We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Policy

Plant health

From
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, +1 more … Acting Minister for Climate Action
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Farming and rural
Policy actions  4 of 4

Seeds

Our policy is to maintain and protect the high quality of seeds available to the public and industry. 

We:

  • seek to prohibit a person from engaging in the business of a seed merchant, seed packer or seed processor unless that person has been licensedd by Scottish Ministers
  • provide for the licensing of crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations
  • keep registers of persons licensed as seed merchant, seed packer or seed processors, and registers of licensed crop inspectors, licensed seed samplers and licensed seed testing stations
  • allow for licensed crop inspectors, licensed seed samplers and licensed seed testing stations to charge for their services
  • provide for the sampling of seed for enforcement purposes and the supervision of licensed personnel and licesned seed testing stations
  • permit the right to make representation in relation to proposed decisions of the Scottish Ministers

Plant Breeder's Rights

UK Plant Breeder's Rights are a form of intellectual property rights for plant varieties which can be obtained from the Plant Variety Rights Office (PVRO).

Contact: 
Plant Variety Rights Office
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Eastbrook
Shaftesbury Road
Cambridge
CB2 8DR
United Kingdom

Telephone +44 (0) 208 026 5993 

Email: pvs.helpdesk@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Plant Variety Registration (national listing)

Any new plant varieties must be added to the UK’s national lists, before they can be marketed. The national lists are maintained by the Plant Variety Rights and Seeds Office (PVS), which is part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Details of all new or currently listed varieties can be found in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette.

Read more:

Policy and legislation

Policy issues for Plant Breeders’ Rights and National Listing are managed in the UK by the Plant Variety Seeds Committee where membership is made up of representatives from Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Scotland has its own devolved legislation for the marketing of seeds which originates from EU Directives and can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk/

Scottish Seed Regulations

  • The Beet Seed (Scotland) (No2)Regulations 2010
  • The Cereal Seed (Scotland) Regulations 2005
  • The Fodder Plant Seed (Scotland) Regulations 2005
  • The Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (Scotland) Regulations 2004
  • The Vegetable Seed regulations 1993 

The official supervision and enforcement of the above regulations is undertaken by the Seed (Licensing and Enforcement etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 2016  with any fees for the services being charged under The Seed Fees (Scotland) Regulations.

Back to top