Seeds falling into a hessian sach
Photo by Adrian Gomez

Food Sectors

Seed production

Seed producers grow plants to both supply seed to farmers and crofters, and develop new varieties.

Updated 9 May 2024

Selling seeds

When selling your seeds, you should ensure you are complying with marketing law and keep financial records of your sales and accounts. You should also pay income tax on your profits.

If you only sell directly to members of the public for their own personal use then you do not need to provide a plant passport. For any queries or further information please contact HMU at hort.marketing@gov.scot.

Information to customers

In some instances, you can sell seed before the official germination tests have been completed if the seed has passed preliminary germination tests. 

You will then need to give the customer a written statement that the final test has not yet been done and provide preliminary germination results. You must also tell the customer if the seed lot fails the germination test.