{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vegetable-seeds-regulations-1993/regulation-9",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vegetable-seeds-regulations-1993/regulation-9.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1993/2008",
  "legislation_title": "The Vegetable Seeds Regulations 1993",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/vegetable-seeds-regulations-1993",
  "path": "regulation/9",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "9",
  "heading": "Labelling of packages",
  "text": "(1) Subject to paragraph (10) below, no person shall market any seeds in accordance with regulation 5(1)(a) or (2) except in a package which, not later than at time of sealing, is labelled, inscribed or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this regulation.\n(1A) In the case of a package of seeds in respect of which the Ministers has issued an official certificate under regulation 6(7), paragraph (1) above shall apply as if the words “not later than at the time of sealing” were omitted.\n(1B) If a variety has been genetically modified, any label or document, whether official or otherwise, affixed to or accompanying a seed lot or any part of a seed lot in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, shall clearly indicate that the variety has been genetically modified.\n(2) Subject to the exception in paragraph (3) below, a package of Pre-basic Seed or of Basic Seed or a package, other than a small package, of Certified Seed, shall have affixed on the outside an official label, as appropriate to the seeds, which shall be of at least the minimum size and of the colour specified in Part I of Schedule 6, and shall contain particulars of the matters also specified in the said Part I, such label being either an adhesive label of a label secured to the package by a sealing device approved by the Ministers, the label being affixed (in either case) by or under the supervision of a person authorised by the Ministers in that behalf.\n(3) The official label referred to in paragraph (2) above shall not be required when all of the particulars to be included therein are included in the official inner label placed in the package in accordance with paragraph (5) of this regulation and the package is sufficiently transparent to enable such particulars to be readily legible through it.\n(4) If in accordance with regulation 5(6) a person shall market Pre-basic Seed or Basic Seed of a lower percentage of germination than that specified in Schedule 4 the fact shall be stated on the official label and a suppliers label affixed to the outside of the package shall contain a statement of the germination of the seeds together with the name and address of the seller and the reference number of the lot.\n(5) A package of Pre-basic Seed or of Basic Seed or a package, other than a small package, of Certified Seed shall contain an official inner label which shall be of the same colour as, and in addition to, the official label affixed to the outside of the package in accordance with paragraph (2) above. The official inner label shall contain particulars of the reference number of the lot, and of the kind and the variety of the seeds; except that if such particulars are printed indelibly on the outside of the package or if the official label is an adhesive or a tear-resistant label the official inner label referred to in this paragraph shall not be required.\n(6) A package of Uncertified Pre-basic Seed or a package, other than a small package, of Standard Seed shall have affixed on the outside a label, as appropriate to the seeds, which shall be of at least the minimum size and of the colour specified in Part II of Schedule 6 and which shall contain particulars of the matters also specified in the said Part II; except that if all such particulars are printed indelibly on the outside of the package the said label shall not be required and if some of such particulars are so printed they may be omitted from the said label.\n(7) A small package of Certified Seed or a small package of Standard Seed shall have affixed on the outside a label, as appropriate to the seeds, which shall be of the colour specified in Part III of Schedule 6 and which shall contain particulars of the matters also specified in the said Part III; except that if all such particulars are printed indelibly on the outside of the package the said label shall not be required and if some of such particulars are so printed they may be omitted from the said label.\n(8) If a package of Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed or Certified Seed shall have been re-sealed in accordance with regulation 8(2) above this fact shall be stated on the official label together with the month and year of re-sealing and the name of the authority responsible for the re-sealing either on the official label referred to in paragraph (2) above or on the official inner label in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (3) above.\n(9) Subject to the exception in paragraphs (12B) and (12C) in respect of seed of a Conservation Variety and Standard Seed of an Amateur Variety, if any seeds have been subjected to any chemical treatment this fact and the nature of the treatment or the proprietary name of the chemical used in the treatment shall be stated either—\n(a) on a separate supplier’s label, or\n(b) on the label referred to in paragraph (2), (6) or (7) above or, where such a label is not required, with the particulars otherwise given in accordance with those paragraphs,\nand also, except where the label referred to in paragraph (2), (6) or (7) above is not required or where the information prescribed by this paragraph is given on an adhesive or tear-resistant label, either on the outside of the package or in a statement enclosed in the package.\n(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(11) Except in relation to seed of a Conservation Variety or Standard Seed of an Amateur Variety, a person may sell any seeds otherwise than in a package which is labelled, inscribed or otherwise dealt with in accordance with this regulation where—\n(a) the seeds are sold by way of retail sale in quantity not exceeding the appropriate maximum weight indicated in Schedule 7, and\n(b) the seeds are taken, in the presence of the purchaser, from a container on which there is clearly and visibly marked or near which there is clearly and visibly displayed a statement containing particulars of the matters specified in Part V of Schedule 6.\n(12) The particulars and information given in accordance with this regulation shall be given in English but may also be given in other languages.\n(12A) Where the kind or variety of seed is indicated on a label or marking it must be in Roman characters and the kind of seed may be designated by common name only or by common name and Latin name.\n(12B) A package of seed of a Conservation Variety shall bear a supplier’s label or a printed or stamped notice containing the information specified in Part VI of Schedule 6 (and for the avoidance of doubt neither an official label nor an official inner label is required).\n(12C) A package of Standard Seed of an Amateur Variety shall bear a supplier’s label or a printed or stamped notice containing the information specified in Part VII of Schedule 6 (and for the avoidance of doubt neither an official label nor an official inner label is required).\n(13) Subject to the provisions of the Act and of these Regulations, no person shall, in the course of the marketing or the preparation for marketing of any seeds by himself or by any other person, wilfully reproduce, remove, alter, deface, conceal or misuse in any way any label affixed to, contained in or marked on any package of seeds or to be so affixed, contained or marked.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Regulations revoked (E.) (31.1.2003) by The Vegetable Seed (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3175), regs. 1, 32(1)(a) (with reg. 32(2)(3)) and (W.) (18.11.2005) by The Vegetable Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3035), reg. 32(1)(a) (with reg. 32(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Reg. 9(1A) inserted (30.7.1999) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1863), regs. 1, 3(8) (with reg. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Regulations substituted (S.) (1.8.2000) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/250), regs. 1(1), 3(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Reg. 9(1B) inserted: (E.) (1.8.2000) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1790), regs. 1, 2(11)(a); (S.) (1.8.2000) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/250), regs. 1(1), 7(a); and (W.) (29.11.2001) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3667), regs. 1(1), 6(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in reg. 9(9) inserted (S.) (31.12.2010) by The Vegetable Seeds Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/425), regs. 1(1), 9(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Reg. 9(10) omitted (S.) (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Seed and Propagating Material (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/59), regs. 1(1)(b), 9(8)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in reg. 9(11) inserted (S.) (31.12.2010) by The Vegetable Seeds Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/425), regs. 1(1), 9(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in reg. 9(11)(b) substituted: (E.) (1.8.2000) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1790), regs. 1, 2(11)(b); (S.) (1.8.2000) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/250), regs. 1(1), 7(b); and (W.) (29.11.2001) by The Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3667), regs. 1(1), 6(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in reg. 9(12) substituted (S.) (31.12.2020) by The Seed and Propagating Material (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/59), regs. 1(1)(b), 9(8)(b) (as amended by S.S.I. 2020/445, regs. 1(1)(b), 10(7)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Reg. 9(12A) inserted (S.) (1.7.2007) by The Vegetable Seeds Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (S.S.I. 2007/305), regs. 1(1), 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Reg. 9(12B)(12C) inserted (S.) (31.12.2010) by The Vegetable Seeds Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. 2010/425), regs. 1(1), 9(3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 9 in force at 1.9.1993, see reg. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/2008/regulation/9",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T13:52:08.334731+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}