Champaign, Illinois,
December 1, 2008
The laboratories of
Illinois Crop Improvement
Association, Inc. (IL Crop) have achieved ISO/IEC 17025:2005
accreditation. Illinois Crop’s latest accreditation includes all
of the quality management principles required by ISO2000:9001,
plus technical competency and accuracy standards. ISO/IEC
17025:2005 accreditation specifies the general requirements for
competency to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including
sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using
standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed
methods. A statement of scope is available at
ilcrop.com.
Illinois Crop has a unique set of laboratories at its Champaign,
IL headquarters: a traditional seed lab, a bio-processing/grain
lab, a trait lab and greenhouse. The Seed Lab is accredited to
offer germination and purity services under AOSA rules. Industry
recognized grain quality and compositional analyses are offered
by the Identity Preserved Grain Lab. Industry supported tests
and laboratory-developed methods are offered for trait purity
and adventitious presence testing through the Field
Services-Greenhouse department. A unique set of services are now
accredited to support an industry that requires good science and
strong partners in the advancement of seed products and
technology.
Today’s agriculture has great expectations regarding the
performance of products and technology delivered through seed
improvements. The validations, proficiencies and management
practices being implemented as part of day-to-day business
activities prompted IL Crop to take the extra step of ISO/IEC
17025:2005 accreditation. “We see ourselves as an industry
resource for product developers, production companies and
quality assurance managers,” says John McKinney, Quality Manager
and IPG Lab director.
IL Crop also believes that it is the first to use AOSA rules for
this type of accreditation. Accreditation and recognition are
constant topics of discussion on many levels within the
industry. The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)
models its lab accreditation program on the 1999 version of the
ISO/IEC 17025 standard and utilizes ISTA rules. A hard look at
its current work and client base, across a wide range of
activities, led IL Crop to select the ISO/IEC 17025:2005
accreditation. “The industry is firmly rooted in AOSA rules”
says Gary Cook, Seed Lab Director. Illinois Crop serves
international markets, such as the OECD maize program, and
facilitates the movement of products world-wide under AOSA
rules, AOCS methods and other recognized procedures.
IL Crop is a not-for-profit corporation with headquarters in
Champaign, Illinois, USA specializing in providing services and
developing partnerships for the advancement of seed products and
technology. IL Crop and ZEA Global Seeds have also formed a new
US based entity, Global Seed Solutions, Inc., focusing on trait
introgression services. For more information, please contact
Dennis Thompson at 217-359-4053 or visit:
ilcrop.com
Certificate and statement of scope available at
http://www.pjview.com/clients/pjl/pjlaregistry2.cfm |
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