Marketing of seeds

The EU regulates the marketing of plant reproductive material of agricultural, vegetable, forest, fruit and ornamental species and vines. The regulation applies for persons and companies who sell seeds or stores seeds that later will be sold or given away, in fact marketing of seeds.

Slightly different rules apply for agricultural species and vegetable species. Special rules also apply to seed potatoes, and for ornamental plants such as flower seeds. The regulation does not apply for seeds for most of the culinary herbs, except for caraway, chives, chervil, fennel and parsley, which are regulated under EU seed scheme. Special rules also apply to conservation varieties and variety developed for growing under particular conditions.

If you plan to move seeds to Sweden from other countries to re-pack or sell, special rules might apply. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information.

You should always notify your business

Seeds

If you pack or sell seed on a professionally basis, you must notify the Swedish Board of Agriculture's seed unit, preferably by e-mail.

Seed potatoes

Growers or companies, who intend to grow or market seed potatoes, shall notify and be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture's seed unit. You may contact the seed division by e-mail.

If you grow or market seed potatoes, you must be registered in the board´s potato register. You may notify the Swedish Board of Agriculture by e-mail.

If you want to market organic seed

In order to market seed as organic seed, the seed should comply with the EU rules for organic production (council regulation (EG) nr 834/2007).

What applies for marketing of seed?

Agricultural species

In order to market seed of agricultural species, the seed must be certified under the EU seed certification scheme. That means;

• The seed facility must be approved and the seed lot must be approved. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s seed unit for more information.
• The varieties that are marketed must be approved.
• The seed must fulfil certain quality standards such as minimum germination, purity, health and maximum weed occurrence. The standard varies depending on species and certification class. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s seed unit for more information.
• The seed lot must be sealed and labelled, in accordance with the EU certification scheme. Certified seed of beet, fooder plants and oil plants may be marketed in supplier's labelled small packages, which also must be sealed and labelled. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s seed unit for more information.
• Special rules also apply to conservation varieties and variety developed for growing under particular conditions.

Seed potato

In order to market seed potato, the seed must be certified under the EU seed certification scheme.

• The seed facility must be approved and the seed lot must be approved. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s seed unit for more information.
• The varieties that are marketed must be approved.
• The seed must fulfil certain quality and health standards. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture unit for more information.
• Seed potatoes may be marketed in small packages, which must be sealed and labelled according to Swedish certification scheme for seed potatoes. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture´s seed unit for more information.
• Special rules also apply to conservation varieties and variety developed for growing under particular conditions.

Vegetable species

In order to market seed for vegetable species, the seed must be certified under the EU seed certification scheme or comply with the EU rules for standard seed.

• Companies which sells vegetable seeds professionally, must be registered at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
• Companies which pack or re-pack seed or mark small seed packages with supplier's label, must continuously keep records of inventory and packaging of batches and seed mixtures.
• The varieties that are marketed must be approved.
• The seed must fulfil certain quality standards, for instance minimum germination, purity, health and maximum weed occurrence. The standards vary depending on species and certification class. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
• The seed packaging must be sealed and labelled in accordance with EU seed rules. Vegetable seeds may be marketed in supplier's labelled small packages, which also must be sealed and labelled. Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information.
• Special rules also apply to conservation varieties and variety developed for growing under particular conditions.

Ornamental plants

There are some EU rules for marketing of seeds of ornamental plants and seeds of fruit plants.

• Suppliers which sell seeds to professional retailers or growers must be approved. You should contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture to inform about your activities.
• The seed should be checked for its quality, so that it has satisfying germination and health.
• The seed packaging should be sealed and labelled so that it complies with EU rules. For instance the variety denomination should be mentioned at the label. It is not allowed to sell seed from endangered plants.