About
What you should do
How long does it take
How much does it cost
Forms to complete
Who to contact
About testing seed for complaint and dispute purposes
If you want to investigate a high level of impurity or poor germination of a seed lot, contact the Directorate Inspection Services (DIS) at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to have the seed tested.
The DIS will request that the Official Seed Testing Laboratory (OSTL) investigate your dispute or complaint.
Any person, organisation, institute, company or farmer can lay a complaint or declare a dispute.
Contact the DIS and state clearly all information relating to the complaint or dispute.
Complete a complaint application form and send it to the nearest DIS regional office.
The DIS sampler will draw the sample from the seed lot in question and submit it to the OSTL for testing.
If your complaint is justified, i.e. the quality of the seed does not comply with the Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act No.53 of 1976), you will not pay. If your complaint is not justified, you will receive an invoice and must pay the prescribed fee.
Banking details:
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch name: Arcadia
Branch code: 01-08-45
Account number: 011 244887
Account name: NDA- Seed Testing Services
You can pay electronically or over the counter.
Remember to include the invoice number for reference purposes. Pay the seed testing tariff and send proof of payment to the OSTL for release of the report.
Note: If the complaint is not justified, the findings of the investigation will only be made available after payment.
The OSTL gives priority to the testing of seed samples for dispute or compliant purposes. The magnitude of the dispute or complaint, i.e. number of samples, crop types and type of tests to be conducted, will affect the time taken for an investigation to be conducted. No service standard information can therefore be provided.
The applicable tariffs for 2024/25 financial year in terms of Treasury Regulation FA 4.3.2.6 (22/23) 26.10.2021 will be implemented, please enquire at the at any Directorate Inspection services offices.
The Directorate Inspection Services will forward the forms to you.
Directorate Inspection Services
Phindile Ngesi
Tel: 012 319 6043
E-mail: PhindileN@dalrrd.gov.za
Lazarus Rachidi
Tel: 011 971 5136
E-mail: LazaruR@dalrrd.gov.za
Physical address: Official Seed Testing Station, Directorate Plant Production,
Plant Genetic Resources Centre, KwaMhalanga Road, Roodeplaat, Pretoria
Postal address: Official Seed Testing Centre, Directorate Plant Production,
Private Bag X250, Pretoria, 0001
