Guidance

Accessibility statement for Seed Certification

Published 8 October 2025

This accessibility statement applies to the Seed Certification website.

This website is run by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• use browser settings or plugins to change colours, contrast levels and fonts

• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard

• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software

• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

1. How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• the website will not work without JavaScript

• the website does not respect ‘Prefers reduced motion’

• the website does not respect ‘Prefers colour scheme’

• the website has a number of incompatibilities with screen readers – page language is not set, there are exposed links, lack of exposure to help text, unlabelled inputs and use of tables to present data

• keyboard focus is not always visible, meaning that sighted keyboard users may have difficulties using the site

• the page does not reflow to fit a narrow viewport

• page content does not always have appropriate contrast

• page titles are not descriptive and headers are not marked as such

• keyboard focus on menu does not trigger help text

• grouped radio buttons lack fieldset

• alt text is sometimes missing

2. Feedback and contact information

If you need information from this website in a different format, like large print, easy read, or audio recording, contact customer service and we’ll respond within 10 working days.

Also, we’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page, contact us:

Email: esphelpdesk@niab.com
Phone: 01223 342 319

3. Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (websites and mobile applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

4. Technical information about this website’s accessibility

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

4.1 Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 AA standard. The non-compliances are listed below.

4.2 Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

The page language is not set, this may result in screen reader software mispronouncing words or being incomprehensible if the user’s default language does not match the page content (for example, Welsh vs. English). This fails WCAG 3.1 Language of Page – Level A.

Keyboard focus is not always visible – this means sighted keyboard users will have difficulty navigating the site. This is due to multiple link (<a>) elements on the page with no text content. These links will be exposed to assistive technology and will likely cause confusion for screen reader users. This fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible – Level AA.

Headings are not marked as headings. This fails WCAG 2.4.6 Headings and Labels – Level AA.

“News” ticker cannot be paused, stopped, or hidden. Nor does it respect the user’s preference for reduced motion. This fails WCAG 2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide – Level A.

The help email link lacks contrast at a contrast ratio of 3.65:1. The small text in the bottom right of the login page lacks contrast at a ratio of 3.95:1. This fails WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast – Level AA.

The orange and red “brand” text has insufficient contrast with white. This fails WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (minimum) – Level AA.

The page title (as shown in the tab and bookmarks) reads “Defra, UK - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs”, which does not describe the page or its purpose. This fails WCAG 2.4.2 Page Titled – Level A.

The page does not reflow to fit a narrow viewport, this will make it difficult for users who have smaller displays or require high levels of magnification. This fails WCAG 1.4.10 Reflow – Level AA.

The keyboard focus on menu does not trigger help text. This fails WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard – Level A.

The Welsh language flag has no alternative text. This fails WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text content – Level A.

The grouped radio buttons lack fieldset. This fails WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions – Level A.

There are unlabelled inputs and inputs that are not marked as required. This fails WCAG 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose – Level AA and WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or instruction – Level A.

The terms and conditions use headings incorrectly, without appropriate hierarchy. This fails WCAG 2.4.6 Headings and Labels – Level AA.

5. What we’re doing to improve accessibility

APHA plan to replace this website within the next 5 years as part of our Delivering Sustainable Futures programme.

6. Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 26 September 2025.

It was last reviewed on 23 July 2025.

This website was last tested on 23 July 2025.

The test was carried out internally by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The Defra Accessibility team used a combination of automated testing tools, lived experience with assistive technology, and manual testing to undertake common journeys.