Summary
Does your company or public body wish to obtain, outside of the framework of official analysis requests(!), a certificate of analysis from the Walloon Region or an ISTA international seed analysis certificate?
You can request an analysis and register with our seed testing laboratory at the SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (SPW ARNE) Directorate for Quality and Animal Welfare (DQBEA).
Find out more details on our page on the Agriculture Portal (see ‘useful links’ below).
- the testing and sampling we can carry out
- which crop groups our laboratory can help you with
- and all of our missions
ISTA ACCREDITATION
Our seed testing laboratory is accredited by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) (BEML03 certificate).
As a priority, we carry out official seed testing and quality control in the context of seed production and marketing.
BRW OR ISTA CERTIFICATE ?
- The Walloon Region certificate of analysis (BRW) is established according to the International Rules for Seed Testing determined by the ISTA and/or according to our laboratory’s internal procedures
- ISTA certificates: the Blue International Seed Sample Certificate (BIC) and the Orange International Seed Lot Certificate (OIC) are issued in accordance with ISTA rules by ISTA-accredited laboratories. Our seed laboratory issues ISTA certificates only in paper format
Depending on your request and by mutual agreement, certain tests may be carried out without complying with ISTA rules. For example:
- the acceptance of a species;
- the application of an analytical method not included in the field of accreditation.
In this case, you will be clearly informed and no ISTA certificate will be issued for these tests.
For some requests, sampling does not come under our responsibility.
Find all the terms related to requesting an analysis of a sample under ‘Terms’ below.
We issue invoices for the testing and sampling we carry out. Consult the price list for analyses carried out by the laboratory on the Agriculture Portal (only available in french).
Interested? Check the procedure and get in touch with our laboratory for more information.
In detail
You are a company or public body (e.g. another public testing laboratory) and you want to have seeds tested in a laboratory outside of the framework of the official analysis requests made with a view to seed certification.
You must be registered as a requestor with the Directorate for Quality and Animal Welfare (DQBEA).
- You must apply to be registered with the DQBEA (see below: application form for registration with the DQBEA)
- You must specify the testing and certificate that you want:
- BRW or BIC: sampling is not carried out under the responsibility of the laboratory
- OIC: the request for analysis includes the request for sampling
- Our laboratory is authorised to use the samples and results obtained for scientific purposes (research, analytical developments)
- The certificate of results is your property and we undertake to keep it confidential
- Where seeds are governed by a regulation, we are required to report non-compliant results to the department responsible for seed production and trade control
- The seeds are kept for one year
- The reports and the analytical data are kept for a minimum of six years
- The report resulting from this testing does not under any circumstances constitute the approval of the lot analysed
- You will be informed of any discrepancy with the contract validated by the analysis request or the OIC request.
This procedure can only be carried out in French.
Testing, issuing a BIC or an OIC and, where appropriate, sampling, must be paid for.
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IN STEPS
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- Notice of 9 December 2024 relating to the indexation of the amounts set in the Walloon Government Order of 19 October 2017 setting the fees and remuneration due for measures taken in relation to seed and plant production and marketing control (in french only)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1850/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for the certification of hops and hop products – Annex I: standards – Annex II: methods
- Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed
- Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 concerning the marketing of cereal seed
- Council Directive 98/56/EC of 20 July 1998 on the marketing of propagating material of ornamental plants
- Council Directive 1999/105/EC of 22 December 1999 on the marketing of forest reproductive material
- Council Directive 2002/54/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of beet seed
- Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable seed
- Council Directive 2002/57/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants
- Decree of 27 March 2014 relating to the Walloon Code of Agriculture
- Walloon Government Order of 15 May 2003 on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (only available in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 9 February 2006 on the production and marketing of beet seed (only in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 9 February 2006 on the production and marketing of fodder plant seed (only in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 9 December 2010 on certification in the hops sector (only in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 6 December 2012 on the production and marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants
- Walloon Government Order of 19 October 2017 setting the fees and remuneration due for measures taken in relation to seed and plant production and marketing control; and the indexation notices (only in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 4 June 2020 on the production and marketing of vegetable seed (only in french)
- Walloon Government Order of 23 December 2021 on the production and marketing of cereal seed (only in french)
- Ministerial Decree of 21 December 2001 establishing a regulation on the control and certification of fodder plant seed (only in french)
- Ministerial Decree of 21 December 2001 establishing a regulation on the control and certification of beet seed of agricultural varieties
- Ministerial Decree of 21 December 2001 establishing a regulation on the control and certification of vegetable and industrial chicory seeds
- Royal Decree of 21 December 1999 on the marketing of propagating material for ornamental plants (only in french)
Forms
To download
- Application form for the Orange International Seed Lot Certificate (OIC) - only in french
- Analysis request form for requesting a Walloon Region certificate of analysis (BRW) or a Blue International Seed Sample Certificate (BIC) - only in french
- Application form for the Orange International Seed Lot Certificate (OIC) - only in french