ISTA Workshop on Quality Assurance and ISTA Accreditation - Advanced Level

Aim of the workshop 

This workshop aims at presenting and discussing the principles of quality management and it focuses 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 in order to satisfy the quality requirements specified in the ISTA Rules and ISTA Accreditation Standard, such as staff monitoring and internal audit and sampling aspects, equipment and consumables check.

The language will be English – no translation.
 

Preliminary Programme:

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

System part   

• Requirements of the recent revision of the ISTA Accreditation standard
• Document control including practical exercises
• Internal audit 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
   

Workshop Organiser	International Seed Testing Association Richtiarkade 18, 8304 Wallisellen, Switzerland Contact person: Andreea-Nicoleta Pinar                                                                          Email: andreea.pinar@ista.ch PGG Wrightson Seeds Ltd, Kimihia Research Centre Laboratory Address: 742 Tancreds Road, Lincoln, New Zealand Contact person: Caroline Mouton, Laboratory Manager                                                                             Email: cmouton@pggwrightsonseeds.co.nz
Lecturers	Florina Palada: ISTA Head of Accreditation and Technical Department and System Auditor Joël Léchappé: ISTA Honorary Life Member and ISTA Technical Auditor
Participation fee	ISTA Members: 550 USD ISTA Non-Members: 825 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 30 participants. 

Registration and payment deadline is 13 April 2025

Please note:  
For cancellations made before 13 April 2025 registration fees are refundable minus a 50 USD administration fee.
For cancellations made after 13 April 2025 registration fees are non-refundable. 

Accomodation recommendations

Lincoln Motel 

Single room - approx. NZD$ 160/night (breakfast excluded)

Double room - approx. NZD$ 240/night (breakfast excluded)

Breakfast can be booked at an additional fee.

Bookings can be made directly with the motel or through a travel agent. Please ensure that attendance to the workshop is mentioned, rooms have been placed on hold and will not be available online or at this price.

For bookings please contact: Graig at info@lincolnmotel.co.nz

Transport service will be available daily from Lincoln Motel to the workshop venue and back.

 

Other suggestions:

Silverstream Lodge 

The Famous Grouse Hotel 

A shuttle bus from the Lincoln Motel to the workshop venue will be provided; The Famous Grouse Hotel is within walking distance of the Lincoln Motel.

Note: Guests may book directly with the hotel and will be responsible for payment of their own room, taxes and incidentals; a shuttle bus will be provided from the listed hotels to the workshop venue.
 

Travel & Visa Information

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.

Young@ISTA Programme

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

Applications for funding close on Saturday, 01 March 2025