1998: Provision No. 8750 of D.M. (ministry directive) regarding phytopathological testing (mites, insect pests, phytoplasms, bacteria, fungi, viruses and viroids) and R&D technology authorizing DNA fingerprinting for establishing the genetic identity on fruit and vegetable plants.
2001: Provision No. 1329 of D.M. 22/02/2001 regarding accreditation for phytopathological analysis (mites, insect pests, phytoplasms, bacteria, fungi, viruses and viroids) on ornamental plants.
2005: D.M. 07/09/2005 (Nos. 30243 and 30252) as centre for Quarantine and Pre-multiplication of stone, pome, olive and strawberry plants.
2006: D.M. 25/10/2006 MASAF authorization for virus indexing as the provisions in D.M. 02/07/1991 No. 290 and controls listed in Allegato (appendix) IV of D.M. 08/02/2005 for grapevine multiplication.
2009: UNI ISO/IEC 17025 secured through ACCREDIA. The latter is the national body of government ministries, local authorities and business organizations established for handling applications and authorizing accreditation for compliance with national and international standards. The accreditation was obtained for serological tests concerning the main viruses (see appendix) listed in the MD september the 1st 2022 n.384043, that modifies sections V and VI of the Lgs.D. february the 2nd 2021 n.18 . ACCREDIA protocols also require that the given laboratory meet the standards of competency for expert staff in plant pathology and of compliance with lab equipment, facilities, areas and methodology for material testing as per accreditation; authorized laboratories are subject to periodic monitoring to assure quality compliance and impartiality. The ACCREDIA seal refers only to the tests so authorized and not to the products tested. The list of tests approved for CAV can be accessed at www.accredia.it and the document so authorizing CAV’s laboratory can be inspected at the company’s offices.
UNI EN ISO 22005:2008 certification 01/2009/RF released by CERTIFICA-CCPB for nursery supply-chain traceability in compliance with plant genetic and health quality standards.
Since 2009 the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (formerly Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) has accredited CAV as a pre quarantine station for virus-indexing of pome- and stone-fruit plants imported from New Zealand as authorized by MAF Standard Accreditation of Offshore Plant Quarantine Facilities and Operator.
In 2005, the CAV was recognized by Ministerial Decree 07/09/2005 (Nos. 30243 and 30252) as a Center for the Conservation and Pre‑multiplication of stone fruit, pome fruit, citrus, strawberry, small fruits, olive, chestnut, hazelnut, walnut, pistachio, and fig plants.
With Determinations No. 8750 of 1998, No. 1329 of 2001, and No. 18795 of 2018, MASAF (the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests) recognized the CAV Laboratory as suitable for carrying out phytosanitary analyses aimed at detecting mites, insects, phytoplasmas, bacteria, viruses, fungi, viroids, and nematodes on fruit, vegetable, and ornamental plants (see Service Specification), as well as for conducting genetic analyses (DNA fingerprinting) for varietal identification of plants belonging to the species of primary interest to the nursery sector.
In 2009, the CAV laboratory became the first in Italy to obtain ACCREDIA accreditation according to the international standard UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) in the phytopathology sector, thus adding another prestigious internationally recognized qualification. To date, ACCREDIA accreditation has been obtained for serological and molecular tests related to some of the main pathogens listed in Ministerial Decree of September 1, 2022, No. 384043, which modifies Annexes V and VI of Legislative Decree of February 2, 2021, No. 18 (see list of accredited CAV tests). With Regional Determination No. 9626 of 14/05/2024, the laboratory also became an official laboratory for carrying out analyses, tests, or diagnoses within the scope of “official controls.” The ACCREDIA mark refers to accredited tests and not to the products resulting from such tests.
CAV and its associates have obtained ISO 22005:2008 certification for supply chain traceability (certificate 01/2009/RF issued by CERTIFICA‑CCPB). The QVI certification process guarantees genetic and sanitary quality and offers the advantage of traceability throughout the nursery production chain.
The Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand has accredited CAV as a pre‑quarantine station for preserving and inspecting healthy (virus‑free) pome fruit, stone fruit, strawberry, and kiwifruit plants, in compliance with the requirements set out in the “MAF‑Standard Accreditation of offshore plant quarantine facilities and operator.
