The new assurance scheme for the seed treatment industry, the European Seed Treatment Assurance scheme (ESTA), has its first assured participant in the UK, announces AIC.

Germains Seed Technology, based in Kings Lynn, West Norfolk was formally ESTA accredited in December by the certification body, KIWA PAI.

Paul Mullan, Managing Director and CEO at Germains said: “We are thrilled to be the first in the UK to achieve this accreditation.  As one of the world’s leading seed technology providers we are committed to delivering the highest level of seed treatment application quality to our customers and end users. We are proud that our facilities have met the strict requirements demanded by ESTA.  We remain focussed on continuous improvement at all our sites.”

Garry Rudd, the ESTA Technical Manager at AIC said he was delighted that Germains is now accredited and believed that other companies would soon follow suit.

ESTA was devised by the European Seed Association (ESA) in response to the EU Directive (2010/21) which requires insecticidal seed treatments to ‘only be performed in professional seed treatment facilities.’ The directive resulted from incidences of bee deaths in Germany, Austria and France, particularly associated with treated maize seed.

Further information regarding ESTA and an application form can be found on the AIC website or contact Garry Rudd at AIC on 01733 385274 or garry.rudd@agindustries.org.uk.