8 GERMINATION.CA SEPTEMBER 2018 A PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE is a formal document issued by an exporting country’s agricultural authority to verify a shipment has been inspected and is free from harmful pests and plant diseases. In Canada this authority is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). In cooperation with the CFIA, Canadian seed laboratories have a very mature system of accreditation. A laboratory must have adequately trained staff (in Canada’s case, CSAAC members), suitable facilities/ equipment, a quality training system/ manual, must perform all proficiency testing itself, utilize official methods, and partake in periodic audit and examination. Accreditation permits Canadian accredited seed testing laboratories to issue accredited tests for the purposes of: • Seed grading and seed import conformity assessment. Canadian seed analysts perform purity, germination, true loose smut tests and sometimes grading to allow seed lots to enter Canada and be sold and planted. • Providing the opportunity and acceptance to issue USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) certificates (e.g. PPQ 925). Canadian seed laboratories issue seed analysis certificates for agricul- tural and vegetable seeds intended for export into the United States. APHIS is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). The form issued by Canadian seed laboratories is the PPQ 925 Plant Protection and Quarantine Seed Analysis Certificate. FNW (Federal Noxious Weed Exam) testing ensures no quarantined weeds enter the United States. This program allows Canadian-grown and United HERE’STHESCOOPONSEEDLABSAND THEPHYTOSANITARYCERTIFICATE CSAAC / SEEDANALYSTS.CA / WORKING TO IMPROVE TRAINING AND ACCREDITATION SYSTEMS Morgan Webb, CSAAC President States-returned seed to enter the United States and has been in place for over 20 years. • REGAL Program — Recognition of Export Grain Analysis by Authorized Laboratories. This program applies only to grain exports. Shipments are to Mexico, India, and China. The Canadian laboratory must be authorized by CFIA. There are eight labs currently authorized, and more labs are in the process of being added. CSAAC members and accredited laboratories they work for are constantly improving analyst training, methods, equipment and accreditation systems to allow for the trade and use of seed and grain products. We hope to continue to help the seed industry and CFIA solve phy- tosanitary issues and needs as they arrive. Analysts perform purity, germination, true loose smut tests and sometimes grading to allow seed lots to enter Canada. A phytosanitary certificate is issued by CFIA to verify a shipment has been inspected and is free from harmful pests and plant diseases.