Providing healthy (vegetable) seeds to customers is a prerequisite for sustainable food production. Healthy seeds are seeds that are free from pathogenic organisms that can be transmitted to the seedling growing from the seed and cause disease. Frequently used methods to determine seed health are ELISA and PCR that detect presence of proteins or nucleic acids but do not yield information on presence of a viable, infectious pathogen. A positive test result may also be caused by presence of non-viable organisms, genetic material left on the seed after a disinfection treatment or ‘environmental pollution’ with genetic material. The test result is not necessarily a reliable reflection of the risk that is present when the seed lot is brought into the market.

Seed companies contribute to the availability of healthy seeds by routinely testing seed to prevent or control plant pests and pathogens that may affect seed quality, seed movement, and their introduction into new territories. Management practices that prevent seeds from exposure to pests and diseases at all stages of seed development, production and commercialization significantly reduce overall pest risk, and seed health testing is often a final check. A seed health test is also frequently an import requirement imposed by National Plant Protection Organizations before allowing seed to enter into their territory.