The ESA reference method "Assessment of free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds as a parameter of the quality of treated seeds" is intended to assess the amount of free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds under defined mechanical stress conditions. As on July 1st 2019 the new version 1.1 of the ESA refence method will be valid.
Use of the dust test by industry laboratories as described in the abovementioned ESA reference method ‘Assessment of free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds as a parameter of the quality of treated seeds’ asks for monitoring of the performance of the laboratory. This shall be done either by successfully participating in corresponding seed industry driven ring tests organized by a laboratory which is accredited to ISO 17025 by its national accreditation body for the Heubach dust analysis according to the ESA reference method ‘Assessment of free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds as a parameter of the quality of treated seeds’, or by a certification which confirms an appropriate application of the Heubach methodology delivered by an independent certifying body.
List of Heubach laboratories wich have participated in the seed industry-driven ring test. It is now the responsibility of each laboratory to inform their clients whether or not their participation in the ring test was successful.