Current impact on services
Our diagnostic services continue to be impacted by restricted access to the department's site at 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth.
Critical testing is continuing, including seed certification and seed potato services.
Testing is prioritised based on:
- Diagnostic testing to exclude notifiable pests and diseases.
- Responses to high-impact pest and disease threats and incursions.
- Surveillance for priority pests and diseases.
- Diagnostic testing to support border biosecurity controls and market access.
Seed testing and certification services
The department provides a variety of services as set out below.
Our highly experienced analysts have serviced clients throughout Australia for many years and provide reliable and timely results that facilitate export, domestic trade and on-farm decision making.
Who can use this service?
Our clients include growers, seed sellers, seed brokers, exporters, importers and government agencies.
What seed testing services do we offer?
Our seed testing laboratory provide high quality tests including:
- germination
- pure seed content (physical purity of species, not varietal purity)
- determination of other seeds by number (weed seed check)
- 1,000 seed weight test
- seed variety identification (for selected barley varieties and subterranean clover only)
- canola vigour testing
- a range of other tests that can assist with on-farm decision making and the export of seed or grain overseas.
Forms for seed testing
- Form 701 Seed analysis request
- Form 702 Certified declaration and request for analysis
- Form 709 SureSeed declaration and request for analysis
We inspect and certify seed crops under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes, the Australian Seed Certification Scheme and the SureSeed® Program.
We offer both a National Association of Testing Authorities accredited certification service and the quality-assured SureSeed® Program to protect the integrity of varieties and ensure high quality planting seed for local growers and export markets.
Field inspections
We offer crop and pasture field inspection services that include an assessment for:
- varietal purity
- weed content and rating
- presence of plant pests and diseases.
Anyone can grow certified seed provided the production requirements described in the Seed Certification Rules are met. Seed certification is voluntary, and growers can opt in or out at any time.
For new growers or if you have not grown certified seed in the last 5 years, please contact us at least 4 weeks before sowing.
Seed sampler training
We offer seed sampler training courses for seed businesses, government departments and other organisations that require the skills and knowledge to sample seed for official or commercial purposes.
Courses are held every year and can be conducted at your premises, exclusively for your staff, or your staff can attend a course, usually held in Perth.
Participants associated with an Authorised Seed Processor that successfully pass a seed sampler training course will be issued with a Certificate of Authorisation, which is nationally recognised by the Australian Seeds Authority.
About the SureSeed® Program
The SureSeed® Program is a quality assurance-based seed program that enables growers and seed companies to produce and market high quality seed for sowing of known varietal identity and physical quality, including testing for nominated seed-borne diseases.
SureSeed® is a joint initiative by Australia's leading seed certification providers, Western Australia's DDLS Seed Testing and Certification and South Australia's Seed Services Australia. It is targeted to meet industry demand for an affordable, lower cost alternative to existing seed certification schemes.
SureSeed® is particularly suited to broadacre crop species sold on the domestic market and includes the following features:
- based on the principles of the OECD Seed Schemes
- quality assured traceability and documentation systems
- authorisation and audit of industry personnel to conduct crop inspection and seed sampling activities
- training and authorisation of industry personnel to sample according to International Seed Testing Association principles
- seed lots tested for pure seed, germination and seed-borne diseases
- sale by SureSeed® seed analysis statement in bulk or bagged lots
- bagged, labelled and sold in accordance with the Australian Seed Federation Code of Practice for Seed.
Forms and documents for seed certification for crops and pastures
- SCP-1 Seed certification rules
- Form 501 Application for inspection of crops for certification or SureSeed® program
- Form 531 OECD label order form
- Form 702 Certified declaration and request for analysis
- Form 709 SureSeed® declaration and request for analysis
Being free from many of the world's most serious potato pests and diseases, seed potatoes grown in WA are recognised as superior in quality to those produced in many other seed schemes.
Note: potato seed samples for disease or virus testing are processed through DDLS plant pathology.
Potato seed testing services
The department's experienced Potato Certification Officers, virus testing capability and product traceability systems, ensure high quality seed for local, interstate and international markets.
Our surveillance program ensures virus diseases that may affect potatoes are detected early and removed from the scheme, maintaining the lowest virus levels in Australia.
We provide a quality inspection service directly to growers. This includes a minimum of two visual crop inspections, inspection of tubers, disease testing, and product labelling. We provide training and advice to producers and Potato Seed Works and certify product that meets quality standards outlined in relevant scheme rules.
Seed potato schemes in WA
The WA Certified seed potato scheme is an industry cooperative scheme that draws its foundation from the Australian National Certified Seed Potato Standard and produces premium seed potatoes.
The is also an industry cooperative scheme that allows other seed growers, who are unable to meet some aspects of the national standard, opportunity to produce high quality seed potatoes also suitable for export and domestic markets.
Both seed schemes source pathogen-free seed stocks that are produced and tested by accredited laboratories. Domestic and international buyers, and importing authorities, can be confident that seed potatoes from WA are free of exotic disease and pests. They are produced under strict standards and fully traceable to the point of origin through product labelling.
Declarations of quality
All seed potatoes produced under WA seed potato schemes must be accompanied by documentation defining the seed lot details including any disease and defects.
The documentation also carries declarations by the producer and grader of the seed lot. This provides assurance to buyers that WA seed potatoes meet the relevant standards and satisfy their individual quality needs.
Forms for potato seed certification
- WA Certified seed potato rules
- WA Registered seed potato rules
- WA Registered seed potato scheme rules
- Form 401 Application for inspection of potato crops
- Form 404 Seed works summary sheet
How to submit a sample
For all testing enquiries or to submit seed samples for testing, please follow this process:
- Email DDLS-stac@dpird.wa.gov.au with details of the submission.
- DDLS will triage your submission and you will receive email instructions.
- Signage at the entrance to the South Perth site will instruct the sample courier how to proceed.
Important: Only send samples to South Perth once we have responded to you to ensure sample integrity is maintained and how testing can be best facilitated.
Note: Email is preferred, however, you can phone us on 08 9368 3351 to speak to a seed analyst before sending an email, if necessary.
Testing and expertise
Our highly experienced analysts and inspectors operate under accreditations by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) and/or the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). They can assist your business with reliable, timely and accurate services. Our seed testing laboratory is a member of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
DDLS Seed Testing and Certification’s quality assured declarations are recognised to meet the market access requirements of other countries.
Seed testing and certification forms
Access forms and other documents for requesting seed testing and certifications.
View formsFees and charges
To understand fees and charges for these services, refer to the booklet which is updated annually.
Terms and conditions
Refer to the DDLS terms and conditions for details on using our service.
Contact us
For industrial hemp compliance and field inspections, contact the DDLS seed testing and certification services team using the details below.
For potato seed testing and related queries, contact the DDLS seed potato unit. For all other questions, contact the DDLS seed testing and certification services team.