ESTA
The ESTA system is designed to ensure quality throughout the entire production stage, from the delivery of seed to the plant to its distribution. Certified seed companies must ensure the quality and safety of the treatment process and treated seeds, worker safety and environmental protection at every step. One of the key elements of the system is mandatory testing of the dust content of treated seeds performed with the Heubach test. Seed companies applying for an ESTA license are audited by certification bodies according to the requirements of the standard, which is the same for the whole of Europe. A positive audit result allows seed companies to obtain certification according to the ESTA standard and receive a license to use the ESTA logo on certified products, as a guarantee of safety and quality of treated seeds.
In Poland, the Polish Seed Chamber (PIN) is responsible for the implementation and operation of ESTA.
A seed company, after an audit, must contact PIN within 4 weeks to sign a license agreement for the sale of ESTA-certified seed.
For more information about ESTA, visit the official ESA website and the Polish Seed Chamber.
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Companies that treat seed, for which threshold values for dust in seeds are published, can apply for certification.
Benefits of ESTA certification:
- Secure the range of seed treatments for the future.
- Professional application at seed plants allows for the approval of new active substances and provides guarantees that they will be applied correctly.
- The use of seeds with the ESTA logo prevents the introduction of regulations restricting the use of plant protection products.
- ESTA supports the application of the principles of integrated pest management and reduces the negative impact of chemicals on the environment.
- The application of seed treatments is the safest plant protection treatment for the environment.
- The low dose of seed-only seed treatment applied reduces the subsequent use of costly sprays during the vegetation process.