ISTA Workshop on Quality Assurance and ISTA Accreditation - Advanced Level

The ISTA Accreditation and Technical Department and AsureQuality Seed Laboratory, Palmerston North, are looking forward to hosting you at the ISTA Workshop on Quality Assurance and ISTA Accreditation - Advanced Level, to be held in Palmerston North, New Zealand in January 2026

 

Aim of the workshop 

This workshop aims at presenting and discussing the principles of quality management. It will focus on the needs of seed testing laboratories that wish to comply with the ISTA Accreditation Standard and maintain ISTA Accreditation. 

 

Workshop content

The content will include presentations and several practical activities to apply in the seed testing laboratory to satisfy the quality requirements specified in the ISTA Rules and ISTA Accreditation Standard. This will include staff monitoring and internal audit and sampling aspects, equipment and consumables check.

 

Preliminary Programme:

The workshop will be based on lectures, group work and quiz sessions.

System part:

• Requirement of the recent revision of the ISTA Accreditation standard
• Document control including practical exercises
• Internal audits and practical demonstration
• Corrective actions and non-conforming work
• Samplers monitoring
• Analysts monitoring
• Management review
• General management requirements

Technical part:

• Purchase, reception and storage of consumables including practical demonstration on how some consumables are checked, such as germination substrates Equipment calibration and/or verification, validation before use, and regular check, (balances, germination cabinets), exercises on balances validation and definition of tolerances for temperatures demonstration for germination cabinets, oven for moisture test
• Sampling, exercise on verification of dividers
• Storage of samples

The language will be English – no translation.
 

Workshop Organiser	International Seed Testing Association Richtiarkade 18, 8304 Wallisellen, Switzerland Contact person: Andreea-Nicoleta Pinar                                                                          Email: andreea.pinar@ista.ch AsureQuality Seed Laboratory Address: Batchelar House, 80 Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4410 Contact person: Sue Cousins, Laboratory Manager Seed & Plant Health                                                                             Email: Sue.Cousins@asurequality.com
Lecturers	Florina Palada: ISTA Head of Accreditation and Technical Department and System Auditor Joël Léchappé: ISTA Honorary Life Member and ISTA Technical Auditor Justin Salter - Member of the ISTA Bulking and Sampling Committee
Participation fee	ISTA Members: 600 USD ISTA Non-Members: 900 USD

The participation fee includes all literature and supporting material for the workshop, lunches, coffee breaks and workshop official dinner. It does not include accommodation or meals other than those specified.

The number of participants is a minimum of 20 and restricted to a maximum of 25 participants. 

Registration and payment deadline is 20 October 2025

Please note:  
For cancellations made before 20 October 2025 registration fees are refundable minus a 50 USD administration fee.
For cancellations made after 20 October 2025 registration fees are non-refundable. 

Accomodation recommendations

There are a range of motels on the route to the AsureQuality Laboratory - for information on accommodation please contact Sue Cousins sue.cousins@asurequality.com

Note: Guests may book directly with the hotel and will be responsible for payment of their own room, taxes and incidentals.

 

Travel & Visa Information

According to the nationality of the registrant, some individuals may be required to apply for a visa or NZeTA prior to entering New Zealand. For more information, please visit this website: Visas :: Immigration New Zealand

You may need a VISA and a Letter of Invitation for entry into New Zealand. For more information, please consult the Embassy of New Zealand in your country.

If you require an invitation letter, or for any additional information, please contact:

Andreea-Nicoleta Pinar
Email: andreea.pinar@ista.ch

The invitation letter will be issued by ISTA Secretariat only after payment of the registration fee.

 

Funding via the Young@ISTA Programme

Participants eligible to apply for support to attend this workshop under the Young@ISTA programme should view the funding criteria and download the application form here: Young@ISTA - International Seed Testing Association

Applications for funding close on Monday, 1 September 2025