Marketing, import and export of seeds
On this page, you can read about the rules that apply if you want to trade with seed in Sweden and in the rest of the EU. There is also information about trading with countries outside the EU.
The rules apply to people and businesses that sell seed or store seed which later is intended to be sold or given away, “marketing”. If you import seed from other countries, you need to read what applies in this case as well.
You must register your activities with the Swedish Board of Agriculture
Seed
If you are professionally packaging or marketing seed from seed-bearing plants, you must notify your activities to the seed unit of the Swedish Board of Agriculture via e-mail.
If you are trading with seed for vegetables or ornamental plants, or other seeds, or seeds for which a plant passport is required, you must also register with the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s register of seed businesses.
Seed potatoes
If you are going to market seed potatoes, you must register and be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s seed unit. You register via e-mail. You must also register in the potato register using an e-service.
Rules for marketing of seeds
In order to be permitted to market seed for agricultural plants, the seed must be certified. In order to be permitted to sell seed for vegetables, the seed must meet the requirements for controlled standard seed according to decisions or certifications by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. There are also rules that apply to marketing seed for ornamental plants and for some fruit plants.
Agricultural plants
In order to be permitted to market seed for agricultural plants, the seed must be certified.
- The seed installation must be approved, and the lots of seed must be approved.
- The varieties that you market must be approved.
- The seed has to meet certain requirements on e.g. the ability to germinate, purity, plant health, and the occurrence of weeds. These requirements vary depending on the species and class of the seeds.
- The seed must be sealed and labelled so that it can be verified from the outside that the EU requirements are met. Certified seed of beets, fodder, fibre and oil plants may be packed in supplier-labelled small packages which must also be sealed and labelled. The seed packaging must be sealed so that it cannot be opened without destroying the package or the seal. The seed packaging shall be labelled with an official label, or print directly on the package itself. The label must specify e.g. the species, variety, class of seed and the certification number.
- For conservation varieties of agricultural plants, special rules apply.
- Special rules also apply to some species of fodder crops, relating to the derogations for commercial seed.
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Avena nuda L. | Nakenhavre |
Avena sativa L. (även A. byzantina K. Koch) | Havre och rödhavre |
Avena strigosa Schreb. | Purrhavre |
Hordeum vulgare L. | Korn |
Oryza sativa L. | Ris |
Secale cereale L. | Råg |
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor | Sorghum |
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. bicolor x Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse | Hybrider mellan Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor och Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii |
Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet ex Davidse | Sudangräs |
xTriticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus | Rågvete (hybrider mellan Triticum och Secale) |
Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum | Vete |
Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) van Slageren | Durumvete |
Triticum aestivum L. subsp. spelta (L.) Thell. | Speltvete |
Phalaris canariensis L. | Kanariegräs |
Zea mays L. med undantag av convar microsperma Koern. och convar. sacchata Koern. | Majs utom puffmajs (popcorn) och sockermajs |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Agrostis canina L. | Brunven |
Agrostis capillaris L. | Rödven |
Agrostis gigantea Roth | Storven |
Agrostis stolonifera L. | Krypven |
Alopecurus pratensis L. | Ängskavle |
Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) P. Beauv. ex J. Presl & C. Presl | Knylhavre |
Bromus catharticus Vahl | Plattlosta |
Bromus sitchensis Trin. | Alaskagräs |
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagräs |
Dactylis glomerata L. | Hundäxing |
Festuca arundinacea Schreber | Rörsvingel |
Festuca filiformis Pourr. | Finsvingel |
Festuca ovina L. | Fårsvingel |
Festuca pratensis Huds. | Ängssvingel |
Festuca rubra L. | Rödsvingel |
Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Hack. | Hårdsvingel |
xFestulolium Asch. & Graebn. | Rajsvingel (hybrider mellan Festuca och Lolium) |
Lolium multiflorum Lam. | Italienskt rajgräs (inkl. westerwoldiskt rajgräs) |
Lolium perenne L. | Engelskt rajgräs |
Lolium x hybridum Hausskn | Hybridrajgräs |
Phalaris aquatica L. | Knölflen |
Phleum nodosum L. | Turftimotej, Vildtimotej |
Phleum pratense L. | Timotej |
Poa annua L. | Vitgröe |
Poa nemoralis L. | Lundgröe |
Poa palustris L. | Sengröe |
Poa pratensis L. | Ängsgröe |
Poa trivialis L. | Kärrgröe |
Trisetum flavescens (L.) P. Beauv. | Gullhavre |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Biserrula pelecinus L. | Sågväppling |
Galega orientalis Lam. | Fodergetruta |
Hedysarum coronarium L. | Rosenväppling |
Lathyrus cicera L. | Rödvial |
Lotus corniculatus L. | Käringtand |
Lupinus albus L. | Vitlupin |
Lupinus angustifolius L. | Blålupin |
Lupinus luteus L. | Gullupin |
Medicago doliata Carmign. | Pigglusern |
Medicago italica (Mill.) Fiori | Skivlusern |
Medicago littoralis Rohde ex Loisel. | Mattlusern |
Medicago lupulina L. | Humlelusern |
Medicago murex Willd. | Klotlusern |
Medicago polymorpha L. | Tagglusern |
Medicago rugosa Desr. | Rynklusern |
Medicago sativa L. | Blålusern |
Medicago scutellata (L.) Mill. | Snäcklusern |
Medicago truncatula Gaertn. | Tornlusern |
Medicago x varia T. Martyn Sand | Mellanlusern |
Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. | Esparsett |
Ornithopus compressus L. | Gulserradella |
Ornithopus sativus Brot. | Serradella |
Pisum sativum L. (partim.) | Foderärt, Kokärt |
Trifolium alexandrinum L. | Alexandrinerklöver |
Trifolium fragiferum L. | Smultronklöver |
Trifolium glanduliferum Boiss. | Glandelklöver |
Trifolium hirtum All. | Rosenklöver |
Trifolium hybridum L. | Alsikeklöver |
Trifolium incarnatum L. | Blodklöver |
Trifolium isthmocarpum Brot. | Saltklöver |
Trifolium michelianum Savi | Sumpklöver |
Trifolium pratense L. | Rödklöver |
Trifolium repens L. | Vitklöver |
Trifolium resupinatum L. | Doftklöver |
Trifolium squarrosum L. | Spärrklöver |
Trifolium subterraneum L. | Grävklöver |
Trifolium vesiculosum Savi | Pilbladsklöver |
Trigonella foenum-graecum L. | Bockhornsklöver |
Vicia benghalensis L. | Purpurvicker |
Vicia faba L. | Åkerböna |
Vicia pannonica Crantz | Ungersk vicker |
Vicia sativa L. | Fodervicker |
Vicia villosa Roth | Luddvicker |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica (L.) Rchb. | Kålrot |
Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. medullosa Thell. + var. viridis L. | Fodermärgkål |
Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. | Honungsört |
Plantago lanceolata L. | Svartkämpar |
Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers. | Oljerättika |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Beta vulgaris L. var. crassa Mansf. | Foderbeta |
Beta vulgaris L. var. altissima Döll | Sockerbeta |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Arachis hypogaea L. | Jordnöt |
Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. | Sareptasenap |
Brassica napus L. (partim.) | Raps |
Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch | Svartsenap |
Brassica rapa L. var. silvestris (Lam.) Briggs | Rybs |
Cannabis sativa L. | Hampa |
Carthamus tinctorius L. | Safflor |
Carum carvi L. | Kummin |
Glycine max (L.) Merr. | Sojaböna |
Gossypium spp. | Bomull |
Helianthus annuus L. | Solros |
Linum usitatissimum L. | Oljelin, Spånadslin |
Papaver somniferum L. | Vallmo, Opievallmo |
Sinapis alba L. | Vitsenap |
Species in Latin | Species in Swedish |
---|---|
Solanum tuberosum L. | Potatis |
Potatoes
In order to be permitted to market seed potatoes, the seed must be certified.
- The seed installation must be approved, and the lots of seed must be approved.
- The varieties that you market must be approved.
- The seed shall meet certain requirements.
- Potatoes may be portioned into small packages, which must be sealed and labelled. You can read more about this in Annex 6, point B in the regulations on seed potatoes.
- Seed potatoes shall have a plant passport.
- Special rules apply to conservation varieties of potatoes.
Vegetables
In order for you to be allowed to market vegetable seed, the seed must meet the requirements for controlled standard seed as decided by the Swedish Board of Agriculture or be certified.
- Businesses that package or label seed in small packages shall continually keep records on the stock and the packaging of lots and mixtures.
- The seed must be of approved varieties.
- The seed has to meet certain requirements on e.g. the ability to germinate, purity, plant health, and the occurrence of weeds. The requirements vary depending on the species.
- The seed must be sealed and labelled for conformity with EU rules. Vegetables seeds may also be marketed in small packages, which must be sealed and labelled. All seed must be officially labelled or labelled with a supplier label. The packager is responsible for the contents of the package.
- The seed package must be sealed so that the package cannot be opened without destroying it or the seal.
- Special rules apply to seed of conservation varieties of vegetables and to amateur varieties of vegetables.
- If you market seed professionally, you must register your business using the e-service Registration of professional production and sales of plants and seeds.
Species in Latin | Species i Swedish |
---|---|
Allium cepa L. - Cepa-gruppen | Lök |
Allium cepa L. - Aggregatum-gruppen | Schalottenlök |
Allium fistulosum L. | Piplök |
Allium porrum L. | Purjolök |
Allium sativum L. | Vitlök |
Allium schoenoprasum L. | Gräslök |
Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm. | Dansk körvel |
Apium graveolens L. - Dulce-gruppen | Blekselleri |
Apium graveolens L. - Rapaceum-gruppen | Rotselleri |
Asparagus officinalis L. | Sparris |
Beta vulgaris L. - Rödbeta-gruppen | Rödbeta (inklusive Cheltenhambeta) |
Beta vulgaris L. - Mangold-gruppen | Mangold |
Brassica oleracea L. - Sabellica-gruppen | Grönkål |
Brassica oleracea L. - Botrytis-gruppen | Blomkål |
Brassica oleracea L. - Capitata-gruppen | Huvudkål (rödkål och vitkål) |
Brassica oleracea L. - Gemmifera-gruppen | Brysselkål |
Brassica oleracea L. - Gongylodes-gruppen | Kålrabbi |
Brassica oleracea L. - Sabauda-gruppen | Savojkål |
Brassica oleracea L. - Italica-gruppen | Broccoli |
Brassica oleracea L. - Palmifolia-gruppen | Palmkål |
Brassica oleracea L. - Tronchuda-gruppen | Portugisisk kål |
Brassica rapa L. - Pekinensis-gruppen | Salladskål |
Brassica rapa L. - Rapifera-gruppen | Rova |
Capsicum annuum L. | Chilipeppar, paprika |
Cichorium endivia L. | Friséesallat |
Cichorium intybus L. - Foliosum-gruppen | Cikoriasallat |
Cichorium intybus L. - Sallatscikoria-gruppen | Sallatscikoria |
Cichorium intybus L. - Sativum-gruppen | Rotcikoria |
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai | Vattenmelon |
Cucumis melo L. | Melon |
Cucumis sativus L. - Slanggurka-gruppen | Slanggurka |
Cucumis sativus L. - Druvgurka-gruppen | Druvgurka |
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne | Jättepumpa (inklusive vinterpumpa) |
Cucurbita pepo L. | Pumpa, squash |
Cynara cardunculus L. - Scolymus-gruppen | Kronärtskocka |
Cynara cardunculus L. - Kardon-gruppen | Kardon |
Daucus carota L. | Morot |
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. - Azoricum-gruppen | Sötfänkål |
Lactuca sativa L. | Sallat |
Solanum lycopersicum L. | Tomat |
Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) A. W. Hill- Foliosum-gruppen | Bladpersilja |
Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) A. W. Hill- Tuberosum-gruppen | Rotpersilja |
Phaseolus coccineus L. | Blomsterböna |
Phaseolus vulgaris L. - Buskböna-gruppen | Buskböna |
Phaseolus vulgaris L. - Störböna-gruppen | Störböna |
Pisum sativum L. - Märgärt-gruppen | Märgärt |
Pisum sativum L. - Sockerärt-gruppen | Sockerärt |
Pisum sativum L. - Spritärt-gruppen | Spritärt |
Raphanus sativus L. - Rädisa-gruppen | Rädisa |
Raphanus sativus L. - Rättika-gruppen | Rättika |
Rheum rhabarbarum L. | Rabarber |
Scorzonera hispanica L. | Svartrot |
Solanum melongena L. | Aubergin, äggplanta |
Spinacia oleracea L. | Spenat |
Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr. | Vintersallat |
Vicia faba L. | Bondböna |
Zea mays L. - Microsperma-gruppen | Popmajs |
Zea mays L. - Saccharata-gruppen | Sockermajs |
Ornamental plants
There are also rules on permission to market seeds of ornamental plants and certain fruits.
- The seed shall be quality controlled so that it has sufficient germination ability and plant health.
- You must label the seed to make it visible that it complies with EU requirements. The name of the variety shall, for example, be shown.
- If you market seed professionally, you must notify your business operations to the register of businesses which produce seed or trade with ornamental plants. You can make this notification through our e-service.
The variety must be included in a list of varieties
In order to market seed and other propagation material of regulated species of agricultural plants and vegetables, the variety must be approved. This means that it must be included in the Swedish list of varieties or in the EU common catalogue of varieties for agricultural plants and vegetables.
If the species is not included in a list of varieties, you may still market seed from the variety. This applies to species which are not regulated in the EU seed legislation, for example, dill, buckwheat and smooth brome grass.
In the lists of varieties, you can find the varieties approved for marketing. It is simplest to first look in the EU catalogues of varieties where the Swedish varieties also are included. Search in both the catalogue for agricultural plants and the catalogue for vegetables if you are unsure of which list the species may be included on.
Register organic seed in OrganicXseeds
If you market organic seed or seed potatoes to professional growers in Sweden, you can register your lots in OrganicXseeds, which is the Swedish database for organic seeds. It will then be simpler for growers to find available organic seed.
You can register your business and the seed on the website for the European database for organic seed. You can also find a link there to a user guide.
You must be able to deliver a sufficient quantity of seed
In order to be able to register the variety in OrganicXseeds, you must be able to deliver the following amounts:
- Winter oil plants: at least 500 kilos
- potatoes: at least 3 tonnes
- blue lupin: at least 5 tonnes
- cereals and pulses: at least 25 tonnes
- feed corn: 3 tonnes
- 1 tonne lay seed for fodder purposes of
- Perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne
- cocks-foot, Dactylis glomerata
- Italian rye-grass, Lolium multiflorum
- lucern - Medicago sativa L
- festulolium - Festulolium (Festuca ssp. x Lolium ssp.)
- red clover, Trifolium pratense
- red fescue, Festuca rubra
- tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea
- timothy, Phleum pratensis
- white clover, Trifolium repens
- Westerwolds ryegrass - Lolium multiflorum var. westerwoldicum
- common meadow grass, Poa pratensis
- meadow fescue, Festuca pratensis - 200 kilos of other species of ley seed intended for fodder.
De-register varieties when you do not have a sufficient quantity of seed left
You must de-register the variety from OrganicXseeds when you do not have the following quantities of seed left:
- Winter oil plants: at least 500 kilos
- potatoes: at least 3 tonnes
- blue lupin: at least 5 tonnes
- cereals and pulses: at least 15 tonnes
- 1 tonne ley seed for feed purposes of
- perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne
- cocks-foot, Dactylis glomerata,
- Italian ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum
- lucerne - Medicago sativa L
- festulolium - Festulolium (Festuca ssp. x Lolium ssp.)
- red clover, Trifolium pratense
- red fescue, Festuca rubra
- tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea
- timothy, Phleum pratensis
- white clover, Trifolium repens
- Westerwolds ryegrass - Lolium multiflorum var. westerwoldicum
- common meadow grass, Poa pratensis
- meadow fescue, Festuca pratensis - 200 kilos of other species of ley seed intended for fodder.
This applies to mixtures
Requirement of at least 70 percent by weight of organic seed or seed from conversion land
From 2022, mixtures containing organic seed or seed from conversion land must contain at least 70 % by weight of such seed. A maximum of 30 % by weight may consist of conventionally grown chemically untreated seed.
All mixtures marketed must be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. You may use the mixtures that we have approved without applying for an individual authorization. The mixtures that are approved are shown by OrganicXseeds in the category Approved mixture.
Mix different varieties
You may not mix a variety of organic seed or seed from conversion land with the same variety of conventional seed. There must be different varieties in the same mixture.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture approves the mixtures
You must apply for the Swedish Board of Agriculture to approve 70 percent mixtures before you register them in OrganicXseeds.
If the company market mixtures with only organic seed or seed from conversion land, you can register them in OrganicXseeds without applying for approval from the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Labelling
The labelling on the packaging must meet the requirements according to the seed legislation and plant health legislation. In addition to that, there must be information on the exact components of the mixture, expressed as weight in percent per included species and variety, as well as which species/varieties are organic, and which come from land under conversion.
The following text must also appear on the packaging if the Swedish Board of Agriculture has approved the mixture:
"The Swedish Board of Agriculture has approved the mixture according to regulation (EU) 2018/848. It may only be used in Sweden".
Mixtures without organic seed
Organic growers may, in some cases, use mixtures with only conventional chemically untreated seed. This applies if the grower has received a decision on individual authorization for the varieties or species included in the mixture or if a general exception applies to the species, crops or varieties included in the mixture. It is the grower who is responsible for meeting the requirements.
Seed may require a plant passport
If you are professionally trading with or moving certain types of seed for planting in Sweden or between EU Member States, the seeds must have a plant passport. Plant passports are labels which are attached to the product, showing that the seed has been controlled and are free from serious organisms harmful to plants. The purpose of plant passports is to prevent the spread of organisms harmful to plats and to, when necessary, trace organisms harmful to plants that have spread.
Common rules when you trade with other EU Member States
The EU common rules on the certification and marketing of seed apply to the marketing of seed within the EU, which means quality requirements such as germination, the admixture of other species and diseases, varietal identity, packaging and labelling.
Trade in seed potatoes within the EU
Seed potatoes within the EU shall be certified and have a plant passport.
Special regulations apply if you bring in ware and seed potatoes from Poland and Romania to Sweden.
If you have any questions about seed potatoes from Poland and Romania, contact the Plant Regulations Unit of the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
If you buy seed potatoes from Denmark, the Netherlands, or Germany, you should demand a certificate stating that the potatoes have been officially tested. The certificate should also show that the seed potatoes are free from the serious bacterial infections known as ring rot and brown rot, respectively.
Contact the seed unit of the Swedish Board of Agriculture if you are unsure whether the lot originated in a risk area. You can also contact us when it comes to testing of seed lots that are already in Sweden.
Phytosanitary certificates for trade with countries outside the EU
If you are importing seeds from a country outside the EU, there must be a phytosanitary certificate for the seeds. This is a document issued by the national plant health organisation in the exporting country, which certifies that the consignment meets the recipient country’s requirements on the absence of organisms harmful to plants. You shall also notify the Swedish Board of Agriculture of the import for a plant health control.
However, there is certain seed which you are not allowed to import, as there is a considerable risk that seriously organisms harmful to plants, which are not present in the EU, may be brought along with the seed. These are known as quarantine pests. This applies to, among others, seed potatoes and citrus seeds. The only countries outside the EU from which you are allowed to import seed potatoes are Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The seed potatoes must then be certified and have a plant passport, as Switzerland and Liechtenstein are considered within the EU for phytosanitary purposes.
If you are selling seed to a country outside the EU, you need to find out what the rules are in the recipient country. Some countries require a phytosanitary certificate for the products. You can apply for a certificate with the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Rules when importing seed
Seed which you are importing from a country outside the EU must meet the same quality requirements as is applied for trade within the EU. The rules vary somewhat depending on whether you are importing seed for agricultural plants, vegetables, or ornamental plants.
In order for the import of certified seed to be permitted, the exporting country must be approved. You can find out which countries are approved in the decision of the European Council on the equivalence of field inspections of seed production fields in countries outside the EU, and on the equivalence of seed produced in countries outside the EU. This decision is often referred to as an equivalence decision. The seed must be certified in accordance with EU seed rules, or in accordance with OECD certification schemes for the species in question. Only varieties included in the EU catalogue of varieties may be marketed in the EU.
Agricultural plants
Seed lots, to be propagated or marketed, from agricultural plants shall be notified to the seed unit of the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Trade in seed potatoes from the United Kingdom is prohibited due to EU phytosanitary regulations, regardless of equivalence decisions or free-trade agreements.
Vegetables
The Swedish Board of Agriculture is to be notified of lots if the lots exceed 2 kilograms.
It is not possible to import controlled standard vegetable seed from third countries because it cannot be resold after it has entered the country.
Ornamental plants
You may import seeds of ornamental plants from nearly any country. The seed must meet the same quality requirements as are applied in the EU.
The seed must be free from wild oats
If you are bringing seed into Sweden from other countries, whether it is from other EU Member States or from countries outside the EU, you are responsible for ensuring that it is free of wild oats. If you need help to check this, you can contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s seed unit. Seed from cereal species except corn (Zea mays) shall be tested for wild oats before being used in Sweden.
Import and export of organic seed
When you trade with organic seed with countries outside the EU, there are additional rules that you must comply with in order to be permitted to market them as organic in Sweden and the rest of the EU.
A licence is required for the import of seeds of hemp
If you are going to import seeds of hemp from a country outside the EU, you need a licence which you apply for in our e-service. This is the case regardless of the quantity.

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Revision date: 2023-04-06