ASA Ltd Home Page

Log in

Australian Seeds Authority

ASA delivers

Provable certified product quality frameworks

learn more

Certified Seed

Independent Process designed by Industry

learn more

Public Doc’s

Seed Industry statistics and documents

learn more
Log in

Why be an ASA Website Member?
Click to Learn More About Membership Request a New User Account

If you are already a member

ITEMS OF INTEREST
LATEST NEWS
What you get with ASA

Verifiable Quality at a reasonable cost

ASA can help you to

  • identify and co-operatively develop best practice Rules covering Turf Certification, Production, Marketing, Delivery and related services;
  • to provide an efficient and effective mechanism for all Industry Participants to contribute to and follow these rules;
  • to record and to provide for independent certification of their products and services compliance; and by doing these things
  • to provide Industry and Customers with a measured Quality and Assurance Process for their benefit.
About ASA OECD Certified Seed TurfCert Why Join our Site Ask for more information

About ASA Ltd

Verifiable Quality at a reasonable cost

The Australian Seeds Authority Ltd (ASA) is a not-for-profit company. Jointly established in 2002 by Seed Industry representative organisations, and licensed by the Australian Government, ASA established, developed and manages Seed Certification in Australia. This is fully consistent with the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification and the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade.

ASA helps agricultural industries and groups develop and run certified product quality frameworks.

Our objective for the Seed Industry is to provide unified International Level Quality Standards and Processes for the Australian Seeds Industry. This supports product standards and sales, and trade using OECD International Regulation compliance. It has been developed and managed with affordable, minimal cost to industry, and reliable and verifiable results.

ASA is open to expanding our general approach to other industries. ASA does not and will not become a competitor to any Industry Participants. We do not want to become a Regulatory Agency imposing inflexible rules on anyone. Our approach is to provide a Quality Framework and Systems to implement it. This is for voluntary use by any agricultural Industry and its Customers, to meet emerging quality and product delivery needs. It’s a completely independent product Quality verification framework.

ASA has an approved Certification Mark available to complying industries, companies and individuals for use in marketing and product QA compliance.

We are open to partnerships with existing and new Industry Participants to help deliver verified Quality. Our modest cost recovery is designed to occur towards the end of product processes, where it is most affordable.

Theres more information on this site. We will be developing a range of services for our members. Please use the contact form if you want to ask any questions. We would like to discuss how we can help your industry and business.

Return to top

Certified Seed

Industry designed processes with Independent inspections

The ASA Seed Certification Schemes are based on certified product quality frameworks with rigorous agreed standards. Delivery is through Accredited and Authorised Organisations and Companies. Roles, Activities and Inspection requirements are defined. Performance of participants is reviewed consistently and regularly, with independent assessment where necessary. There is focus on efficiency and effectiveness.

ASA

ASA convenes work and advisory groups to develop/review all standards and key industry relevant QA processes. ASA maintains these standards. It supports industry representative groups for technical and planning advice. These arrangements are maintained by voluntary agreements with key industry participants. ASA is funded by payments based on the amount of seed finally certified under the system. Certification is valued for promoting sales and providing access under internationally recognised OECD seed trading requirements.

Seed Certification Agencies / Businesses

Principal Certification activity is managed by Accredited Certification Agencies. Agencies develop, document and maintain their own certification processes and schemes. These schemes are fully consistent with the ASA Domestic and OECD Scheme requirements. Agency Schemes and Processes are independently reviewed (using NATA) for consistency and rigorous application. Agencies Authorise Processors, Inspectors and Samplers for delivery. Agencies maintain detailed records of overall scheme operation, audits and performance reviews and adjustments.

Laboratories

Using International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) accredited Laboratories, seed for certification is tested from authorised samples and the results incorporated into the Certification results.

Processors

Certified seed is processed through Agency Authorised (Processor) businesses who bag and label seed consistent with the Schemes requirements. Processors may be specialised companies of large integrated enterprises covering the full range of seed production activities.

Growers

Growers produce seed crops using standards consistent methods for inclusion as Certified Seed.

Inspectors

Inspectors progressively review and document the various processes reporting back to Agencies ensuring proper scheme operation and Quality Assured Seed.

ASA does not “compete” with any part of the Seeds Industry. Our services complement your Business.

Return to top

Turfcert

About TurfCert

TurfCert is an initiative of the Australian Seeds Authority.

TurfCert is designed to:

  • identify and co-operatively develop best practice Rules covering Turf Certification, Production, Marketing, Delivery and related services;
  • to provide an efficient and effective mechanism for all Industry Participants to contribute to and follow these rules;
  • to record and to provide for independent certification of their products and services compliance; and by doing these things
  • to provide Industry and Customers with a measured Quality and Assurance Process for their benefit.

ASA has decades of experience in design, development, delivery and administration of major, independent, transparent National Quality Assurance support Systems designed to efficiently enhance quality agricultural product delivery worldwide.

TurfCert Objective: To provide a Turf Certification Scheme giving confidence to buyers of vegetatively propagated turf that what they are offered for sale is true-to-type for that variety, and is free from other turf cultivars and proscribed weed species.

TurfCert is based on well documented principals for:

  1. supplying quality Turf to customers
  2. provision of a QA process based on structure, monitoring, assessment, review & feedback
  3. progressive Scheme development with participants; and
  4. Simplicity & independence of operation.

TurfCert is about capturing the essence of good QA practices in Turf Production and Turf Certification, and providing systems and control points to ensure they are followed, documented and rewarded.

ASA QA Systems

The Australian Seeds Authority (ASA) is a not-for-profit company. Jointly established in 2003 by Seed Industry representative organisations, and licensed by the Australian Government, ASA established, developed and manages national Seed Certification in Australia. This is fully consistent with the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification and the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade.

Our objective for the Seed Industry is to provide unified International Level Quality Standards and Processes for the Australian Seeds Industry. This supports certified product standards and sales, and OECD International Regulation compliance. It has been developed and managed with affordable, minimal cost to industry, and reliable and verifiable results.

ASA has decided to expand our general approach to other industries. ASA does not and will not become a competitor to any Industry Participants. We do not want to become a Regulatory Agency imposing inflexible rules on anyone. Our approach is to provide a Quality Framework and Systems to implement it. This is for voluntary use by Industry and its Customers, to meet emerging quality and product delivery needs. Its a completely independent product Quality verification framework.

We are seeking partnerships with all existing and new Industry Participants to help deliver certified product quality frameworks. Our modest cost recovery is designed to occur towards the end of product processes, where it is most affordable.

Whatever your role in Turf, TurfCert has a lot of benefits for you
  • Breeders of Turf Varieties will have structured processes, controls and review points for themselves, and for any Growers they authorise to grow their Varieties. Online (private) records will detail the key QA points and inspections of production. Variations will be brought to their attention. Final Turf products when Certified will allow the issuing of a Certificate of Compliance covering the production and purity of their products.
  • Growers will have Certified product to sell, together with the confidence of meeting best practice standards for their product.
  • Inspectors once accredited with TurfCert will have opportunity to service the industry inspection requirements through arrangements with Turf producers.
  • Customers have the peace of mind that comes with a controlled QA process verification for their purchases.
  • Everyone. Even if you just want a FREE entry in the Industry Directory.

ASA TurfCert is not in competition with anyone in the Turf Industry. Our services will compliment your Business.

 

Return to top

Areas (ha) Registered for Certification

.

Where will I show up?Now

2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Why be an ASA Website Member

This ASA site is designed to inform the public about ASA and its services. We develop certified product quality frameworks with industry. But as a site member you can gain information and access to actions that will help you deliver industry products and services generally. Site Membership is without charge to you (since Aug 2017)

ASA believes in transparency, but your records are only available to your user account, to ASA Staff, and to any other member you choose to give access, and in some cases are publicly viewable if you choose this

Request a New User Account Return to Top
  • get instant access to our Members Page
  • Access the Members contact list
  • request an ASA Site Role change. Different Roles have access to more site areas, information and actions. Roles include Growers, Processors, Agencies (and ASA staff etc). Approval is necessary for some roles
  • gain access to ASA industry information, other businesses and services
  • create a Business record (or several) for site use, Industry visibility and if you choose, public inclusion in the ASA Seeds Industry Directory
  • you can also apply to become a registered ASA Ltd member with voting rights at AGM’s etc (an annual fee applies, and Board confirmation is required)
  • create records identifying / registering your crops and varieties (if appropriate),  recording the essential information for domestic or international registration
  • your site requests, records and activity are always available to you when logged into the ASA Seeds site
  • You can of course make information available about your Variety, your Products, or your Services through the Industry directory
  • all of the above is provided without charge to you (as at Aug 2017)
  • as an accredited Agency or authorised Processor you can order and manage Certification labels for your business
  • Learn more about Agencies and Processors here

KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES

THE FUTURE OF OUR SEEDS INDUSTRY IS BRIGHT AND FLEXIBLE.

The ASA Seeds Scheme supports product standards and sales and OECD International Regulation compliance keeping export compliance in the forefront. It has been developed and managed with affordable, minimal cost to industry, and reliable and verifiable results.

Certification | ISTA

Australian ISTA Laboratories

ByGary Kelly

The Australian department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry authorises some ISTA accredited laboratories for purity analysis of seeds imported for planting and consumption. Click this link to see their list of approved laboratories The International Seed Testing Association was founded in 1924 during the 4th International Seed Testing Congress held in Cambridge, UK. Membership consists…

Email us

admin@aseeds.com.au

Address

Australian Seeds Authority Ltd
PO Box 1122, Thornbury VIC 3071

Call Us

+61 488 400 988