The International Seed Testing Association was inaugurated in 1924 with the following objectives:

• To develop, adopt and publish standard procedures for sampling and testing seed

• To promote the uniform application of those procedures for the evaluation of seed moving in international trade

• To promote research in all areas of seed science and technology including:

• Sampling
• Testing
• Storage
• Processing and distribution

In most countries today seed is tested in accordance with the ISTA rules. These rules are updated regularly by ISTA Technical Committees. Information about these committees and their activities are available from the ISTA web site, together with information on ISTA and its members.

The ISTA web site also provides publication and product catalogues which include specialist handbooks (eg Sampling, Seedling Evaluation, and Variety Testing), audiovisual teaching aids, videos, slides and calibration samples. The ISTA News Bulletin can be viewed on line and a calendar of seed testing related events provides information on ISTA seminars and training workshops. There is also a  web directory that contains links to other seed-related sites and includes international meetings, seed and regulatory agencies and ISTA member sites.