Geneva, Switzerland
July 9, 2003
SGS
United Kingdom Ltd have expanded their independent testing
facility for seeds and grains by moving to new premises United
House, King George Dock, Hull. The facility is licensed by DEFRA
for statutory seed testing and offers a wide range of advisory
analyses for all aspects of seed quality.
SGS’ independent Officially licensed seed testing station can
offer a wide range of analyses on many agricultural species to
enable you to answer the three main questions regarding seed
quality:
IS IT CLEAN?
IS IT HEALTHY?
DOES IT GROW?
Because SGS is totally independent
with no commercial ties to merchants or traders it offers you
objective accuracy and total impartiality. Accurate seed
analysis represents low cost assurance when compared to the
potential losses that may occur when using seed of unknown
quality. Using qualified seed analysts and internationally
recognised methods, removes these doubts.
SGS Seed laboratory specialises in Rapid Tetrazolium Viability
testing and now has staff licensed by DEFRA to peform these
analyses on statutory cereal samples. When there is insufficient
time to perform a full germination test, a Rapid Tetrazolium
Viability can be performed, this analysis involves examining the
seed embryos under a microscope after bio-chemical staining.
This procedure can provide a viability score to determine likely
causes of embryonic damage such as heat damage or other
abnormalities. This analysis can be applied to many species and
is routinely performed on cereals, pulses, oilseed rape, grasses
and wild flower species.
In line with the UK grain trade SGS have also set up a large
grain testing facility which has been recently accredited under
the UKASTA Trade assured scheme for combinable crops for the
laboratory code of practice. This gives credibility to the
testing facility and will enable merchants, farmers and traders
to take advantage of rapid and accurate testing of grain
quality. Competitively priced packages allow farmers to
independently confirm the quality of their grain and to
implement the best marketing strategy.
The laboratory is well equipped using the latest network linked
equipment staffed with four qualified seed analysts and is
managed by Steve Stokes who is a past chairman of the British
Association of Seed Analysts with over twenty five years
experience of seed and grain analysis.
SGS co-ordination and operation of its Inspection service for
agricultural commodities for the North East of England and
Scotland is also handled from this new site along with technical
support for the UK.
For further information on any other aspects of its range of
inspection services or seed & grain quality please do not
hesitate to contact Steve Stokes on telephone +44 (0) 1482 790
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