Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service 

Science and 

Technology 

Seed Regulatory and Testing Division

801 Summit Crossing Place

Gastonia, NC 28054

S&T 1005 Procedure

June 2020

Page 1 of 3

USDA Process Verified Program for Seed 

General Requirements

1 Purpose

This document outlines the general requirements of the USDA Process Verified Program for Seed. These 

requirements are in addition to those outlined in S&T 1000 Procedure, Quality Systems Verification 

Program General Policies and Procedures. Companies must also incorporate the following reference 

documents, definitions, and program requirements, as applicable, and required into their USDA Process 

Verified Program for Seed.

Specific program requirements for the USA Accredited Seed Laboratory (ASL) Program, USA 

Accredited Seed Sampling Program (ASSP), and USA Accredited Field Inspection Program (AFIP) are 

outlined in Appendixes A, B, and C of this Procedure. The specific program requirements 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, USDA Process Verified Program. The USDA Process 

Verified Program ensures that the specific program requirements are supported by a documented quality 

management system.

The USDA Process Verified Program for Seed is a voluntary, user-fee audit program. It is available to 

seed laboratories, seed samplers or sampling entities, and field inspectors. Services are provided by 

USDA AMS S&T Seed Regulatory and Testing Division in Gastonia, NC.

2 Reference Documents

2.1 S&T 1000 Procedure Quality Systems Verification Program General Policies and 

Procedures

2.2 S&T 1001 Procedure Process Verified Program

2.3 USDA Process Verified Program Web site: http://processverified.usda.gov

2.4 United States Seed Analyst Accreditation Standard

2.5 AASCO Seed Sampling Handbook, as amended

2.6 US OECD Procedures Guide

2.7 OECD Seed Schemes, Appendix 8

2.8 Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules of TestingSeed

2.9 Federal Seed Act

3 Definitions

3.1 Accredited Seed Sampler: Any seed sampler or sampling entity meeting all requirements 

of the ASSP. USDA deems samplers accredited who work under an approved documented 

program that addresses the requirements of ASSP and upon successful completion of an 

audit by USDA or by USDA, AMS Recognized Auditors.

"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)
Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service 

Science and 

Technology 

Seed Regulatory and Testing Division

801 Summit Crossing Place

Gastonia, NC 28054

S&T 1005 Procedure

June 2020

Page 2 of 3

3.2 Accreditation Auditor Authority: USDA-AMS will have the authority to approve, deny or 

suspend accreditation in accordance with the USDA Process Verified Program for Seed 

guidelines.

3.3 Accredited Seed Laboratory (ASL): Any seed-testing laboratory meeting all requirements 

of the ASL Program. USDA deems laboratories accredited upon implementation of a 

documented program that addresses the requirements of the ASL Program and upon 

successful completion of an audit by USDA, or by USDA, AMS Recognized Auditors.

3.4 Accredited Field Inspector: Any field inspector meeting all requirements of the AFIP. 

USDA deems field inspectors accredited who work under an approved documented 

program that addresses the requirements of the AFIP and upon successful completion of an 

audit by USDA or by USDA, AMS Recognized Auditors.

3.5 Product: For the purpose of the accredited programs, product may mean samples, field 

inspection reports, testing reports, etc.

3.6 Program Documentation: Documents and records prepared and maintained by the 

accredited entity that describe and record the relevant procedures that conform to the 

requirements. This documentation must be in the form of a well-defined quality manual, 

including controlled program documents and records that meet all requirements.

3.7 Recognized Auditors: SRTD Quality Systems Auditors and audit programs that are 

approved by AMS using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide 65, 

General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. Audit systems 

must include both a technical and systems auditing component in accordance to ISO 

Guide 65 requirements.

3.8 Surveillance Audit: A review of the accredited entity’s facilities, procedures and records

(1) to determine conformance with this Program, and (2) to verify the participant’s ability 

to meet the requirements of the USDA Process Verified Program for Seed. These audits 

are conducted by AMS S&T SRTD or by AMS recognized auditors.

3.9 Proficiency Testing: Accredited laboratories must satisfactorily participate annually in a 

recognized proficiency-testing program, within their chosen scope of crop accreditation. 

Recognized programs will include currently developed programs/or those to be developed 

and administered by Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA), Society of Commercial 

Seed Technologist (SCST), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), International Seed 

Testing Association (ISTA) or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The 

laboratory may contract proficiency services if their chosen scope of crop accreditation is 

not offered in a recognized program or they may participate in a standard offered program 

that includes crop kinds beyond their chosen scope of accreditation.

3.10 Program Guidelines: Program Guidelines were developed by affiliated seed associations 

and USDA. Future changes to these programs will occur as necessary.
Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service 

Science and 

Technology 

Seed Regulatory and Testing Division

801 Summit Crossing Place

Gastonia, NC 28054

S&T 1005 Procedure

June 2020

Page 3 of 3

4 Audits

4.1 USDA Process Verified Programs for Seed are audited at least every three (3) years. More 

frequent audits may be conducted if either numerous minor non-conformances or a major 

nonconformance are identified during an audit.

4.2 S&T reserves the right to conduct a case specific surveillance audit at any time at the 

cost of the participant. A surveillance audit could be triggered by a written complaint, 

which has been investigated and deemed valid by USDA, or a non- conformance issue 

relating to the audit process.

4.3 Audits are conducted by S&T

4.4 If the applicant operates under a recognized ISO certification program, then audits will 

emphasize those technical components of the USDA Process Verified Program for Seed 

that are not specifically addressed within the ISO certification program.

5 Listing of Accredited Programs

Applicants that have an accredited USDA Process Verified Program for Seed are listed on the Official 

Listing of Accredited USDA Process Verified Programs for Seed. The Official Listing is available on the 

S&T Web site at www.ams.usda.gov.

6 ApplicantsResponsibilities

Applicants must follow the policies and procedures outlined in the S&T 1000 Procedure, Quality Systems 

Verification Programs General Policies and Procedures, in addition to the following:

6.1 Programs must conduct an internal audit annually and supply the results of internal audit to 

S&T, prior to its anniversary date listed on the USDA web site. Internal audits must 

review all activities within the scope of the accreditation and can be performed by the 

accredited program or by an outside agency.

6.2 Maintain complete records demonstrating conformance with the USDA Process Verified 

Program for Seed. Records should be maintained for a minimum of five (5) years. 

Records can be disposed of at the beginning of the sixth year after the year in which they 

were created.

6.3 Accredited entities must immediately notify S&T of any significant changes in the 

accredited program. Depending on the nature of the significant change, it may be subject 

to approval prior to implementation.