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This standard provides guidance on requirements and procedures for Accreditation of Test Laboratory for virus diagnosis and genetic fidelity/ uniformity testing of tissue culture raised plants and accreditation of Tissue Culture production facility .The purpose of this standard is to facilitate production of quality planting material through virus diagnosis and genetic fidelity/ uniformity testing and to ensure that the tissue culture raised plants are free from viruses and other fastidious pathogen and also that the tissue culture raised plants are true to the type/ genetically uniform.
The advent of tissue culture/micropropagation technology has made it possible to produce genetic fidelity planting material to meet the domestic needs as well as international trade. However the tissue culture propagation, does not exclude the infection of viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas and bacteria unless the parental material used for tissue culture production are tested and maintained free from above mentioned pathogens as well as stock-cultures maintained free from above pathogens. It is therefore essential that proper testing of material is done for purpose of certification. It is also essential that the laboratory producing the tissue culture material has the required infrastructure and expertise and is complying with prescribed standards. The laboratory facilities established for virus diagnosis and genetic fidelity/ uniformity testing of tissue culture raised plants should have essential equipments and facilities and competent technical staff to perform the tests.
The Accreditation system include:
Project Management Unit within the administrative Department/ Ministry for initialization and implementation of accreditation process
Accreditation Panel of technical experts for undertaking initial/periodical audit or examination of entities for accreditation and recognition
Appellate Authority for reviewing the decision
Click here to download NCS-TCP guidelines