The 'International Rules for Seed Testing' are ISTA's primary instrument to promote uniformity in seed testing. The ISTA Rules have 17 sections that provide definitions and standardised methods to be used in, for example, sampling, testing seed lot quality and reporting results for international trade. The ISTA Rules are also a useful reference guide to germination conditions and methods for over 1000 species.
The 'International Rules for Seed Testing' are approved by and amended at ISTA Ordinary Meetings on the basis of advice tendered by the ISTA Technical Committees. The Edition 2011 (effective 1st January 2011) includes the latest changes which were voted on at the ISTA Ordinary Meeting 2010, held in Cologne, Germany.
The 'International Rules for Seed Testing' includes the Annexe to Chapter 7.