NAL (Naktuinbouw Authorized Laboratories)

Naktuinbouw Authorized Laboratories (NAL) is a system that authorises company laboratories to perform seed quality testing. The system ensures that your seed laboratory offers and maintains the required levels of reliability.

About the inspection

In cases where liability is at stake, it is essential that a laboratory for seed quality works correctly. NAL takes all the critical points of quality testing of seed into account: sampling prior to testing, the quality assurance system at the laboratory, the expertise of the analysts, the protocols and issuing the results via NAL quality certificates.

NAL authorization is possible for every type of seed quality testing: germination power, moisture content, purity, the determination of usable plants in soil, health, varietal trueness and varietal purity et cetera. This has been chosen to maximize the benefits of NAL authorization. 

Naktuinbouw has expertise regarding all aspects of the authorization system: setting up the system, training the analysts, developing and approving the test methods and the corresponding proficiency tests. Our experts monitor registered laboratories via annual audits. 

The following companies are NAL authorized.

Regulations

The NAL conditions are based on various directives and criteria. A complete overview of these conditions can be found in NAL conditions.

Procedure

NAL authorizes your laboratory for the following points:

  • Quality assurance management system
    The laboratory has an adequate and solid quality assurance management system: critical points such as testing and sampling are safeguarded.
  • Trained analysts
    The staff have the qualifications and competencies required to perform the technical tasks professionally and with the necessary expertise.
  • Approved test protocols
    The laboratory performs the quality tests based on testing protocols that have been assessed and approved by Naktuinbouw.
  • Proficiency tests
    The laboratory takes part in the (annual) program of proficiency tests.
  • Communication
    Managed communication of reliable quality information is issued via standard NAL quality certificates.

For more information, please consult our flyer.

Fee

The Naktuinbouw board establishes our inspection fees each year. The fees are subsequently approved by the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The costs are charged based on the cost-maker cost-bearer principle. The fees for inspection can be found here Rates/fees.

Application

Would you like to apply for authorization for your laboratory, or would you like more information about our authorization system? Please contact Bureau TIS (see below).

Questions?