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S&T 1005A Appendix 

June 2020

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USDA Accredited Seed Laboratory (ASL) Program

Specified Program Requirements – Appendix A

1 Purpose

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

(ASL) Program. The USDA ASL Program expands the choices for seed laboratories and provides an 

alternative program to current accreditations for U.S. laboratories. This document also provides the 

requirements used 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 ASL Program 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 ASL Program are supported by a documented quality management system.

The USDA ASL Program is a voluntary, user-fee service available to seed testing laboratories.

Accredited seed testing laboratories, 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 Laboratory. 

2 Scope

The USDA ASL Program applies to seed laboratories seeking accreditation under this Program. 

Accreditation is granted for germination and physical purity testing only and covers species contained 

within the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules of Testing Seed and/or Federal Seed Act.

3 Specified Program Requirements

3.1 Eligible Seed Testing Laboratories must be:

3.1.1 An AOSA member in good standing, employing Certified Seed Analysts (CSA) 

with certification in purity and germination or a Registered Seed Technologist 

(RST) in good standing or;

3.1.2 A SCST member in good standing employing a Registered Seed Technologist 

(RST).

NOTE: Applications for accreditation will be reviewed by either the AOSA administrative 

office or the SCST Executive Director to verify individuals or laboratories are members in 

good standing.
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S&T 1005A Appendix 

June 2020

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3.2 ASLs must employ an accredited U.S. seed analyst (CSA or RST). In the event of 

personnel changes the laboratory must be actively seeking a replacement and obtain such 

within one (1) year to retain accreditation under this program. The ASL management must 

contact the Program Administrator immediately for individual consideration to continue to 

operate under the ASL system. No ASL claims or certificates may be issued until this 

written approval is given.

3.3 An ASL must be furnished with all items of sampling, measuring and testing equipment 

required for the correct performance of tests.

3.4 Laboratory management must ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and 

communicated within the laboratory to include the person accepting technical 

responsibility for authorizing and signing test reports.

3.5 Samples must be uniquely identified and traceable to test reports and properly maintained 

for a minimum period of one year following the issuance of the report. For purity samples, 

impurities will be kept separate and maintained with the sample.

3.6 Both prior to, and after, acceptance into the Program, an ASL must participate in 

recognized proficiency testing in regard to its chosen scope of accreditation; a minimum of 

three proficiency tests are required per year. Proficiency testing results must be submitted 

to the Program Administrator on an annual basis.

3.7 ASLs must clearly identify the results of tests that fall within the accreditation guidelines 

in the seed laboratory report. The report must also identify as separate any tests that are

outside the scope of accreditation. (Suggested statement: “Physical purity, noxious-weed 

and germination examination were conducted in accordance with the AOSA Rules for 

Testing Seeds. All other tests or test deviations listed on this report are outside the scope 

of the USA ASL Program.”)

3.8 ASLs will be accountable to test seed in accordance with AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds or 

the Federal Seed Act when testing for OECD.

3.9 ASLs have the option of using the standardized ASL Certificates for reporting test results.

4 Reasons for Suspension

4.1 In addition to the reasons outlined in the S&T 1000 Procedure, Quality Systems Verification 

Program, General Policies and Procedures, an ASL may be removed from the program for the 

following reasons:

4.1.1 Failure to remain a member in good standing in AOSA or SCST; and/or

4.1.2 Failure to employ a CSA with certification in purity and germination or an RST.
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S&T 1005A Appendix 

June 2020

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5 Proficiency Testing Groups

Crop Groupings of Proficiency Testing – USA ASL Program

Kind Species

Grasses Agropyron, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Andropogon, Anthoxanthum, Arrhenatherum, 

Axonopus, Bothriochloa, Bouteloua, Bromus, Cenchrus, Chloris, Cynodon, 

Cynosurus, Dactylis, Echinochloa, Eragrostis, Ehrharta, Elymus, Elytrigia, Festuca, 

Holcus, Lolium, Melinis, Pascopyrum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phleum, Pennisetum, 

Piptatherum, Poa, Pseudoroegneria, Setaria, Sorghastrum Urochloa, Zoysia 

Cereals & Other 

Crops

Avena, Carthamus, Fagopyrum, Gossypium, Helianthus, Hordeum, Linum, Oryza, 

Secale, Sorghum, Triticosecale, Triticum, Zea

Legumes Alysicarpus, Arachis, Astragalus, Cicer, Crotalaria, Cyamopsis, Desmodium, Glycine, 

Hedysarum, Indigofera, Lablab, Lathyrus, Lens, Lotus, Lespedeza, Lupinus, 

Medicago, Melilotus, Mucuna, Onobrychis, Phacelia, Phaseolus, Pisum, Pueraria, 

Securigera, Trifolium, Vicia, Vigna

Vegetables, 

Flowers & Herbs

Abelmoschus, Allium, Anethum, Anthriscus, Apium, Arctium, Asparagus, Atriplex, 

Atropa, Bassia, Beta, Borago, Brassica, Camelina, Campanula, Capsicum, Carum, 

Chrysanthemum, Cichorium, Citrullus, Claytonia, Corchorus, Coriandrum, Cucurbita, 

Cucumis, Cuminum, Cynara, Daucus, Eruca, Foeniculum, Fragaria, Hyssopus, 

Ipomoea, Kochia, Lactuca, Lavandula, Lepidium, Levisticum, Lycopersicum, 

Marrubium, Matricaria, Melissa, Mentha, Nasturtium, Nicotiana, Nigella, Ocimum, 

Oenothera, Origanum, Papaver, Pastinaca, Petroselinum, Phacelia, Physalis, 

Pimpinella, Portulaca, Rheum, Raphanus, Ricinus, Rosmarinus, Rumex, Ruta, Salvia, 

Sanguisorba, Satureja, Scorzonera, Sesamum, Sinapis, Solanum, Spinacia, 

Stylosanthes, Taraxacum, Tetragonia, Thymus, Tragopogon, Tropaeolum, Valerianella

Trees & Shrubs Abies, Acer, Betula, Calocedrus, Cedrus, Chamaecyparis, Cornus, Cupressus, 

Fraxinus, Larix, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Malus, Nyssa, Picea, Pinus, Platanus, 

Populus, Prunus, Pseudotsuga, Pyrus, Quercus, Robinia, Sequoia, Sequiadendron, 

Thuja, Tsuga, Ulmus
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S&T 1005A Appendix 

June 2020

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Usage of Accredited Seed Lab USDA Report of Analysis

Accredited Seed Lab (ASL) certificates can only be used by ASL accredited laboratories. The ASL lab 

accreditation program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for purity, 

germination, and noxious examinations of the following categories of seed species; Grasses, Cereals and 

Other Crops, Legumes; and Vegetables; Flowers and Herbs. The ASL Report of Analysis will contain the 

USDA logo to differentiate between the original report and copies, as well as prevent unauthorized 

alterations. Information or claims regarding the Process Verified Program may not be altered without 

permission of the USDA Audit Review and Compliance Branch. 

Requirements:

1. USDA logo.

2. Issuing Laboratory’s name and address.

3. Verify whether or not the sample was taken by an officially recognized sampler. 

4. Date sample was received in laboratory.

5. Lot Number.

6. Date tests were concluded.

7. Specific lab sample number.

8. Species; genus and species if possible, but just genus if species is undeterminable. 

Germination:

1. Number of days germination test was performed, if performed. Include pretreatment days in total 

and add a comment in comments about pretreatment.

2. Number of seeds tested.

3. Total Viable % includes Normal% + Dormant %. Include a comment regarding how dormancy 

was determined if dormancy is reported.

4. Germination results are reported to nearest whole number and total 100%.

Purity:

1. Purity percentages totaling 100.00% if purity was performed and use four significant figures for 

purity/noxious amounts.

2. Kind of inert matter.

3. Other crop and weed species are reported with scientific name and number of seeds found, or state 

“none found.” Common name also recommended.

4. Pelleted, encrusted, treated, etc. shall be recorded in comments.

5. Report date - date of issuance of certificate.

6. Signature of qualified technologist.

Additional details about the test performed may be included on the Report of Analysis at the will of 

the testing laboratory. 

Information provided by the sender in addition to the Lot Number includes, Kind, Variety, Seed Size, 

Bag Weight, Size of Lot and other information.