Seed Production Enterprise

The licence for seed production enterprise can be granted to legal entities. Every legal person is eligible to obtain a seed production enterprise licence, provided that the Seed Control Sector is satisfied that the following criteria are fulfilled:

(a) Recruitment, on a full or part time basis, of an agriculturist who has graduated from a higher tertiary education or university institution;
(b) Attainment of facilities, either owned or rented for processing, standardizing, and packaging of seeds along with appropriate mechanical equipment according to the plant species involved.

The application form to Grant or to Renew the Licence for Seed Production Enterprise can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or you can contact directly:

Plant Health and Marketing Standards of Agricultural Products Sector
Department of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1412 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22408648, +357 22466253
Fax: + 357 22343419
E-mail: seedcontrol@da.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf

1. On-site inspections are carried out in order to ensure that all the prerequisites, mentioned under “Who is Eligible” section, are met.

Upon approval, the applicant needs to pay the licence fee of €42,72 to the Department of Agriculture or to the District Agriculture offices (either by cheque or bank transfer).

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• The Seed Law of 1998 (L.63(I)/1998)

The licensed Operators of Seed Production Enterprise are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Seed Law of 1998, as periodically amended, as well as with the terms and conditions of the licence. Indicatively, they should maintain records relevant to the seeds production (for example data for the quantities of seeds produced, data regarding processing and packing of the seeds, data regarding repacking and data regarding seed mixtures).

Moreover, the Director of the Department of Agriculture has the right to examine, voluntarily or after a complaint is made, if someone contravenes or fails to comply with the prohibited or mandatory provisions of the relevant law and set out penalties according to the nature, duration and severity of the offence committed.

Any seed trader not satisfied by the Director’s decisions has the right, within a period of 21 days, to resort firstly to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and in case, he/she is not satisfied by this decision, can make an appeal to the Supreme Court.