SEED LAWS AROUND THE WORLD: WHAT IMPACT … · Published February 2015 1. GRAIN Seed Laws Around the World ... ( %20Gazeta/Gazeta-1992/Proc%20No.%20206-2000%20Seed.pdf ...

GRAIN Seed Laws Around the World

Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift

may sell may harvest

seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized

can be fined can go to

jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties

Argentina yes yes no yes no no no yes no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Ley 20247

(http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegIntern

et/anexos/30000-

34999/34822/norma.htm); Reglamento

Ley 20247

(http://www.asa.org.ar/pdf/ley2183-

91.pdf); Ley 10711

Barbados only if

exemption is

decreed

no no yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes Protection of New Plant Varieties Act

2001-17

(http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/

en/bb/bb015en.pdf)

Belize yes no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Protection of New Plant Varieties Act

and Regulations

(http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?fi

le_id=125468)

Bolivia yes yes yes, if small,

except trees

and

ornamentals

no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Decision 345 of the Andean Community

(http://www.comunidadandina.org/ingles/

normativa/D345e.htm); Regulation on

the Protection of Plant Varieties


en/bo/bo037en.pdf)

Brazil yes yes yes yes ? no yes yes yes yes yes Ley 9456

(http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/

L9456.htm); Reglamento Ley 9456

Canada no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no Plant Breeder's Rights Act (http://laws-

lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/P-

14.6/FullText.html); Seeds Act; Seed

Regulations

Chile yes no no yes no no no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law 19342

(http://www.leychile.cl/Navegar?idNorma

=30709)

Colombia yes no no yes, if farm

is under 5

ha, and only

every other

year

no no no ? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes Decision 345 of the Andean Community


normativa/D345e.htm); Law 1032 of

2006


en/co/co057en.pdf); Resolution 970 by

ICA

(http://www.ica.gov.co/getattachment/03

750a73-db84-4f33-9568-

6e0bad0a507d/200R970.aspx)

Costa Rica yes yes yes no no no no no no yes yes yes yes not native

wild species

yes yes yes Law no. 8631 on the Protection of New

Varieties of Plants (as amended by Law

no. 8686 of November 21, 2008)


en/cr/cr027en.pdf)

Cuba yes yes no no yes yes yes yes no no Decreto-Ley 291


es/cu/cu081es.pdf); Decreto 175

(http://pflanzengesundheit.jki.bund.de/do

kumente/upload/893c3_cu3-act1992-

175.pdf)

Dominican

Republic

yes yes yes, except

trees and

ornamentals

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Ley 450-06


es/do/do014es.pdf)

Ecuador yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Decision 345 of the Andean Community


normativa/D345e.htm); Ley de la

Propiedad Intelectual


es/ec/ec031es.pdf)

SEED LAWS AROUND THE WORLD: WHAT IMPACT ON FARMERS AND THEIR SEEDS

What can you do with your own

seeds (local varieties)

What can you do with privatised seeds

(PVP-protected or patented varieties)

Under seed marketing

rules, farmers

If inspectors find “probable cause” of

infringement or you’re declared guilty of

infringement

in addition, infringement

means you

Inspection Scope of privatisation (PVP or patent)

Published February 2015 1


Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Ecuador yes yes yes no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no Constitución de la República del

Ecuador de 2008

(http://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesici

c4_ecu_const.pdf)

El Salvador yes yes ? yes yes Ley de Semillas

(http://www.asamblea.gob.sv/eparlament

o/indice-legislativo/buscador-de-

documentos-legislativos/ley-de-semillas)

Guatemala yes yes no no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Acuerdo Ministerial no. 712 - 2002


kumente/upload/b1c67_gt3-2002-

712.pdf)

Guyana

Honduras yes yes if packaged

and labeled

yes, except

trees and

ornamentals

no no yes yes yes yes yes no yes no yes Decreto 1046 de 1980

(http://www.senasa-sag.gob.hn/wp-

content/uploads/2014/08/Ley-de-

semillas-gaceta.pdf); Ley para la

Protección de Obtenciones Vegetales

(http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/CEDIJ/

Leyes/Documents/Ley%20para%20la%2

0Proteccion%20de%20Obtenciones%20

de%20Vegetales%20(3,1mb).pdf)

Jamaica

Mexico yes no no yes no no yes yes yes yes no Ley Federal de Variedades Vegetales

(http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBibli

o/pdf/120.pdf); Ley Federal de

Producción, Certificación y Comercio de

Semillas

(http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBibli

o/pdf/LFPCCS.pdf); Reglamento de la

Ley Federal de Producción, Certificación

y Comercio de Semillas

Nicaragua yes yes no yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Ley y Reglamento de Produccion y

Comercio de Semillas, Diciembre 1997

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/americ

as/Nicaragua/Nicaragua-seed98.pdf);

Ley de Protección para las Obtenciones

Vegetales


es/ni/ni014es.pdf); Reglamento Ley de

Protección de Obtenciones Vegetales

(http://www.fao.org/forestry/12951-

0495fa6793369967811b95cf5a00a7f44.

pdf)

Panama yes yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Law no. 23 of July 15, 1997 on Industrial

Property, Title V


en/pa/pa006en.pdf)

Paraguay yes no no yes yes yes yes Decree no. 7797/00 of March 7, 2000


en/py/py011en.pdf)

Peru yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes Supreme Decree no. 035-2011-PCM

Approving the Regulations for the

Protection of the Rights of Breeders of

the New Plant Varieties (2011)


en/pe/pe063en.pdf)

Suriname



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Trinidad &

Tobago

no no no yes yes yes no yes yes Protection of New Plant Varieties Act


en/tt/tt045en.pdf); Protection of New

Plant Varieties Regulations


en/tt/tt052en.pdf)

United States with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Yes? yes yes yes yes Consolidated Patent Laws

(http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/m

pep/consolidated_laws.pdf); Plant

Variety Protection Act

(http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfi

le?dDocName=STELDEV3002796)

Uruguay yes no yes, if small no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Ley 16811

(http://uruguay.justia.com/nacionales/ley

es/ley-16811-feb-21-1997/gdoc/); Ley

16580


es/ley-16580-sep-21-1994/gdoc/); Ley

18467


es/ley-18467-feb-27-2009/gdoc/)

Venezuela yes no no yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Ley de Semillas, Material para la

Reproduccion Animal e Insumos

Biologicos


es/ve/ve047es.pdf); Decisión 345 de la

Comunidad Andina


es/can/can008es.pdf)

African Union yes yes yes yes yes no no no no yes yes African Model Legislation for the

Protection of the Rights of Local

Communities, Farmers and Breeders,

and for the Regulation of Access to

Biological Resources

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/africa/

AU/AU-model%20law00.pdf)

Algeria no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Loi no. 05-03 relative aux semences, aux

plants et à la protection de l'obtention

végétale

(http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/f

r/dz/dz043fr.pdf)

Angola no yes yes yes Lei no. 3/92 (Lei da Propiedade

Industrial)


pt/ao/ao003pt.pdf)

ARIPO (draft) after

payment,

and not for

trees and

ornamentals

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Draft ARIPO Legal Framework for the

Protection of New Varieties of Plants

(http://www.upov.int/edocs/mdocs/upov/

en/c_extr_31/c_extr_31_2.pdf)

Burkina Faso yes no yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes Loi no. 010-2006/an

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/Africa/

Burkina%20Faso/Burkina%20Faso-

seedpvp06.pdf)

Cameroon yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Loi no. 2001/014 du 23 juillet 2001

relative à l’activité semencière

(http://www.spm.gov.cm/fr/documentatio

n/textes-legislatifs-et-

reglementaires/article/loi-n-2001014-du-

23-juillet-2001-relative-a-lactivite-

semenciere.html)

Africa



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Cote d’Ivoire no no yes Décret no. 92-392 du 01/7/92


Cote%20d'Ivoire/Cote%20d'Ivoire-

seedpvp92.pdf); arreté 28915

(http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ivc28915.p

df)

Ethiopia yes yes only directly

to

neighbourin

g farmers

no yes yes yes yes yes, but not

homes

yes Proclamation 206/2000

(http://www.fsc.gov.et/resources/Negarit

%20Gazeta/Gazeta-

1992/Proc%20No.%20206-

2000%20Seed.pdf)

Kenya no yes yes yes yes yes, but not

homes

no yes yes Seeds and Plant Variety Act


en/ke/ke005en.pdf); Seeds and Plant

Varieties Regulations, 1994

(http://www.upov.int/export/sites/upov/m

embers/en/npvlaws/kenya/regulations19

94.pdf)

Liberia no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Industrial Property Act


en/lr/lr001en.pdf)

Madagascar no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Ordonnance no. 89-019 instituant un

régime pour la protection de la propriété

industrielle à Madagascar


r/mg/mg001fr.pdf)

Malawi yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Seed Act (no. 9 1996)

(http://www.malawilii.org/files/mw/legisla

tion/act/1996/9/sa200550_pdf_52782.pdf

)

Mauritius no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Breeder’s Right Bill


Mauritius/Mauritius-pvpdraft03.pdf)

Morocco yes, except

for fruit trees

yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes Obtentions végétales, loi 21/01/1997-

1417, no. 9-94


Morocco/Morocco-pvp97.PDF)

Mozambique yes yes yes Decree no. 58/2006 of December 26

(http://www.aatf-africa.org/userfiles/MZ-

Decree-58-2006.pdf)

OAPI yes, except

trees and

ornamentals

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Accord portant révision de l’accord de

Bangui du 02 mars 1977 instituant une

Organisation africaine de la propriété

intellectuelle


en/cg/cg003en.pdf)

SADC (draft) with

restriction

with

restrictions

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Model Seed Act for Southern Africa

Countries

(http://www.seeds.iastate.edu/images/m

odelseedact.pdf)

Tunisia no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes Law no. 99-42 of May 10, 1999, on

Seeds, Seedlings and New Plant

Varieties


en/tn/tn005en.pdf)

Uganda yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Agricultural Seeds and Plant Act (1994)

(http://www.ulii.org/ug/legislation/consoli

dated-act/28)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Zambia yes on his/her

own farm

on his/her

own farm

yes yes on his/her

own farm

yes yes yes yes no yes yes yes Plant Breeder's Rights Act, 2007

(http://www.zambialii.org/files/zm/legislat

ion/act/2007/18/pbra2007222.pdf); Plant

Variety and Seeds Act


en/zm/zm037en.pdf); Plant Variety and

Seeds Regulations


Zambia/Zambia-seedregulations97.pdf)

Zimbabwe yes yes yes with

restrictions

with

restrictions

yes yes yes yes yes no Plant Breeders Rights Act


en/zw/zw026en.pdf)

Afghanistan yes yes yes yes yes yes Seed Law


en/af/af006en.pdf)

Australia every

second

year, with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes no yes yes Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994, as

amended on 6 October 2006

(http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C200

6C00584); Plant Breeder's Rights

Regulations 1994, as in force 5 July

1999

(http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F200

4C00318)

Azerbaijan no no no yes yes yes yes Law on Selection Achievements


embers/en/npvlaws/azerbaijan/Azerbaija

n_Law.pdf)

Bangladesh yes yes yes yes yes no no no Plant Varieties Act of Bangladesh

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/B

angladesh/Bangladesh-pvpdraft98.pdf)

Bhutan no if exemption

is granted

if exemption

is granted

if exemption

is granted

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Biodiversity Act of Bhutan

(http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/wp-

content/uploads/2011/02/Biodiversity_En

_03.pdf); Seeds Act of Bhutan

(http://www.nationalcouncil.bt/wp-

content/uploads/2011/02/Seeds_En_00.

pdf)

Cambodia no if exemption

is granted

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on Seed Management and Plant

Breeder's Right

(http://eapvp.org/library/member/pdf/Kh

mer_UPOV_Act-Eng-Final.pdf)

China yes yes yes no yes yes no Seed Law of the People's Republic of

China

(http://english1.english.gov.cn/laws/2005-

09/08/content_30273.htm); Regulations

of the People’s Republic of China on the

Protection of New Varieties of Plants


le_id=125966); Implementing Rules for

the Regulations of the People’s Republic

of China on the Protection of New

Varieties of Plants (Agriculture Part)


embers/en/npvlaws/china/Decree13.pdf)

Asia and the Pacific



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


India yes yes yes yes if not

labeled

yes no no yes yes no yes Protection of Plant Varieties and

Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001


le_id=128109); Protection of Plant

Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Rules,

2003

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/In

dia/India-pvpandfrrules01.pdf)

Indonesia yes yes no no yes yes yes no yes yes Plant Variety Protection Law (no. 29 of

2000)


le_id=181116)

Iraq no no no yes yes yes no Coalition Provisional Authority Order

Number 81: Patent, Industrial Design,

Undisclosed Information, Integrated

Circuits and Plant Variety Law

(http://www.mindfully.org/Farm/2004/Ira

q-Plant-Variety-Law26apr04.htm)

Iran yes yes no Act of Plant Varieties Registration,

Control and Certification of Seeds and

Seedlings


en/ir/ir002en.pdf)

Israel no no no yes yes yes Plant Breeders' Rights Law 5733-1973

as amended in December 1983 and

February 1996


le_id=224260)

Japan yes, if

propagated

by seed

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act

(Act no. 83 of May 29, 1998) as

amended by Act no. 49/2007

(http://www.upov.org/export/sites/upov/e

n/publications/npvlaws/japan/japan_act_

49_2007.pdf)

Jordan yes no no yes yes yes no yes yes yes yes Law for the Protectionof New Varieties of

Plants of the year 2000


le_id=128330)

Kazakhstan no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on

the Protection of Selection Achievements


le_id=189339)

Kyrgyztan only for

home

consumptio

n

no no yes yes yes yes no yes Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the

Protection of Breeding Achievements

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/Ky

rgyzistan/Kyrgyz-pvp98.pdf)

Laos every

second

year, with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on Intellectual Property (amended)

(http://www.ecap-

project.org/sites/default/files/IP_Legislati

on/Lao%20IP%20Law%202011.pdf)

Malaysia yes yes yes, with

restrictions

yes ? yes yes yes yes yes yes, if

breeder has

prior

informed

consent of

community

yes Protection of New Plant Varieties Act

2004, Act 634


le_id=128881)

Nepal applies to

certain

varieties

yes The Seeds Act, 2045 (1988)

(http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep21975.

pdf); The Seeds Regulation 2054 (1997)

(http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep80461.

pdf)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


New Zealand no no no yes yes yes Act to Consolidate and Amend the Law

relating to the Granting of Proprietary

Rights in Respect of Plant Varieties

1987, no. 5

(http://www.austlii.edu.au/nz/legis/hist_a

ct/pvra19871987n5274.pdf); Act to

amend the Plant Variety Rights Act 1987

1994, no. 52

(http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/es/text.jsp?fi

le_id=129117)

Oman ? ? no yes yes yes yes yes Royal Decree no. 92/2000 Promulgating

the Law on the Protection of New Plant

Varieties


le_id=129250)

Pakistan yes yes yes yes yes yes applies to

certain

varieties

yes yes yes yes Plant Breeders’ Rights Ordinance, 2000

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/P

akistan/Pakistan-pvpdraft00.pdf); Seed

Act 1976


le_id=189181)

Philippines yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Republic Act no. 9168 (An Act to Provide

Protection to New Plant Varieties,

Establishing a National Plant Variety

Protection Board and for Other

Purposes)


le_id=225014); Republic Act 8371

(http://www.gov.ph/1997/10/29/republic-

act-no-8371/); Republic Act 7308

(http://www.nseedcouncil.bpinsicpvpo.co

m.ph/downloadables/ra7308.pdf);

Implementing Rules and Regulations of

Republic Act no. 7308


kumente/upload/fefd5_ph3-

seed_reg.pdf)

Saudi Arabia ? no no yes yes yes yes Law of Patents, Layout Designs of

Integrated Circuits, Plant Varieties and

Industrial Designs


le_id=129519)

Singapore yes yes yes with

restrictions

with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Varieties Protection Act (Chapter

232a). Revised edition 2006


en/sg/sg060en.pdf)

South Korea only for

home

consumptio

n

no no ? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Seed Industry Law

(https://www.law.ou.edu/sites/default/file

s/files/FACULTY/2005okjoltrev26.pdf)

Sri Lanka with

restriction

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Protection of New Plant Varieties

(Breeder's Rights) Sri Lanka 2001

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/Sr

i_Lanka/Sri%20Lanka-pvpdraft01.pdf);

Seed Act 22 of 2003

(http://www.agridept.gov.lk/images/storie

s/site/PDF/Acts/seed%20act.pdf)

Taiwan with

restriction

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/Ta

iwan/Taiwan-pvpseed04.pdf)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Tajikistan no no no no yes yes yrd yes yes yes yes Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on

Selection Achievements of Agricultural

Crops

(http://www.farmersrights.org/pdf/asia/Ta

jikistan/Tajikistan-pvp95.pdf); Seed

Sector Law of Republic of Tajikistan

(http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/taj73132E.

pdf)

Thailand Yes, with

restrictions

with

restrictions

yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Varieties Protection Act, B.E. 2542

(1999)

(http://www.seed.or.th/english/document

s_eng/plant_varieties_protection_act_be

_2542.pdf)

Turkey yes, with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law no. 5042 on the Protection of

Breeder's Rights for New Plant Varieties

(January 8, 2004)


en/tr/tr044en.pdf)

Uzbekistan for two

years

no no yes yes yes yes Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on

Selection Achievements of 2002


embers/en/npvlaws/uzbekistan/Uzbekist

an_law_2002.pdf)

Vietnam only once yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law no. 50/2005/qh11 (Intellectual

Property Law)


le_id=131515); Ordinance on Plant

Varieties (April 2004)


le_id=184251)

Albania yes yes yes Law 880 on Plant Breeder's Rights


n/publications/npvlaws/Albania/albania_l

aw_8880_2002.pdf)

Andorra

Armenia no no no yes yes Law of the Republic of Armenia adopted

by the National Assembly on November

23, 1999 on the Protection of Selection

Achievements

(http://www.parliament.am/law_docs/221

299HO23eng.pdf?lang=eng)

Austria with

restrictions

no no yes no yes yes Federal Law on the Protection of Plant

Varieties (2001) (there is a later version

not available in English)

(http://www.upov.int/upovlex/en/text.jsp?f

ile_id=224251)

Belgium ? no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Loi sur la protection des obtentions

végétales


le_id=262037)

Belarus no no no yes yes no yes yes Law on Patents for Plant Varieties


embers/en/npvlaws/belarus/belarus.pdf)

Europe



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Croatia no no no yes yes yes yes no no yes Plant Variety Protection Law (1997)


le_id=243696); Amendments of 2000


n/publications/npvlaws/croatia/law_amen

dments.pdf); Amendments 2008

(http://www.upov.int/upovlex/es/text.jsp?f

ile_id=268135) ; Amendments 2011


le_id=268005)

Czech

Republic

with

restrictions

yes no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Act on the Protection of Plant Variety

Rights as published in the UPOV

Gazette no. 93, June 2002


en/cz/cz031en.pdf); Act Amending Act

on the Protection of Plant Variety Rights

no. 184/2008 coll


le_id=224271)

Denmark no no no yes yes yes yes Danish Plant Variety Protection Act


embers/en/npvlaws/denmark/denmark96

.pdf)

Estonia no no no yes yes yes yes Plant Variety Rights Act


n/publications/npvlaws/estonia/Law1998.

pdf)

European

Union

yes with

restrictions

no Yes for 21

species,

with

royalties

no no yes Farmers can

buy and use

what they

want, except

GMOs or

seeds

prohibited

due to plant

health

regulations

Farmers can

buy and use

seeds that

are sold for

non-

professional

use

Depends on

national

laws.

Depends on

national

laws.

Depends on

national

laws.

Depends on

national

laws.

Depends on

national

laws.

Depends on

national

laws.

PVP law:

cultivated

species.

Patent law:

if a genetic

characteristi

c is

patented, all

plants

containing

that gene,

including

wild species.

Yes if the

varieties are

under PVP.

No for

patented

plants.

Yes under

PVP, if the

variety has

not been

sold or

officially

described

before. Yes

when patent

is granted

on genetic

characteristi

c.

yes Council Regulation (EC) no. 2100/94 of

27 July 1994 on Community Plant

Variety Rights


le_id=126825); Council Directive

2002/53/EC of 13 June 2002 on the

Common Catalogue of Varieties of

Agricultural Plant Species (http://eur-

lex.europa.eu/legal-

content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32002

L0053&from=en); Commission

Regulation (EC) no. 1768/95 (of 24 July

1995) Implementing Rules on the

Agricultural Exemption Provided for in

Article 14(3) of Council Regulation (EC)

no. 2100/94 on Community Plant Variety

Rights

(http://www.cpvo.europa.eu/documents/l

ex/395R1768/EN395R1768.pdf);

Directive 2004/48/EC of the European

Parliament and of the Council of 29 April

2004 on the Enforcement of Intellectual

Property Rights


le_id=126986)

Finland with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Act on Plant Breeder’s Right (no.

789/1992, 21.8.1992) as Amended


en/fi/fi103en.pdf); Amendments to the

Act on Plant Breeder’s Right (no.

238/1999, 5.3.1999)


en/fi/fi103en.pdf); Plant Breeder's Right

Act (1279/2009)

(https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/

2009/en20091279.pdf)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


France yes with

restrictions

no Yes for 34

species,

with

royalties

no no Farmers can

buy and use

what they

want, except

GMOs or

seeds

prohibited

due to plant

health

regulations

Farmers can

buy and use

seeds that

are sold for

non-

professional

use

Yes, at the

level of a

seed seller.

Not at the

level of a

farmer,

unless

he/she is

using an

unauthorise

d GMO

No, except

in the case

of an

unauthorise

d GM crop

No, except

in the case

of an

unauthorise

d GM crop

No, except

in the case

of an

unauthorise

d GM crop

Yes, at the

level of the

seed seller.

Yes, at the

level of a

farmer using

farm-saved

seeds of a

PVP-

protected

varieties

without

paying

royalites.

No, at the

level of a

farmer using

unregistered

varieties.

Yes, at the

level of the

seed seller.

Yes, at the

level of a

farmer using

farm-saved

seeds of a

PVP-

protected

varieties

without

paying

royalites.

No, at the

level of a

farmer using

unregistered

varieties.

Yes, can

enter private

home but

only with a

court order

Only if there

if sufficient

suspicion of

counterfeit

Yes, if there

is a court

order

Under PVP:

cultivated

species.

Under

patent law: if

a genetic

characteristi

c is

patented, all

plants

containing

that gene,

including

wild species.

Yes if the

varieties are

privatised

under PVP

law.

Patented

plants: can

be used for

research but

not for

breeding

new

varieties

Yes under

PVP, if the

variety has

not been

sold or

officially

described

before. Yes

when patent

is granted

on genetic

characteristi

c.

yes Loi du 08 nonvembre 2011 sur les

certificats d’obtention végétale officiel du

8 décembre 2011


r/fr/fr208fr.pdf). Brevets : Loi n°2004-

1338 du 8 décembre 2004, LOI n°2008-

776 du 4 août 2008. Contrefaçon : Loi n°

2014-315 du 11 mars 2014 renforçant la

lutte contre la contrefaçon

Georgia no no no yes yes yes yes yes Law of Georgia on New Breeds of

Animals and Varieties of Plants (2010)


ile_id=247756)

Germany with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Variety Protection Law


le_id=126209)

Greece no yes Law no 1564. “Organization of

Production and Marketing of Propagating

Material of Plant Species” (only Article 8

available in English)


le_id=127597)

Hungary with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Act XXXIII of 1995 on the Protection of

Inventions by Patents, consolidated in

March 2011


le_id=190654)

Iceland with

restrictions

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Breeder's Right Act 2000, amended

2003


le_id=215020); Act on Collection of

Evidence Relating to Alleged Violations

of Intellectual Property Rights, 2006, No.

53, 13 June


le_id=190462)

Ireland with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) 1980

and Amendment Act, 1998

(http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/pdf/1998/

en.act.1998.0041.pdf); Plant Varieties

(Proprietary Rights) Regulations 2000

(http://www.upov.org/upovlex/en/text.jsp

?file_id=268006); S.I. No. 493/2000,

Plant Varieties (Farm-Saved Seed)

Regulations

(http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/s

i/0493.html)

Italy no no no yes yes yes yes yes Legislative Decree no. 455 of November

1988

(http://www.upov.org/upovlex/en/text.jsp

?file_id=224329)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Latvia with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes Plant Variety Protection Law 2005

(http://webcache.googleusercontent.com

/search?q=cache:8R-

9tuVa5YwJ:www.vvc.gov.lv/export/sites/

default/docs/LRTA/Likumi/Plant_Varietie

s_Protection_Law.doc)

Liechtenstein

Lithuania with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes all cultivated

ones

yes yes yes Law on the Protection of Plant Varieties


le_id=188793)

Macedonia no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes all, as of

2017

yes yes yes Law of the Breeder's Rights


ile_id=244364)

Malta no yes yes yes Plant Quarantine Act (cap 433)

(http://www.agric.gov.mt/government-

notices)

Moldova no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Moldova Law on the Protection of Plant

Varieties, no. 39-XVI of February 29,

2008


le_id=224334)

Monaco

Montenegro no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on Protection of Plant Varieties

(http://webcache.googleusercontent.com

/search?q=cache:bKz8lNNl71UJ:www.po

reskauprava.gov.me/ResourceManager/

FileDownload.aspx%3Frid%3D181150%

26rType%3D2%26file%3DLaw%2520on

%2520Protection%2520of%2520Plant%

2520Varieties.pdf)

Netherlands no no no yes yes yes for some

species

yes yes yes yes yes yes Seeds and Planting Material Act.

Consolidated Text of the Act of October

6, 1966, as last amended by the Act of

January 28, 1999


en/nl/nl051en.pdf)

Norway yes no no yes yes Regulations Concerning Plant Breeder's

Right


le_id=224262)

Poland with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Act of 26 June 2003 on the Legal

Protection of Plant Varieties


en/pl/pl053en.pdf)

Portugal yes no yes Decree-law no. 213/90


le_id=129425)

Romania with

restrictions

no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on the Protection of the New Plant

Varieties no. 255/1998


en/ro/ro040en.pdf) ; Implementing

Regulations of the Law on the Protection

of the New Plant Varieties no. 255/1998

(http://www.osim.ro/index3_files/laws/pla

nts/romania-regs-2001.pdf)

Russia for just two

seasons

no no yes yes yes Law on the Protection of Selection

Achievements (of August 6, 1993)


en/ru/ru068en.pdf)



Country or

jurisdiction

Source/law

may keep may

exchange or

give as a gift


seeds and

sow again

on own farm

may harvest

seeds and

then

exchange or

give as a gift

may harvest

seeds and

then sell

them

contracts

other

restrictions

may be set

by contract

can only use

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

can only buy

certified,

registered or

catalogued

seeds

seed can be

seized

crop can be

destroyed

harvest can

be seized

product

made from

harvested

material can

be seized


jail

all places -

including

homes- can

be searched

may be

done by

private

sector

may be

done with

police or

military

support

all species,

including

wild ones,

may be

privatised

privatised

varieties

may be

used to

breed new

ones

local seed

may be

privatised if

“discovered”

privatisation

extends to

similar pre-

existing

varieties







rules, farmers



infringement


means you


Serbia with

restrictions

and if not

patented

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on Protection of Plant Breeders'

Rights


en/rs/rs046en.pdf); Patent Law


en/rs/rs044en.pdf)

Slovakia with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes no yes yes yes Slovakia Act no. 132/1989 coll. Laws

dated 15 November 1989 on the

Protection of Rights of New Varieties

and Animal Breeds; amended: 22/1996

coll. Laws


en/sk/sk045en.pdf)

Slovenia with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law on Plant Variety Protection 1999


ile_id=224265); Act Amending the

Protection of New Varieties of Plants Act

(Official Gazette RS, no. 61/2006)


en/si/si074en.pdf)

Spain with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes yes ? yes yes yes yes Law 3/2000 Governing the Protection of

Plant Varieties


le_id=185347)

Sweden no no no yes yes yes yes yes yes Act on the Protection of Plant Breeders'

Rights


n/publications/npvlaws/sweden/Sweden-

Law1997.pdf)

Switzerland with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes yes yes Federal Law on the Protection of Plant

Varieties no. 232.16 (as of September

2008)


n/publications/npvlaws/switzerland/ch_2

32_16_2008.pdf)

Ukraine with

restrictions

yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes Law of Ukraine on Amendments to the

Law of Ukraine on the Protection of Plant

Variety Rights


le_id=224317)

United

Kingdom

with

restrictions

no no yes yes yes Plant Varieties Act

1997(http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpg

a/1997/66/enacted); Seed Marketing

Regulations 2011

(http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/

463/made)
