Phytosanitary Management

Accreditation

The accreditation program is responsible for establishing, and monitoring accreditation systems within the Agency. Accreditation is official recognition of proficiency resulting in the approval and authority to perform specific tasks or to provide specific services in support of official obligations such as the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates.

In 2001, PPQ published a rule in the Federal Register (7 CFR 353.8) which provides the authority to accredit laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspection services for use in supporting export certification activities. 7 CFR 353.9 established the National Seed Health System. This provides the mechanism to develop standardized seed health laboratory testing and phytosanitary inspection procedures, develop a process to accredit private entities to carry out those activities, and to leverage this initiative to promote international phytosanitary reform and foster fair equitable trade.

National Seed Health System (NSHS)
The NSHS provides specific standards for laboratory seed health tests and seed crop field inspections that may be used for the issuance of a phytosanitary certificate to meet international regulations regarding export of seed from the United States.

Last Modified: January 23, 2007