Crop and seed requirements
- Ensure cereal seed crops meet quality, purity, and health standards Any Person
UK Statutory Instrument
2011
United Kingdom
The Seed Marketing Regulations 2011
At a glance
What's here
50 compliance obligations
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 21
- Any Person 13
- Distributor 9
- Manufacturer 1
Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 223 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 418 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 37 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties
- Consumer Credit Act 1974 1974 31 duties
Any Person also bound by 770 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 78 duties
Distributors also bound by 35 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 19 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 14 duties
- UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) 2006 11 duties
- Electricity Act 1989 1989 9 duties
- Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (UK CLP) 2008 7 duties
Manufacturers also bound by 84 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 2011 27 duties
- Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 2017 25 duties
- Medical Devices Regulations 2002 2002 23 duties
- Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 22 duties
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 2016 21 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Seed from other plants
- Ensure seed samples meet purity standards for other plant species Trader
Ergot and sclerotia
- Ensure seed samples meet ergot and sclerotia limits Trader
Permitted types of fodder seed
- Ensure fodder seed meets prescribed certification standards Trader
Crop and seed requirements
- Ensure fodder plant seed crops and seeds meet quality and health standards Trader
Permitted types of beet seed
- Use only permitted categories of beet seed Trader
Minimum standards for purity and other species of seed in the sample
- Ensure meadow grass seed purity meets minimum standards Trader
Permitted types of oil and fibre seed
- Use only permitted seed categories for oil and fibre crops Trader
Crop and seed requirements
- Ensure seed crops and seeds meet official quality and pest-free standards Any Person
Permitted types of vegetable seed
- Use only permitted types and varieties of vegetable seed Trader
Crop and seed requirements
- Ensure vegetable crops and seeds meet quality and health standards Any Person
Permitted types of cereal seed
- Ensure cereal seed meets permitted certification standards Trader
Types of label
- Use correct labels on seed packages Distributor
Additional requirements for beet seed
- Include specific classifications on beet seed labels Trader
Additional requirements for cereal seed
- Ensure correct labeling for cereal seed varieties Trader
Additional requirements for fodder seed
- Use correct official labels for fodder seed Trader
Additional requirements for oil and fibre seed
- Label hybrid oil and fibre seed with specific variety details Trader
Labelling a package
- Label seed packages correctly with supplier information Distributor
Breeder’s seed: supplier’s labels
- Label packages of breeder’s seed with specific supplier details Distributor
Beet seed: supplier’s labels
- Label small packages of beet seed correctly Distributor
Time of labelling
- Label seed packages at the time of sealing Trader
Cereal seed: supplier’s labels
- Label small packages of cereal seed correctly Distributor
Fodder seed other than a mixture: labelling requirements
- Label small packages of fodder seed correctly Distributor
Oil and fibre seed: supplier’s labels
- Use and format supplier’s labels for small packages of oil and fibre seed Distributor
Vegetable seed: supplier’s labels
- Label vegetable seed packages with specific supplier information Distributor
Genetically modified varieties
- Label genetically modified seed varieties Trader
Chemical treatment of seed
- Label chemically treated seeds with treatment details Trader
Official labels: general requirements
- Use official, unique labels for seed packaging Any Person
Official labels for pre-basic seed
- Use correct official labels for pre-basic seed Trader
Official labels for basic seed and certified seed
- Use correct official labels for basic and certified seed Any Person
Official labels for commercial seed not certified as to variety
- Use brown official labels for commercial seed not certified as to variety Trader
Early multiplication of seed
- Follow strict rules for the early multiplication of unlisted seed varieties Any Person
Marketing imported seed to be labelled as HVS
- Apply for HVS certification and re-label imported seed Trader
Marketing seed of amateur vegetable varieties
- Follow rules for marketing seed of amateur vegetable varieties Distributor
Marketing seed of conservation varieties
- Follow strict rules for marketing 'conservation variety' seeds Any Person
Marketing unlisted varieties (other than vegetable seed) for tests and trials
- Apply for authorisation to market unlisted seed varieties for trials Manufacturer
Browse 59 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Scope of Part 1
Meaning of “pre-basic seed” (including hybrids)
Meaning of “basic seed”
Meaning of “certified seed”
Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”
Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”
Higher voluntary standards for cereals
Additional requirements for barley, wheat, durum wheat and spelt wheat
Interpretation of Part 1
Scope of Part 3
Meaning of “pre-basic seed”
Meaning of “basic seed”
Meaning of “certified seed”
Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”
Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”
Meaning of “commercial seed”
Higher voluntary standards for fodder seed
Scope of Part 4
Meaning of “pre-basic seed”
Meaning of “basic seed” for non-hybrid varieties
Meaning of “basic seed” for inbred lines
Meaning of “basic seed” for simple hybrids
Meaning of “certified seed”
Meaning of “certified seed, first generation”
Meaning of “certified seed, second generation”
Meaning of “pre-basic seed”
Meaning of “certified seed, third generation”
Meaning of “commercial seed”
Requirements for a varietal association
Scope of Part 5
Meaning of “pre-basic seed”
Meaning of “basic seed”
Meaning of “certified seed”
Meaning of “standard seed”
Meaning of “basic seed”
Meaning of “certified seed”
Crop and seed requirements
Scope of Part 2
Interpretation
Introduction
Meaning of “supplier’s label”
References to weights in this Part
Fodder seed (agricultural or amenity): packages that may be labelled with a supplier’s label
Fodder seed mixture: labelling requirements
Sales of loose seed
Labelling mixtures
Marketing unlisted varieties of vegetable seed
Marketing for scientific or selection purposes
Restrictions relating to genetically modified seed
Marketing seed certified in another European Single Market State
Seed not finally certified, harvested in another European Single Market State
Seed not finally certified, harvested in a country granted equivalence
Marketing extensions
Seed as grown
Farm saved seed
Seed with a declared lower germination
Early movement of seed
Tetrazolium testing for cereal seed
Marketing preservation mixtures that include uncertified fodder seed
Marketing seed
- Ensure seed is certified, packaged, and labelled before marketing Any Person
Crop inspections
- Use licensed or official inspectors for seed crop certification Any Person
Standard of seed at the time of marketing
- Ensure seed meets minimum quality standards at the time of marketing Trader
Control plots and tests
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must test seed and verify variety quality Crown / Minister / Government department
Labelling
- Use licensed personnel for seed labelling and protect labels from misuse Any Person
Mixtures of seed
- Follow strict rules for marketing seed mixtures Trader
Records
- Maintain and produce seed marketing audit trails Any Person
Withdrawing certification
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State may withdraw seed certification Crown / Minister / Government department
Sampling for enforcement purposes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must follow specific procedures when sampling seed Crown / Minister / Government department
Forms of certificates used for enforcement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authorised officers must issue specific certificates for seed sampling and testing Statutory regulator
Importation from a country granted equivalence
- Comply with rules for importing and marketing equivalent seed Any Person
Appeals
- Appeal a seed certification or licensing decision within 21 days Any Person
Arrangements for official measures
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State may delegate seed certification to third parties Crown / Minister / Government department
Confidentiality
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must protect seed genealogy confidentiality Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 25 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Title, application and commencement
Meaning of “marketing”
Interpretation of other terms
Seed to which these Regulations apply
Categories of seed
Breeder’s seed
Maintainers for pre-basic and basic seed
Exceptions
Overriding requirements: the building blocks necessary for certification
Detailed requirements for certification
Re-grading a crop or seed
Packaging and sealing
Operations requiring a licence from the Secretary of State
Licensing crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations
Licences for temporary experiments
General provisions relating to licences
Certification for export
Fees
Marketing seed under a specific derogation
Licensing and certifying in another part of the United Kingdom
Certification in a Crown Dependency or a country granted equivalence
Transitional provision for official labels on IP completion day
Transitional provisions
Review
Revocation
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