III. Nationally recognized 

BMT.

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Testing Section.
2023 Seed Industry Policy and Rule Changes

AOSA ISTA OECD AOSCA

FSA

Harmonization 

Comments

• Vol 1 Section 15: The 

number of seeds tested 

during the Tetrazolium 

test will be reported on 

the report of analysis if 

less than the required 200 

seeds.

• Vol 1 Table 2A and Table 

6A: Added Quinoa 

(Chenopodium quinoa) to 

purity weights and 

germination methods. 

• Introduction into all four 

Volumes: Added

statements (in bold type) 

regarding deviations from 

the Rules. 

• Vol 1 Section 12: Clarified

that the mechanical seed 

counting process may be 

used to determine the 

number of seeds 

contained in a sample of 

additional crop kinds not 

listed.

• Vol 3: Corrected the 

common name for 

Calamagrostis arenaria (L.) 

Roth, formerly known as 

Ammophila arenaria (L.).

• Table 3B part 2: Numbered 

pure seed definitions: 15 to 

include a schizocarp more 

than one-half the original 

size.

• Section 3.5.2.4: Clarified the

procedure regarding the 

identification of 

indistinguishable species.

• Section 4.7: The sample 

weight of the determination 

of other seeds must be 

reported with a fixed 

decimal place. 

• Section 5.6.3.1 and Section 

5.7: Revised requirements 

for retesting when fresh 

seed is present.

• Table 6A Part 2: Added a 

tetrazolium test method for 

Ulmus spp. 

• Section 9.2.5.7: Specified

oven temperatures and 

tolerances for moisture 

determination. 

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Testing Section.
2023 Seed Industry Policy and Rule Changes

AOSA ISTA OECD AOSCA

FSA

Harmonization 

Comments

• Vol 4: POACEAE GRASS 

FAMILY III - Corn section: 

Improved seedling drawing 

to show coleoptile. 

• Vol 4 ASTERACEAE, 

SUNFLOWER FAMILY I – 

Lettuce: Added additional 

drawings for necrosis 

evaluations and add real 

photos. 

• Vol 4: List organic growing 

media substrate where 

sand, soil, and/or sand/soil 

are also listed.

• Vol 4: Clarified which 

families where sufficient 

secondary, seminal, and/or 

adventitious roots are 

permitted to compensate 

for a missing or defective 

primary root.

• Section 18.8: Moisture 

content can be determined

and reported on seed 

mixtures containing only 

species with the same 

moisture method 

prescribed ... and should be 

reported as such.

• Section 9.2.7: Moisture test 

for coated seeds now 

describes how to handle 

seed mats and seed tapes 

regarding the moisture test.

• Table 9A Parts 1 and 2: 

Methods for moisture 

determination will be 

merged due to changes in 

the crop groups.

• Section 9.2.6.2: Clarified the 

wording “initial moisture 

content.” 

• Chapter 11: Updated 

clarifications in the entire 

chapter to remain current 

with new advancements of 

available seed treatments. 

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Testing Section.
2023 Seed Industry Policy and Rule Changes

AOSA ISTA OECD AOSCA

FSA

Harmonization 

Comments

• Chapter 11: Revised the 

germination chapter by 

rewording the general

principles, evaluations, and 

reporting results.

• Chapter 13: Revised the 

germination chapter by 

rewording the calculations 

and expression of results 

and reporting results.

• Chapter 14: Revised and 

updated the chapter to 

improve clarity due to new 

generations of x-ray 

machines and applications 

of digital technology.

No Harmonization 

Issues with the FSA 

Testing Section.