Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service 

Science and 

Technology 

Seed Regulatory and Testing Division

801 Summit Crossing Place

Gastonia, NC 28054

S&T 1005D Appendix 

June 2020

Page 1 of 2

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where 

applicable sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income 

is derived from any public assistance program (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, 

Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer." (Updated July 18, 2005)

USDA Accredited Seed Conditioning Program (ASCP) 

Specified Program Requirements - Appendix D

1 Purpose 

This document sets forth the specified program requirements of the USDA Accredited Seed Conditioning 

Program (ASCP). It also provides the requirements for the objective evaluation of a program submitted 

for accreditation and monitored by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Science and Technology 

(S&T), Seed Regulatory and Testing Division (SRTD). 

The specified program requirements of the USDA ASCP must be met through an approved USDA 

Process Verified Program. The requirements of the USDA Process Verified Program are defined in S&T

1001 Procedure, Process Verified Program. The USDA Process Verified Program ensures that the 

requirements of the USDA ASCP are supported by a documented quality management system. 

The USDA ASCP is a voluntary, user-fee service available to seed conditioning entities. Accredited seed 

conditioners, as listed on the Official Listing of Accredited USDA Process Verified Programs for Seed,

may represent themselves as a USDA Process Verified Program, USDA Accredited Seed Conditioner.

2 Scope

The ASCP applies to seed conditioning entities seeking accreditation under this Program. 

3 Specified Program Requirements

3.1 Must include seed conditioning procedures.

3.2 Process Verified Points must be specified for the scope and methods that will be claimed; and

must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

3.2.1 Adherence to a recognized standard that is not otherwise required by industry or 

regulations.

3.2.2 A unique production or handling practice.

3.2.3 A service with unique characteristics for that type of operation or outside normal 

business practices.

3.2.4 A quantifiable characteristic such as size, weight, age or grade.

3.2.5 Documentation, monitoring, or auditing that is unique to the company and outside 

normal business practice.

3.2.6 A characteristic, practice, or requirement that is specifically requested by a customer or 

consumer.

3.3 Must comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blending requirements for Refuge 

in a Bag (RIB), if applicable. 
United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service

Seed Regulatory and Testing Division 

801 Summit Crossing Place 

Gastonia, NC 28054

S&T 1005D Appendix

June 2020

Page 2 of 2

3.4 Minimum blending requirements are:

3.4.1 Must conduct trait purity check on seed lots prior to RIB blending;

3.4.2 Must maintain Standard Operating Procedures for the RIB blending process including 

traceability, conditioning flow, and product carryover procedures;

3.4.3 Must conduct calibration of RIB blending and weighing equipment;

3.4.4 Must maintain records and data retention records for RIB seed blend products, including 

calibration records and blending proportion records (weight and kernel based as specific 

to RIB process). Records must be maintained at the blending facility and must be 

available to the EPA for review upon request.

3.4.5 Must ensure that germination testing for blending conformance is conducted by an ASL, 

ISTA, or Official Laboratory.

3.5 In addition to the requirements outlined in S&T 1005 Procedure, accredited seed conditioners 

must submit annually at least 5% of the conditioning records for the RIB process, as applicable.

3.6 Accredited seed conditioners are audited to determine expertise and implementation during 

actual conditioning activities.