About complaint and dispute for seed testing

If you want to investigate a high impurity or poor germination of a seed lot, contact the Directorate Inspection Services (DIS) at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to have the seed tested.

The Directorate Inspection Services (DIS) will request the Official Seed Testing Laboratory (OSTL) to investigate your dispute or complaint.

Any person, organisation, institute, company or farmer can lay a complaint or dispute.

What you should do

• Contact 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 for testing to OSTL. 
• If your complaint is justified, i.e. the quality does not comply with the Plant Improvement Act, 1976, you will not pay.  If your complaint is not justified, you will receive an invoice and pay the prescribed fee.
  

Banking details are:

Bank : Standard Bank
Branch name : Arcadia
Branch code : 01-08-45
Account number : 011244887
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 OSTL either per fax or email for release of the report.

Note: If the complaint is not justified, the findings of the investigation will only be made available after payment.

Legal framework

Plant Improvement Act, 1976 (Act 53 of 1976)

How long does it take

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. Enquire at the facility itself (see contact details).

How much does it cost

For details on tariffs follow the link below:
www.daff.gov.za

Forms to complete

Directorate Inspection Services will forward the forms after you contact them.

Who to contact

Please select one option:

Directorate Inspection Services
012 319 6043: PhindileN@daff.gov.za
012 319 6139: ChristoB@daff.gov.za
Web address: www.daff.gov.za