Plants and seeds

PVS: UK - Seed Certification - Legislation

A review of the seed marketing regulations and associated procedures was completed with the aims of ensuring transparent implementation of Directives, reducing official costs and bureaucracy and removing unwanted gold plating. The new Seed Regulations came into force on 31 January 2003.

The Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964

Part II of the Act provides for the power to regulate and amend in other respects the law relating to transactions in seeds, including the provision for the testing of seeds. To control the import of seed and authorise measures to prevent the injurious cross-pollination of seeds.

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Seed Marketing (England) Regulations 2002 (as amended)

The marketing of seed of the main agricultural and vegetable species in England is regulated by the Seed Marketing Regulations. The Regulations define the species covered and the standards that the crop and seed must achieve before crops and seed can be certified and marketed. The certification process places the onus on the applicant to make decisions about their crop and seed and is based on a three building block approach.

  • A variety must be listed on a National List or in the EC Common Catalogue, in accordance with the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 as amended 2004.
  • A satisfactory crop report must have been lodged.
  • A satisfactory seed test report must have been lodged.

Uncertified and unlisted seed of these species can only be marketed in accordance with specific exemptions, which are set out in the Seed Marketing Regulations and with prior written authorisation from a Certifying Authority: for England and Wales this is Defra's Plant Varieties and Seeds Division.

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Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2002 (as amended)

These Regulations cover the registration/licensing requirements and conditions for Companies, Seed Testing Stations and individuals - as follows:-

  • Registration of a Company or Person Engaged in a Seed Industry Activity
  • Licensed Seed Testing Stations
  • Licensed Crop Inspectors
  • Licensed Seed Samplers

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Statutory Instruments

Note - Copies of these regulations are available below and are also available for purchase from The Stationery Office.

Beet Seed

SI 2314/2006 - The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006

SI 2671/2005 - The Beet Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2385/2004 - The Beet Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3171/2002 - The Beet Seed (England) Regulations 2002

Cereal Seed

SI 2314/2006 - The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006

SI 1678/2006 - The Cereal Seed (England) and Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

SI 2672/2005 - The Cereal Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2386/2004 - The Cereal Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3173/2002 - The Cereal Seed (England) Regulations 2002

Fodder Plant Seed

SI 2314/2006 - The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006

SI 1678/2006 - The Cereal Seed (England) and Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

SI 2673/2005 - The Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2387/2004 - The Fodder Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3172/2002 - The Fodder Plant Seed (England) Regulations 2002

Oil and Fibre Plant Seed

SI 2314/2006 - The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006

SI 2674/2005 - The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2388/2004 - The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3101/2003 - The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003

SI 3174/2002 - The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (England) Regulations 2002

Vegetable Seed

SI 2314/2006 - The Seed (England) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc) Regulations 2006

SI 2675/2005 - The Vegetable Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2389/2004 - The Vegetable Seed (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3175/2002 - The Vegetable Seed (England) Regulations 2002

Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement)

SI 2676/2005 - The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005

SI 2390/2004 - The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

SI 3176/2002 - The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2002

Miscellaneous

General Licence 2007/01 - Increasing the maximum weight of a lot of certain fodder plant seeds for the purpose of a temporary experiment

 

 

Page last modified: 30 October 2007
Page published: 10 November 2003

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs