Sealing of packages of fully certified seed
16.—(1) Subject to regulation 18, no person shall market in accordance with regulations 6(1), 9, 11 or 12 a package (other than a small package sealed in accordance with paragraph (4)) of Commercial Seed, Pre-basic Seed, Basic Seed, Seed of a Certified Generation, a varietal association to which regulation 9 applies, lower germination seed or early movement seed unless, subject to paragraph (2), it has been–
(a)(i)not later than at the time of sampling; or
(ii)in the case of seed which is wholly or partly re packaged, the original package has been not later than at the time of sampling,
sealed in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers or a licensed seed sampler with a sealing device in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device will be broken and cannot be re used; or
(b)sealed–
(i)in the United Kingdom but not in Scotland; or
(ii)in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom,
in accordance with the provisions of Article 11(1) (sealing of packages) of the Oil and Fibre Plant Seed Directive.
(2) In the case of a package of seed in respect of which the Scottish Ministers have issued an official certificate under regulation 14(3)–
(a)paragraph (1)(a) shall apply as if the words “not later than at the time of sampling” were omitted; and
(b)subject to sub paragraph (a), the package of seed shall be sealed in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) within 7 days of the issue of the official certificate.
(3) If a package of seed which has been sealed in accordance with paragraph (1) is opened it may not be marketed in accordance with regulations 6(1), 9, 11 or 12 unless it is re sealed or further re sealed–
(a)in Scotland by the Scottish Ministers or a licensed seed sampler with a sealing device in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device is broken and cannot be re-used; or
(b)(i)in the United Kingdom but not in Scotland; or
(ii)in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom,
in accordance with the provisions of Article 11(2) (re sealing of packages) of the Oil and Fibre Plant Seed Directive.
(4) No person shall market in accordance with regulations 6(1), 9, 11 or 12 a small package of Commercial Seed, Pre basic Seed, Basic Seed, Seed of a Certified Generation, a varietal association to which regulation 9 applies, lower germination seed or early movement seed, unless it has been, or in the case of seed which is wholly or partly re packaged, the original package has been, sealed by the Scottish Ministers, a licensed seed sampler or a person registered by a National Authority in any part of the United Kingdom as a seed merchant, seed packer or seed processor under regulation 4(1) (registration of seed merchants, seed packers and seed processors) of the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations 1985(1) or provisions equivalent to that regulation, not later than at the time of sampling in the United Kingdom with a sealing device in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device is broken and cannot be re used.
(5) If a small package of seed which has been sealed in accordance with paragraph (4) is opened, it may not be marketed in accordance with regulations 6(1), 9, 11 or 12 unless it is re-sealed or further re-sealed by the Scottish Ministers, a licensed seed sampler or a person registered by a National Authority in any part of the United Kingdom as a seed merchant, seed packer or seed processor under regulation 4(1) (registration of seed merchants, seed packers and seed processors) of the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations 1985 or provisions equivalent to that regulation, with a sealing device, in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device is broken and cannot be re-used.
(6) No person shall market in accordance with regulation 6(1) a package of Breeder’s Seed unless it is marketed in a package which has been sealed with a sealing device in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device is broken and cannot be re-used.
(7) If a package of Breeder’s Seed which has been sealed in accordance with paragraph (6) is opened it may not be marketed in accordance with regulation 6(1) unless it is re-sealed or further re-sealed with a sealing device in such a manner that when the package is opened the sealing device is broken and cannot be re-used.