When is it legal to sell seeds?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by SimonZ, Feb 22, 2010.

  1. SimonZ

    SimonZ Gardener

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    If the seeds are produced from plants in my own garden, can I legally bag them up and sell them? If the original plant was purchased from a garden centre, etc, does this make a difference? If I collect seeds from the wild, is this illegal?
     
  2. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    I don't know what the law says, but my understanding is that :-

    1) You can sell seeds that you have raised yourself - including seeds where the mother plant came from a garden centre.

    2) I think it would be illegal to sell and probably also to collect seeds from the wild. Although I don't suppose there would be an outcry if you just collected a few for your personal use - as long as it wasn't a protected species.

    3) Some plants now are covered by trademarks and patent rights. I think you must get permission and pay royalties if you sell cuttings (ie clones). But I believe you are free to sell their seeds, as seeds are not clones and won't come true. However you mustn't use their trade name.

    4) Sale of GM crop seeds would be very unwise. American companies probably have hit squads to discourage that.

    5) Seeds can be sold freely in the UK, Europe and to many other countries, but USA and Australia (and possibly others) need phytosanitary certificates, to say that they are disease free - and that will cost you.

    6) You can even buy and sell marijuana seeds, but its illegal to grow the plants.
     
  3. SimonZ

    SimonZ Gardener

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    Thanks for clearing that up Peter. We already sell plants on a market stall, and I am wanting to "branch out" slightly in the way of selling seeds occasionally. However, a side-line as a dope peddler would not seem to be on the horizon :)
     
  4. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    If you want some dope seeds - just contact me Simon.---- only joking. :hehe:

    However the truth is that I am growing a number of seeds now in a light chamber, the sort of thing that cannabis growers use. Havng sent off for the seeds and sown them, I then started to Google them and discovered that I am growing Leonotis nepetifolia (Klip Dagga) and Leonorus japonicus. And I am also overwintering two plants of Leonotis leonurus (Wild Dagga), very kindly smuggled into the country as cuttings by our Portugese Connection - Victoria. :D

    I understand that all three plants can be smoked - albeit legally. :wink:

    Best of luck selling the seeds.
     
  5. Hartley Botanic

    Hartley Botanic Gardener

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    Hehe! :hehe:
     
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